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 |
The Los Angeles General Medical Center, also known as LA General, is a very large public hospital in Los Angeles, California. It has 600 beds for patients. This hospital is one of the biggest medical training centers in the United States.
It is owned by Los Angeles County. The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services runs the hospital. Doctors who work here are also teachers at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. They help train over 1,000 new doctors. The United States Navy also sends its doctors, nurses, and medical helpers to train here. They learn by working in the hospital's trauma center.
LA General is one of two top-level trauma centers in Los Angeles County. This means it offers the highest level of care for patients with serious injuries. The hospital's name was changed in 2023. This was to avoid confusion with another hospital nearby.
What the Hospital Does
Los Angeles General Medical Center is one of the largest public hospitals in the United States. It is also the biggest healthcare provider in Los Angeles County. The hospital helps people who might not otherwise get medical care. It is a Level I trauma center, meaning it treats many seriously injured patients. In fact, it cares for over 28% of all trauma victims in the region.
The hospital offers many different health services. These include emergency care, care for patients staying overnight, and care for patients who visit for appointments. They provide medical, surgical, and emergency services. They also offer care for mothers and babies, children, and mental health services.
LA General is a very busy hospital. Each year, nearly 39,000 patients stay overnight. About one million patients visit for appointments. Its emergency room is one of the busiest in the world. It sees more than 150,000 visits every year.
The hospital has one of only three special burn centers in Los Angeles County. It also has a special unit for newborn babies who need extra care. The Los Angeles County College of Nursing and Allied Health is also located here. It has been training nurses since 1895.
LA General also helps train military medical staff. The Navy Trauma Training Center is based at the hospital. This allows military doctors and nurses to gain experience. They learn to treat injuries that might happen in battle. This training helps them prepare for serving with the United States Marine Corps or United States Navy.
In 2013, the American Cancer Society gave the hospital an award. This award recognized LA General's efforts to help people with cancer. Especially those who might not have easy access to care.
The New Hospital Building
The first main hospital building opened in 1933. It was located at 1200 State Street. This building had a special Art-Deco design. People sometimes called it the "Great Stone Mother." It used to have 3,000 patient beds.
However, a big earthquake hit in 1994. This earthquake raised concerns about building safety. A new law was passed to make sure hospitals were safe from earthquakes and fires. The old 1933 building no longer met these new safety rules for hospitals.
So, a new, modern hospital was built nearby. It is located at 2051 Marengo Street. This new hospital cost about $1 billion to build. It has three connected buildings. These include a clinic tower, a tower for tests and treatments, and a tower for patients staying overnight. The new hospital has 600 patient beds. It also has more intensive care beds. These are for patients who need very close monitoring, especially after disasters.
The new hospital was finished in 2010. On July 23, 2010, it officially opened. All patients were moved from the old buildings 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 everyone. It has offices for groups that help the community. It also offers classes for healthy activities, a dance studio, and a small YMCA. While the old building cannot be a hospital anymore, it is still safe for other uses.
Some older parts of the hospital complex have been updated or replaced over time.
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 the hospital. You can reach it using the Metro J Line and Foothill Transit Silver Streak buses. Other Metro bus lines also serve the hospital, including lines 78, 106, 251, and 605.
See also
- No más bebés
- Knocking, a documentary featuring LAC+USC Medical Center
- Linda Vista Community Hospital
