Faced with an increased demand for health services, the Los Angeles LGBT Center has added four new medical providers, shortened the wait time to see a doctor or therapist, opened a new, larger pharmacy with free monthly prescription delivery and launched a new secure patient website that facilitates communication with providers and offers a number of conveniences.
“The biggest reason we’re growing is because of referrals from our current patients,” said Director of Health and Mental Health Services Christopher Brown. “In patient satisfaction surveys, 96% of people say they’d recommend the Center’s health services to their friends. It’s not just because of our great team, it’s also because we have a very sex-positive, nonjudgmental, and collaborative approach to care.”
Brown said that with the addition of the new providers, the wait time for new patients to establish care with a doctor may be one week or less. He also says the Center accepts Medi-Cal, Medicare, Covered California plans, and most non-HMO insurance plans. And if someone is uninsured, the Center can help get insurance coverage. No one is ever turned away for lack of funds.
As the Center’s medical practice has grown, so has the number of prescriptions it fills (more than 170,000 last year), which is why the organization recently completed construction on a new, larger pharmacy on the same site as the original. The new pharmacy offers faster service through two new service windows, additional staff, and state of the art technology. It also continues to offer free monthly prescription delivery.
Getting an appointment with a Center therapist has also gotten easier and faster. Known for its affordable counseling by staff who specialize in caring for LGBT people, appointments to see a Center therapist can now be scheduled as soon as the following week. For those struggling with substance use, help is even faster (and free) through anonymous, online chats weekdays from 1 to 5 p.m. For more information, visit lalgbtcenter.org/recovery.
Brown said that the new secure patient website is perhaps the most popular of all the changes the Center has implemented. “People love how easy it is to ask their doctor a question, book an appointment, or check their lab results. The new site is completely integrated with each patient’s secure electronic medical record.”
More information about the Center’s health and medical services and appointment, scheduling is available online.
