Biography of St. John's Community Health

Biography of St. John's Community Health

St. John’s Community Health, based in Los Angeles, CA, is a network of health centers that provide care to anyone in need, regardless of insurance status. The community medical center is a contracted medical partner under the Health Care LA IPA (HCLA) umbrella, the largest IPA (Independent Physician Association) healthcare provider in Los Angeles County. The healthcare organization has developed partnerships with private, non-profit, and government entities, allowing it to provide care for government-sponsored and managed care programs.

Community-based health centers are crucial to a large population of individuals and families who have barriers to regular primary care. These include costs, distance, lack of insurance, and even language barriers. St. John’s is a tremendous benefit to LA County and Inland Empire residents, as the organization promotes preventative health and wellness that can prevent or delay the onset of serious disease. The health center offers a comprehensive suite of services, including medical, dental, mental health, and substance abuse.

St. John’s is distinguished for being patient-centered and offers a case management style of patient care. This is a cost-effective method for coordinating the care of chronic illness, but it also reduces fragmented and ineffective healthcare services. The center employs a staff to deliver supportive services and community outreach, which improves health access and outcomes for underserved populations.

This vital community health organization began in a single room run by volunteers. Today, it has grown to encompass over 20 locations. It serves patients of all ages at brick-and-mortar clinics,

school-based health programs, mobile clinics, and satellite clinics in public housing developments.

A Proponent of Health Equity St. John’s Community Health has been a proponent of social justice from the beginning. It collaborates with non-profit organizations and government programs to develop a comprehensive health delivery system that benefits the disadvantaged. The organization empowers community residents to advocate for their family’s wellness in a health system that often meets the needs of low-income, uninsured, or underinsured populations in neighborhoods like Compton and South and Central Los Angeles.

Health equity is only accomplished when everyone can obtain health and wellness services, regardless of geographical location or socioeconomic status. Other populations with barriers to good health care seem to predominantly exist within certain races, ethnicities, age groups, physical abilities, gender identities, nationalities, and sexual orientations.

To combat health inequities, St. John’s has located medical clinics in underserved communities where 83% of the households live at or below the Federal Poverty Level, 74% are enrolled in Medi-Cal programs, and 26% are uninsured.

The organization recognized the specific needs of these communities. It worked to provide traditional health care and support services tailored to the socioeconomic needs of residents in Los Angeles County. St. John's engages with communities' social and health needs through health education, child welfare services, legal assistance, community development, and reentry/anti-recidivism programs.

St. John’s Mission, Vision, and Values St. John’s is a humanitarian leader in the healthcare industry, and its primary goal has always been steadfast. Its mission is to work as a team and in partnership with community organizations to improve residents' health by reducing healthcare disparities. Its focus is on delivering comprehensive, high-quality services that show a measurable impact on the community's health.

Since its launch in the 1960s, St. John’s has structured the organization as a catalyst for health equity. This vision has been enlarged to address new systemic barriers to healthcare as they arise. The organization actively advocates for competent health care across all cultures and has been an outspoken champion for policy changes. The executive staff has worked diligently to diversify its workforce while raising awareness about health disparities.

St. John’s stands on a foundation of core values. These include dignity, excellence, well-being, and social justice. In all its services and operations, the community healthcare organization strives to honor and respect all its patients, colleagues, and community members. The executive teams champion the best standards of care from their healthcare professionals, allowing for creativity, teamwork, and personal and professional growth. The fully integrated suite of services is designed to benefit the well-being of its client base while also advancing healthcare equity and fairness to all society.

Comprehensive Health Provider The success of St. John’s Community Health lies in the personalized level of care it delivers to the Los Angeles and San Bernardino communities. Each patient is assigned a care team, which includes a primary care physician. A health assessment and diagnostic screenings are designed to discover underlying causes of symptoms or injury. Physical exams (wellness visits) are available to all as a preventative health care initiative. The list of medical services is comprehensive: ●​ ●​ ●​ ●​ ●​ ●​ ●​ ●​ ●​ ●​ ●​ ●​ ●​ ●​

Primary and family physicians Immunizations and Vaccinations Health Screening (such as asthma, diabetes, high blood pressure) STD and HIV Testing and treatment Vision and hearing services Laboratory and Pharmacy Nutrition counseling Transgender health care Podiatry Services Optometry Services Harm reduction programs Health Education Outreach and Advocacy Domestic Violence

All of these services are provided in a medical home setting that uses evidence-based therapies and best care practices. The community health center has been recognized by the National Center for Quality Assurance as a Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH), a healthcare delivery model that puts patients at the forefront of care, building better relationships between patients and their clinical care teams.