MLK Community Healthcare

MLK Community Healthcare MLK Community Healthcare (MLKCH) is a private, non-profit, safety-net health system. Learn more about MLK Community Healthcare: www.mlkch.org

MLK Community Healthcare (MLKCH), a private, non-profit, safety-net health system, now offers inpatient, maternity and emergency care at MLK Community Hospital in Willowbrook as well as primary and specialty care at three outpatient sites. In addition, the health system runs a number of community-based health education, screening and treatment programs. MLKCH outpatient services include:

✅ Primary care
✅ Pediatrics
✅ Diabetes (endocrinology)
✅ Heart Disease (cardiology)
✅ Lung Disease (pulmonology)
✅ Urology (men’s health)
✅ Mental and behavioral health (psychiatry/social work)
✅ Foot care (podiatry)
✅ Wound care and hyperbaric healing
✅ Infectious disease
✅ Surgery
✅ Addiction medicine

The evolution of MLKCH from hospital to health system is a direct response to South LA’s chronic lack of resources and access to care. The community suffers from a severe shortage of doctors – 1,200 fewer than in average areas – as well as the fewest number of hospital beds in all of LA County.

“Lack of access to quality healthcare made this community vulnerable to Covid,” said Dr. Elaine Batchlor, CEO of MLK Community Healthcare. “South LA has a high burden of diabetes, heart disease, kidney-related illness and other chronic conditions. Our aim is to create the resources and infrastructure necessary to address and reverse poor health.”

Since its opening in 2015, MLKCH has garnered awards and headlines for its innovative approaches to quality, safety and patient satisfaction.

For people living with diabetes, preventing limb loss is about much more than treating a wound. It’s about helping peopl...
09/14/2026

For people living with diabetes, preventing limb loss is about much more than treating a wound. It’s about helping people stay mobile, independent and connected to the lives they value.

Following a recent visit to MLK Community Healthcare, diabetic foot and limb preservation expert Dr. David Armstrong reflected on the coordinated work happening across our diabetes care teams—from medical care and pharmacy to education and ongoing support.

“Seeing what this team is building, and the difference they are making for their community, was life-affirming.”

Read his reflections on MLKCH’s work to improve diabetes care and help prevent avoidable amputations in South Los Angeles: https://diabeticfootonline.com/2026/09/04/a-life-affirming-visit-to-mlk-hospital-old-friends-new-ones-and-a-community-of-healing-actagainstamputation/

We surpassed our goal! Thank you to all of our staff who made MLKCH Gives such a huge success. Together we celebrated in...
09/10/2026

We surpassed our goal! Thank you to all of our staff who made MLKCH Gives such a huge success.

Together we celebrated in a way that's all us: specialty coffee

Every gift is a show of support for our patients, our community and the extra care that brings our mission to life. To everyone who gave, encouraged a colleague to participate or helped spread the word: thank you for going all in.

When TIME looked at what H.R. 1 and the loss of Medicaid coverage could mean for healthcare across the country, they tur...
09/09/2026

When TIME looked at what H.R. 1 and the loss of Medicaid coverage could mean for healthcare across the country, they turned to MLKCH and our CEO, Dr. Elaine Batchlor.

That’s because we’ve seen firsthand what investing in preventive care can accomplish. Our diabetes and wound care programs are helping patients avoid amputations, emergency visits and other serious complications.

With these Medicaid cuts, MLKCH and other safety net hospitals are at risk of closing. And, as Dr. Batchlor points out, the ramifications of that are not confined to communities with high numbers of Medicaid patients. As more people lose access to routine care, they will eventually arrive at emergency departments and hospitals outside their own neighborhoods with serious, costly conditions. That added pressure on beds, staffing and resources will be felt across the healthcare system, including in places where most patients have commercial insurance.

We’re grateful to TIME for shining a national spotlight on an issue we see up close every day and for giving Dr. Batchlor the opportunity to share what’s at stake.

Read the full story in TIME: https://time.com/article/2026/09/08/losing-health-insurance-affects-everyone/

Thanks to the generosity of Health Net and L.A. Care Health Plan, our Street Medicine Department recently added a third ...
09/08/2026

Thanks to the generosity of Health Net and L.A. Care Health Plan, our Street Medicine Department recently added a third team. That's another van and more clinical and outreach staff, along with the supplies and technology they need to bring care directly to people experiencing homelessness.

That added capacity is already showing up in the numbers. The teams are seeing a marked increase in clinical visits and field appointment compliance.

By bringing primary care to the streets, we help keep health problems from becoming crises, giving patients more room to focus on housing and other next steps while also reducing ER visits.

Leave some love in the comments for our new team and for our funders.👇🏽

When complications from landed him in the hospital, Jorge Torres looked to MLKCH to help him turn his health around. H...
09/03/2026

When complications from landed him in the hospital, Jorge Torres looked to MLKCH to help him turn his health around.

He joined our Diabetes Management Center of Excellence where he received wraparound care. His team, including care manager Monica Garcia, helped him navigate a complicated system of medication, screenings, education, specialty visits, and more.

Jorge’s numbers have improved, and today he says, “This is the best I’ve felt in a long time.” But what helped him get there went beyond medicine.

Read his story to discover what made the difference: mlkch.org/foundation-news/diabetes-management-story

On Saturday, August 22, The Barbara Morrison Performing Arts Center in Leimert Park came alive for Dream Out Loud—an eve...
09/02/2026

On Saturday, August 22, The Barbara Morrison Performing Arts Center in Leimert Park came alive for Dream Out Loud—an evening of live music, spoken word, and artistry that raised vital funds for MLKCH.

The event was conceived and produced by MLKCH’s Dream Council, who brought their creativity, connections, and commitment to build an evening that felt distinctly South LA.

Our deepest thanks to the Council for their initiative, energy, and vision. And thank you to everyone who joined us, contributed, and helped make the night such a success!

Congratulations to UNITE HERE Local 11 on the grand opening of the new UNITE HERE Health Center in Downtown Los Angeles!...
08/31/2026

Congratulations to UNITE HERE Local 11 on the grand opening of the new UNITE HERE Health Center in Downtown Los Angeles!

We’re proud to partner with UNITE HERE Local 11 Health Benefit Fund and DYNTL to help bring convenient, high-quality care to UNITE HERE members and their eligible family members.

The new Health Center offers primary and preventive care for adults and children, including vaccinations, lab testing, women’s health services, behavioral health support and care for ongoing conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure and asthma—all in one convenient location.

Today’s celebration marks an exciting step forward in making healthcare easier to access for working families in Los Angeles. We’re grateful to be part of it and look forward to supporting the health of UNITE HERE families for years to come.

To care for the people you love, remember to care for yourself, too.Your yearly checkup is covered by Medi-Cal at no cos...
08/28/2026

To care for the people you love, remember to care for yourself, too.

Your yearly checkup is covered by Medi-Cal at no cost to you. Schedule yours today.

Learn more at https://www.mlkch.org/medicare

It's Black Breastfeeding Week—a time to recognize the importance of ensuring every mother has what she needs to make the...
08/25/2026

It's Black Breastfeeding Week—a time to recognize the importance of ensuring every mother has what she needs to make the feeding choices that are right for her and her baby.

Black mothers often face barriers to breastfeeding support and addressing them is part of creating healthier beginnings for babies, stronger support for families and greater health equity in our communities. That’s why MLKCH opened a free Lactation Clinic. As lactation consultant Lydia Boyd says, “When you have someone on your side who understands your struggle, it makes it so much better.”

New and expecting mothers can learn more about free lactation support at mlkch.org/lactation-clinic.

Great job, team! We're less than 10% away from our goal of 550 gifts to MLKCH Gives.Will you make a gift today and add y...
08/24/2026

Great job, team! We're less than 10% away from our goal of 550 gifts to MLKCH Gives.

Will you make a gift today and add your name to the heart wall? https://www.mlkch.org/all-us-all-in

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1680 E 120th Street
Los Angeles, CA
90059

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