Los Angeles General Medical Center facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Los Angeles General Medical Center |
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| Los Angeles County Department of Health Services | |
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| Geography | |
| Location | 2051 Marengo Street Boyle Heights, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, United States |
| Coordinates | 34°03′28″N 118°12′32″W / 34.0579°N 118.2089°W |
| Organization | |
| Care system | Public |
| Funding | Government hospital |
| Hospital type | Teaching |
| Affiliated university | Keck School of Medicine of USC United States Navy |
| Services | |
| Emergency department | Level I Trauma Center |
| Beds | 600 |
| History | |
| Founded | 1878 |
Los Angeles General Medical Center, often called LA General, is a very large public hospital in Los Angeles, California. It has 600 beds for patients. This hospital is also a teaching hospital, which means it helps train new doctors. It is one of the biggest medical centers in the United States.
The hospital is owned by Los Angeles County and run by its Health Services Department. Doctors from the Keck School of Medicine of USC work here. They also teach over 1,000 medical residents, who are doctors still in training. Even the United States Navy sends its doctors, nurses, and medical helpers to train at LA General. They learn how to treat serious injuries in the hospital's trauma center.
LA General is one of two top-level trauma centers in Los Angeles County. These centers provide the best care for patients with very serious injuries. The hospital's name was changed in 2023 to LA General. This was done to avoid confusion with another hospital nearby, the Keck Hospital of USC.
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What LA General Does
Los Angeles General Medical Center is one of the largest public hospitals in the United States. It is also a major training center for medical professionals. It provides healthcare for many people in Los Angeles County, especially those who might not easily get medical care.
Emergency and Trauma Care
LA General is a Level I trauma center. This means it can handle the most severe injuries. It treats a large number of trauma patients in the region. The hospital's Emergency Department is one of the busiest in the world. It sees more than 150,000 patients every year.
Special Medical Services
The hospital offers many different services. These include emergency care, care for patients staying overnight, and care for patients who visit for appointments. They provide medical, surgical, and obstetrical (for pregnant people) services. They also offer gynecological (for women's health) and pediatric (for children) services. Mental health care is also available for adults, teens, and children.
LA General has one of only three burn centers in Los Angeles County. It also has a special unit for very sick newborn babies. This unit is called a Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
Training Future Healthcare Workers
The hospital is home to the Los Angeles County College of Nursing and Allied Health. This school has been training registered nurses since 1895. The Navy Trauma Training Center is also located here. It helps military medical staff get experience with trauma cases. This training prepares them to treat injuries on battlefields or at sea.
In 2013, the American Cancer Society gave LA General an award. This award recognized the hospital's efforts to help people with cancer who might not have easy access to care.
New Hospital Building
The original hospital building opened in 1933. It was located at 1200 North State Street. This building was known for its Art-Deco style. It was nicknamed the "Great Stone Mother" and had 3,000 patient beds.
Why a New Building Was Needed
After the 1994 Northridge earthquake in 1994, there were worries about how safe hospital buildings were. A new law was passed in California about earthquake safety for hospitals. The old 1933 building did not meet these new safety rules.
So, a new, modern hospital was built nearby. It is located at 2051 Marengo Street. The new hospital cost about $1 billion to build. It has three connected buildings: a clinic, a diagnostic and treatment center, and a building for patients staying overnight. The new facility has 600 patient beds. It also has more intensive care beds to help people after disasters.
Opening the New Facility
The new hospital was ready in 2010. On July 23, 2010, the new hospital officially opened. All patients from the old hospital were moved to the new one. This meant the original hospital complex was no longer used for patient care.
The old building at 1200 State Street is still standing. In 2014, a "Wellness Center" opened on its first floor. This center is open to the public. It has offices for non-profit groups, community programs, and classes for healthy activities. It also has a dance studio and a small YMCA. The old building now meets safety rules for non-hospital use. In 2020, the part of the old building that used to be for children and pregnant people was taken down. New affordable homes are being built there.
Hospital History
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The Los Angeles County Hospital first partnered with the University of Southern California Medical School in 1885. This was five years after USC was founded. The hospital started with 100 beds and 47 patients.
Today, the LA General complex is next to the University of Southern California Health Sciences Campus. This campus includes the Keck School of Medicine of USC, the USC School of Pharmacy, Keck Hospital of USC, and the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center and Hospital.
Getting There
The LA General Medical Center station is close to LA General. You can reach it using the Metro J Line and Foothill Transit Silver Streak bus lines. Other Metro bus lines, like 78, 106, 251, and 605, also serve the hospital.
Images for kids
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Front entrance of the historic building.
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The old hospital, opened in 1933.
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The outpatient clinic of the new hospital, opened in 2010.
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The 1933 building shown on a postcard.
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Another view of the old hospital building.
