Health services to over 10 million residents in the Los Angeles County are provided by the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services (DHS) and the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. Mental health services are provided by the County Department of Mental Health. The headquarters building is located on Figueroa Street at Temple Street in Downtown Los Angeles.
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DHS operates four hospitals in Los Angeles County, affiliated with each of Los Angeles County's medical schools:
Each hospital contains a trauma center and provides inpatient, outpatient, and emergency services for men, women, and children. The King Drew trauma center was closed in 2005 due to problems at that hospital.
The Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center provides physical therapy services to individuals around the country.
Under Personal Health, DHS also operates numerous clinics and outpatient health centers throughout the County. These services are primarily provided to individuals without health insurance. Many of the poor receive Medicaid or Medicare and choose to receive services at private doctors or non-profit clinics.
On Jan 3, 2011, Mitchell H Katz, MD, will take over as Director of Health Services for LA DHS. Katz served 13 years as director of public health for the City and County of San Francisco Department of Public Health, where he designed and implemented the "Healthy San Francisco" program covering all San Franciscans with health care. DHS has operated under an Interim Director, John F. Schunhoff, Ph.D., since the May 2008 resignation of Bruce Chernoff, MD.
Under the Department of Public Health, services are provided to all of Los Angeles County's residents. Public health programs include:
Director Dr. Jonathan Fielding, has been awarded the UCLA Medal, the university's highest honor on April 16, 2009, for his work as an innovator, leader and public health visionary. He is also a professor at the UCLA School of Public Health.
The department was part of the Los Angeles fetus disposal scandal in 1982-1985.
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors tentatively approved the formation of Public Health as a separate department on May 30, 2006 and the department became separate on July 6, 2006.
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