


REPORT HIGHLIGHTS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS







![]()



REPORT HIGHLIGHTS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS







2025 has been a year that tested our resilience—and proved our strength.
Across Los Angeles County, LA Health Services has continued to deliver extraordinary care to more than half a million patients, regardless of income, insurance, or immigration status. We’ve done this while navigating one of the most challenging �nancial periods in our department’s history.
And yet, even in the face of �scal uncertainty, we continued to rise.
We expanded rehabilitation capacity, opened a new Skid Row Care Campus, and vaccinated more people against the �u than at any point since 2021. We strengthened quality, improved access, and achieved national recognition across our hospitals and programs.
We also began hard, but necessary conversations about how to safeguard our safety net for future generations. We launched the Save Our Safety Net e�orts, through which we have engaged sta� at every level to identify cost-saving opportunities and creative solutions that protect patient care. This e�ort re�ects who we are—a system that innovates not out of abundance, but out of purpose.
Our mission remains the same: to advance the health of our patients and communities by providing extraordinary care. What sets us apart is how we live that mission—with compassion, inclusivity, and accountability in every decision we make.
Each number in this report represents more than performance. It represents people—a nurse who remains present in di�cult moments, a patient who found hope, a community that grew stronger.
Thank you to every member of our Health Services’ team for your dedication, creativity, and courage. Thank you to our County partners, the Board of Supervisors, and the community organizations who make our work possible.
Together, we continue to show the world what a public healthcare system can be: bold, compassionate, and committed to care for all, without exception.

Christina R. Ghaly, M.D. Director, LA Health Services





We are the frontline provider for people who are uninsured, underinsured, or face barriers to care—delivering extraordinary healthcare for those who often have nowhere else to turn.
Built as the County’s safety net, our role is simple and essential: ensure access to health, healing, and hope for the most vulnerable among us. From everyday care to moments of crisis, we show up for our communities— responding to emergencies, supporting �rst responders, and helping patients heal, recover, and thrive, no matter their circumstances.













64% Hispanic/ Latino 10% Black/ African American 5% Asian American & Paci�c Islander (AAPI)


Over 53% of our visits are for patients who prefer their care be provided in a language other than English.


This year, LA Health Services trained more than 2,200 physicians, strengthening the frontline workforce that communities rely on every day. By preparing doctors to serve in high-need settings, we’re expanding access to care, supporting underserved patients, and building a more stable, equitable health system for the future.

Across the nation, hospitals are struggling with nurse shortages and high turnover. At LA Health Services, we’re proving there’s another way. This year, 486 new nurses have launched their careers through our Nurse Residency Program, which o�ers structured training, real-world support, and dedicated mentorship. The result?
Near-perfect retention—and a stronger, more con�dent nursing workforce ready to care for Los Angeles.

A strong safety net depends on fast, skilled emergency response. This year, 3,490 Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) and paramedics completed approved training programs across LA County, preparing them to respond when seconds matter. The LA County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Agency also certi�ed and accredited 14,877 emergency medical professionals, ensuring communities across the region can count on quali�ed lifesavers when they need help most.




2.9 million Patient visits




2.4 million Prescriptions �lled
479,000


Patients received ongoing, coordinated care


502,000 Primary care visits
Timely care saves lives—and



151,000 Flu vaccines administered

873,000 Specialty care visits
31,300 Surgeries



As more patients turn to Rancho Los Amigos for complex rehabilitation, the need for specialized rehab beds has surged. To keep pace, Rancho thoughtfully repurposed a portion of its medical-surgical unit into dedicated rehab space—without reducing overall hospital capacity. This shift ensures more people can begin recovery sooner, regain strength faster, and return home with greater independence.
Harbor–UCLA and EMS launched LA-DROP, a breakthrough program that equips paramedics with whole blood so they can treat severe bleeding before a patient reaches the hospital. By starting transfusions in the �eld, �rst responders can stabilize trauma patients earlier, protect vital organs, and give them a �ghting chance long before they arrive at our doors.


Wait times for digestive healthcare dropped by more than half thanks to smarter scheduling and stronger teamwork. For patients with gastrointestinal issues, juggling jobs, childcare, chronic illness, or long bus rides to appointments, faster access isn’t just convenient—it prevents complications, reduces stress, and keeps care within reach when it matters most.
From dermatology to cardiology, Health Services delivered 94% of specialty appointments on time—serving more than 15,000 requests every month. When it comes to timely care, we’re not slowing down. We’re raising the bar.


At Harbor–UCLA, the Interventional Radiology team—specialists who stop internal bleeding using minimally invasive techniques—made lifesaving care even faster. By cutting start times from 95 minutes to just 43, they reduced the need for blood transfusions, helped patients avoid major surgery, and sped up healing. This Changemaker Award-winning e�ort shows how smart teamwork leads to quicker care and better recoveries for trauma patients.
The truth is, we’re the safety net for everyone in LA County, whether you’re a �rst responder injured on the job or someone caught in a major accident, we run some of the busiest ERs in the county. When an emergency strikes, having a well-resourced medical center near you is vital, because every second matters.
187,000


Urgent care visits


14,400
276,000 Emergency room visits Psychiatric emergency visits




942,000 911 calls answered
377,000 Patient visits afterhours or on weekends




581,000 Ambulance transports

Health isn’t just about treating illness—it’s about preventing it. From healthy food and exercise to education and community connection, we’re helping Angelenos live fuller, stronger, healthier lives.


Black, Latino, low-income, and uninsured patients face signi�cantly higher rates of diabetes and diabetes-related blindness. This year, LA Health Services completed more than 200,000 diabetic retinopathy screenings, bringing sight-saving care directly into primary care clinics and using tele-eye technology to reach patients who have historically had the least access. Early detection prevents vision loss—and this systemwide e�ort helps ensure that every patient, no matter their zip code or income, gets the chance to protect their sight.
This year, LA Health Services expanded cervical cancer screenings across clinics, helping more women get timely, preventive care. By improving outreach, follow-up, and testing, we caught disease earlier—protecting patients’ health, strengthening long-term outcomes, and saving nearly $700,000 in avoidable treatment costs. Caring for women means investing in prevention, dignity, and the power of early detection.



From East LA to the San Fernando Valley, sta� and patients came together for our �rst systemwide Earth Week events—linking climate action directly to health. Cleaner air, cooler neighborhoods, and reduced pollution mean fewer asthma attacks, safer outdoor activity, and better outcomes for the communities we serve. Together, we’re building a greener LA where patients can breathe easier and live healthier.
Harbor–UCLA is leading groundbreaking research to make kidney care more equitable across Los Angeles County’s safety net. By using data to identify patients most at risk and standardizing care across hospitals and clinics, we’re catching kidney disease earlier—helping more patients, especially in underserved communities, stay healthy and avoid dialysis.


At Olive View–UCLA, wellness starts with what’s on the table. The team doubled its produce distribution days, helping hundreds of families bring home fresh fruits and veggies. Because nourishing our patient’s bodies is the �rst step to nourishing our communities.

At community events from Compton to East LA, our teams taught hundreds how to save a life with hands-only CPR. Simple steps, big impact. Because anyone can be a lifesaver.
Wellness starts long before a hospital visit. Across LA County, our teams are helping patients build healthier habits through education, group support, and easy access to preventive tools. From managing chronic conditions to checking blood pressure in the community, these e�orts show how care continues far beyond the exam room.

8,700 Patients received personalized health education




58,300 Patients received behavioral health support
1,000
Patients attended group classes on diabetes, hypertension, and nutrition


See Diabetes Video


1,400
Expectant mothers received personalized prenatal health education
980
Expectant mothers attended group classes on nutrition and exercise, breastfeeding, and labor and delivery


51

Wellness kiosks across LA County— helped residents stay healthy every day
Through California’s Quality Incentive Pool (QIP) program, LA Health Services continues to lead in clinical excellence, earning top performance across primary care, behavioral health, maternal health, and patient safety. In 2024, we exceeded the state’s 90th percentile benchmark in key measures like breast and cervical cancer screening, prenatal depression screening, pediatric development, and heart failure care—securing 100% of our performance-based funding and, more importantly, better outcomes for patients. These results re�ect strong partnerships across clinics, hospitals, and community teams—delivering care that is data-driven, equity-focused, and consistently improving patient outcomes.



Prenatal Depression Screenings
Pediatric Developmental Screenings
Child Immunizations
Breast & Cervical Cancer Screenings
Chlamydia Screenings
Medication Therapy for Heart Failure
Adult Immunizations
Every patient, every visit, every outreach effort—it all adds up. Together, we’re building a healthier, more connected Los Angeles.





This year, more than half of our patient visits were from people whose preferred language wasn’t English. We delivered over 1.2 million interpretation sessions in 150 languages and certi�ed more than 1,000 bilingual sta�. When we speak our patients’ language—literally—we deliver care that’s safer, more personal, and rooted in respect. LA Health Services is ensuring patients feel seen, heard, and understood.


When fear or misinformation keeps immigrant communities from seeking care, we show up with clarity and compassion. LA Health Services provides safe, con�dential care to everyone—regardless of immigration status—so every person feels welcomed, protected, and able to get the care they need without fear.


By LA for LA: Rewriting
LA County’s By LA for LA campaign is tackling overdose stigma head-on. Through bilingual outreach, neighborhood events, and a community engagement bus, the campaign connects people to lifesaving services and reminds residents that every story—and every life—matters.
Showers, laundry, healthcare, connection—all in one place. The new Skid Row Care Campus is more than a facility; it’s a fresh start for our unhoused neighbors. Compassion lives here—and everyone is welcome.


From inside correctional facilities to clinics, new harm reduction vending machines are providing naloxone, fentanyl test strips, and hope—24/7. It’s innovation with heart, turning access into action.

This year, we issued over 70 Jane and John Doe advisories—each for a patient who arrived unconscious, critically injured, and without identi�cation. Our teams worked with media and community partners to help reunite families, restore names, and ensure every person received care with dignity and humanity.

Fr. Chris Ponnet, a longtime chaplain at LA General Medical Center, passed away in 2025 after decades of quiet, unwavering service to patients who were often alone or forgotten. From sitting with dying COVID-19 patients to blessing and advocating for the unclaimed dead, Fr. Ponnet brought dignity, presence, and compassion to those with no one else at their bedside. His legacy lives on in every life he comforted and every person he refused to let be invisible.
LA Times Article



Recovery takes courage and partnership. Through housing, mental health, and trauma recovery programs, we’re helping people rebuild their lives and reminding them that hope is never out of reach.


When wild�res swept through Altadena, longtime social worker Anthony Ru�n, who spent years helping others �nd housing, lost his own. His story re�ects a broader truth: many LA Health Services sta� were deeply a�ected, yet continued showing up for patients and each other. In a time of loss, our workforce demonstrated what care, resilience, and community truly mean.
LA Times Article

At Olive View–UCLA’s Trauma Recovery Center, survivors of violence receive counseling, advocacy, and compassionate support to help them heal long after the physical injuries fade. At no cost, nearly 600 people have accessed trauma-informed care that helps them regain stability, navigate complex systems, and rebuild their lives with dignity and hope.
At Rancho Los Amigos, the Halos Wheelchair Basketball Program is more than a sport—it’s a community. With more than 35 athletes across prep, junior, and adult divisions, all three teams ranked Top 10 nationwide this year. From �rst-time players to Paralympic medalists, every athlete shows how teamwork and determination fuel recovery.




In a Los Angeles courtroom, Applause replaced judgment during a courthouse celebration for O�ce of Diversion and Reentry graduates. Over the past decade, LA County has chosen healing over punishment. Through care instead of incarceration, the diversion programs have given 15,000 people the chance to rebuild their lives.
National Spotlight: Local Impact. LA County’s Housing for Health earned national recognition as Ivory Prize �nalists for using data and early intervention strategies to prevent homelessness. Their work is helping thousands stay safely housed and connected to the support they need.

A dentist from our High Desert Regional Health Center joined a volunteer dental team in providing free dental care. The e�ort restored health, con�dence, and dignity for those who served our country.
Antelope Valley Press Article





From CBS to LAist, the opening of the Skid Row Care Campus made headlines for all the right reasons. Reporters captured stories of hope, hygiene, and healing—a reminder that when community and compassion meet, transformation follows. LAist Article
Hope takes many forms—food on the table, a safe place to sleep, treatment that meets people where they are, and lifesaving tools in moments of crisis. Across LA County, our teams are meeting urgent needs while helping individuals take real steps toward stability, recovery, and a healthier future.
96,500
People served at food distribution clinics




4,800
People placed in permanent supportive housing

10,200
Narcan doses given
211,000 Substance use disorder treatments given

Innovation isn’t about gadgets, it’s about people. We’re using technology to make care faster, safer, and more personal, transforming how patients experience the public health system of the future.


This year, Rancho Los Amigos’ Center for Applied Rehabilitation Technology (CART) celebrated its 35th anniversary with an Open House and hands-on demonstrations showing how technology helps patients reclaim everyday life.


CART supports people relearning how to communicate, move, and live independently—using tools that allow patients to speak after losing their voice, control lights or doors at home, use phones and computers, return to school or work, and enjoy recreation through adaptive gaming. Designed by a multidisciplinary team, these personalized solutions help patients rebuild con�dence, independence, and quality of life after injury or illness—proof that innovation is most powerful when it restores what matters most.

Correctional Health is using “Jailbots” to quickly pull medical information from existing medical and custody systems—work that once took hours and delayed care. Now, clinicians get accurate health records in minutes, helping patients receive the right treatment sooner and ensuring smoother, safer care as they return to the community.

LA Health Services launched a new chemotherapy ordering and dosing system that standardizes treatment across all hospitals.
The fully integrated platform automates complex calculations, reduces the risk of medication errors, and streamlines nursing work�ows ensuring safer, more consistent cancer care for every patient, every time.


Project Monarch is modernizing how clinicians document care using voice recognition, AI-assisted coding, and real-time decision support. The result: safer, more accurate documentation and faster work�ows. By reducing time on screens, Monarch gives clinicians more time where it matters most: with patients.





Teledermatology and virtual eye care are bringing specialty services directly to patients with no long waits, no extra trips, no time away from work or family. With quick photo uploads and remote expert reviews, patients get faster diagnoses, earlier treatment, and high-quality care that �ts into real-life schedules.

Rehabilitation patients are logging on to personalized therapy plans in a new app that tracks progress and builds con�dence. With thousands of users and growing engagement, this digital tool is helping people heal one click, one stretch, one success at a time.






The TeleSitter Program is transforming patient safety. Using real-time video monitoring, sta� can intervene instantly when a patient is at risk, preventing falls, protecting lines and tubes, and supporting calmer recoveries.


Technology is helping us meet patients where they are, at home, at work, and on the go. Through virtual visits, phone care, and a high-volume call center that keeps access moving, LA Health Services is making it easier for patients to get answers, connect with providers, and stay on track with their care.
For working parents, caregivers, and patients juggling busy lives, these tools mean fewer missed workdays, less travel stress, and faster connections to the care they need—making access simpler, more �exible, and more humane across LA Health Services.
5,220
Video visits



6,620 Phone visits
1.5 Calls the Call


156,700
Patients used the Patient Portal
TECH
1.5 Million
Calls handled at Patient Access Center million


Excellence is who we are. From international keynotes to national honors to community awards, our teams continue to raise the bar for safety, quality, and compassionate care.
LA Health Services was nationally recognized by Newsweek as one of America’s Greatest Workplaces for Diversity & Inclusion and one of America’s Greatest Workplaces by State. These honors re�ect our commitment to a welcoming, supportive environment where every employee feels valued—strengthening the care we provide to communities across Los Angeles County.



Our Eye Health team is using cutting-edge technology to detect glaucoma earlier and more accurately. By studying how age, race, and family history a�ect eye health, this work could help doctors �nd glaucoma sooner, so patients get faster treatment and a better chance to protect their vision.
USC Today

Forbes ranked Los Angeles General Medical Center and Olive View–UCLA Medical Center among the Top 60 Hospitals in the nation, recognizing their strong patient outcomes, safety, value, and experience. Out of more than 5,000 hospitals nationwide, both earned a place on this inaugural list—proof that world-class care is possible in a public health system serving some of the most diverse and medically underserved communities in the country.





Olive View–UCLA’s maternity team earned a Newsweek Top Hospital Award for safe, compassionate birth care. Their commitment ensures every family is welcomed with the high-quality support, skill, and respect they deserve at one of life’s most important moments.


Harbor–UCLA’s nursing team earned top County honors for dramatically reducing sta� assaults and strengthening patient safety. Their work is a powerful reminder that caring for others starts with creating a safe, supported environment for the people who provide the care.
Two of our own are making headlines: Dr. Jeremy Blumberg (Left) and Jun Goeku (Right) were recognized by the Los Angeles Business Journal for their outstanding leadership in healthcare. Their work re�ects the vision of LA Health Services: innovation, equity, and care for every community.


Recognized by Becker’s Hospital Review as one of the nation’s “Patient Safety Experts to Know,” Dr. Arun Patel was honored for his systemwide leadership in building a culture of safety, fairness, and accountability across LA Health Services. Dr. Patel leads patient safety training, oversees just-culture reviews, and guides how the system learns from adverse events—focusing on improvement rather than blame. His work helps prevent harm, supports frontline sta�, and ensures patients receive safer, more reliable care every day.



System Chief Nursing Executive Sylvia Martin delivered two powerful sessions in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia—blending nursing advocacy, healthcare �nancing, and leadership strategy for an international audience. For LA Health Services, Sylvia’s invitation to Riyadh is more than a personal achievement. It re�ects our system’s increasing visibility as a national and international thought leader in nursing, equity, and courageous leadership. By sharing our lessons with global partners, and bringing home new insights, Sylvia is helping strengthen the future of nursing leadership across Los Angeles and beyond.




LA Health Services’ Cancer Navigation Program pairs patients with dedicated navigators who guide them through every step of diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up, helping schedule appointments, remove barriers, and connect to support services. This year, the program earned national recognition for cutting the average time to treatment, and dramatically expanding access to supportive care when patients need it most.



LA General and Harbor–UCLA earned Joint Commission Certi�cations as Primary Stroke Centers. Together, these trauma centers set a new standard for stroke response and recovery across the county.


Rancho Los Amigos is once again ranked among the top rehabilitation hospitals in the country by U.S. News & World Report, and now also holds Magnet® recognition for nursing excellence. From bedside to research lab, Rancho shows that extraordinary recovery is powered by skill, compassion, and innovation.




LA General has earned the prestigious Magnet® designation, placing it among fewer than 10 percent of hospitals nationwide recognized for nursing excellence. This honor re�ects outstanding patient outcomes, strong nursing leadership, and a culture rooted in safety, equity, and innovation.
From local headlines to national recognition, LA Health Services is shaping the conversation around health equity, innovation, and care. The world is watching—and we’re proud to show what public healthcare done right looks like.
Univision highlighted LA County’s Homelessness Prevention Unit for using arti�cial intelligence to predict and prevent homelessness. This innovation is helping thousands stay housed, safe, and connected to services that support stability and wellbeing.


In a national spotlight moment, Dr. Brian Chow, infectious disease physician at Harbor–UCLA, was featured in the Boston Globe for his testimony to the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. Drawing on his clinical experience, including caring for a young patient who died from Hepatitis B complications, Dr. Chow, warned that rolling back long-standing birth-dose recommendations could lead to more preventable cancers and chronic disease. His voice underscores LA Health Services’ commitment to evidence based care and patient protection.


LA General Wins NACo Achievement Award for Nurse Residency Program
Los Angeles General Medical Center earned a 2025 National Association of Counties (NACo) Achievement Award for its “Paving a Brighter Future for Nursing” program, which has trained more than 550 new RNs and achieved retention rates up to 100%.
Leading the Conversation on Climate and Health
As wild�res and extreme heat strained LA communities, Health Services physicians helped explain the links between climate, equity, and health. Their insights prepared the public with facts, guidance, and ways to stay safe.


Despite �nancial pressures on safety-net systems, LA Health Services earned national recognition for quality, equity, and innovation. The acknowledgment a�rms the tireless e�orts of our teams to deliver extraordinary care, even when the odds are stacked against us.

LA County, through the O�ce of Decedent A�airs, held its annual Unclaimed Dead Ceremony in Boyle Heights, honoring more than 2,308 Angelenos who passed away in 2022 and were laid to rest with dignity, prayers, and community support. This solemn tradition—observed continuously since 1896—re�ects the County’s commitment to ensuring that every person, regardless of circumstance, receives a respectful farewell and is remembered as a valued member of our community.


Stories of Strength: Silicosis in the Spotlight
Telemundo ampli�ed the story of a Guatemalan worker living with silicosis, and Dr. Jane Fazio from Olive View–UCLA helped explain the medical and emotional toll of this devastating disease. It's another example of our experts lifting up communities too often overlooked.

In November, veterans in need received unexpected support from the Veterans Relief Foundation—including a longtime Rancho sta� member who teaches songwriting through the hospital’s Wellness Center. The moment captured the heart of community care in action.

Food, Real Choice in the San Fernando Valley
LA County launched a new client-choice model at the San Fernando Health Center, letting families choose the fruits and vegetables that �t their tastes and culture. The approach cuts waste, boosts nutrition, and gives residents more dignity and control.

Naming the Unidenti�ed - Behind the Scenes at L.A.'s Busiest Hospital
At LA General, social workers race against time and technology to give names to the John and Jane Does who arrive without identi�cation. Their work speaks volumes about dignity, care, and the unseen stories, reminding us that every life matters.



Click below to enjoy our 2025 LA Health Services Highlights Video:


To advance the health of our patients and our communities by providing extraordinary care.
Recognized nationally as a model integrated health system.
Welcoming - Inclusive - Compassionate
Excellent - Innovative - Accountable
