Health Technology Revolutionizes Patient Care

Los Angeles County’s Department of Health Services is installing a new countywide electronic health record system that could be a model for health care organizations across the country.

“Our patients simply need and deserve world class technology to protect their health,” said Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas.

The system, called the Online Real-time Centralized Health Information Database, or ORCHID, is the first uniform, standardized, and fully integrated electronic health record technology to be released countywide.

“Having one system will bring us together as a single integrated system,” DHS Director Mitchell Katz said.

With ORCHID, nurses will be able to use bar code technology when administering medications to patients. Bar code scanners will be available in patient rooms, allowing bedside bar code scanning. The nurse scans the bar code on the patient’s wrist and the bar coded medication label, then administers the medication. Among other benefits, the ORCHID system will help verify that the right medication was given to the right patient in the right dose at the right time.

Each patient will have a unique bar code that exists only on his or her wristband. The system alerts the nurse if the medication order is expired, discontinued or if the wrong medication is given to a patient. The bar code technology will reduce the possibility of patient care errors with every pill.

“The new system will result in improved quality of care, improved efficiency of care, and an innovative system that can serve as a model across the country,” the Supervisor said.

Recently, the pharmacy team in Los Angeles County completed the task of scanning every unique medication for the Department of Health Services pharmacies to capture the bar codes into the ORCHID database. The process, completed by hand, included 50,000 scans.

The new system will launch on November 1 at Harbor UCLA Medical Center and at the Martin Luther King Jr. Outpatient Center on February 1, 2015. The initial launch will be followed by the LAC+USC Medical Center on May 1 2015, the High Desert Regional Health Center Cluster on August 1, 2015, the Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center on November 1, 2015, and the Olive View-UCLA Medical Center Cluster on February 1, 2016.

“We are dismantling the digital divide of health care that exists in our communities,” the Supervisor said.

New Plan to End Youth Homelessness Unveiled

More than 200 leaders, advocates, and youth packed Holman United Methodist Church in West Adams recently to discuss potential solutions for ending youth homelessness in South Los Angeles. This group, the South Los Angeles Homeless and Foster Youth Collaborative, took the lead on fostering community dialogue and organizing the breakfast to unveil the “Homeless No More Community Plan.”

According to the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, 8,713 homeless are under the age of 24 and 4,046 are between the ages of 18-24. South Los Angeles has the second highest concentration with 2,016 youth, representing 23 percent of the homeless youth population in Los Angeles County.

In response to the need for strategic interventions to lower these numbers, leaders, advocates, and youth formed the collaborative to find solutions. A year ago, after the collective’s first summit, the idea of a community plan was conceived to better understand the problems foster youth face and potential solutions to youth homelessness in South Los Angeles.

“No single organization is responsible for any major social problem, nor can any single organization cure it,” said Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas.

Latrina Wilcher, former foster youth & owner of Sweet Tri Pastries

Latrina Wilcher, 26, was born in South Los Angeles. She was at the Holman organizing breakfast to work as a caterer, and shared her story of homelessness. Wilcher said she was taken away from her mother when she was two-years-old, and after passing through a series of group and foster homes, she became homeless.

“When you turn 18, they kick you out,” she said. “But it takes time to get back on your feet especially when you’ve had a horrible childhood.”

Luckily, she met Janet Kelly, the executive director of Sanctuary of Hope and the co-founder of the collaborative. Kelly helped enroll Wilcher in a mentorship program and start her own catering business.

For the past year, with support from the Office Supervisor Ridley-Thomas, leaders from across business, law enforcement, government, health, academic, interfaith, philanthropic and non-profit sectors as well as former homeless youth engaged in a series of meetings and committed themselves to identifying a plan to prevent vulnerable youth from becoming homeless. The meetings resulted in the “Homeless No More” community plan, a roadmap to move forward in the years ahead.

“Our youth may be homeless, but they are not hopeless,” said Reverend Kelvin Sauls, the pastor of Holman United Methodist Church and the chair of the collaborative.

The collaborative identified six strategic objectives to be implemented by 2019:

  • Improve the coordination of services, simplify access, and eliminate barriers
  • Increase and improve housing options for homeless youth in South LA.
  • Coordinate and enhance critical support systems and services targeting homeless TAY and foster care youth.
  • Improve public policies and systems that address or omit homeless and at-risk youth.
  • Produce and compile data and research that best describes the opportunities, needs, and gaps of homeless and at-risk youth in the South LA region.
  • Expand leadership, collaborative will, and service capacity of South South LA service providers, the faith-based community, community leaders and Transitions Age Youth.

“This plan provides hope for a community that has lacked resources,” said Gerald Thompson, co-founder and director of the collaborative.

Supervisor Ridley-Thomas speaks at unveiling of “Homeless No More Community Plan”

“Our young people deserve permanent solutions such as housing, access to a shower, clean clothes, and career opportunities. This is a bold step forward, but much work remains to deliver those solutions,” the Supervisor said.

According to LAHSA Commissioner Booker Pearson, 70% of individuals in California prisons were in foster care at one time. Prison costs an average of about $47,000 per year per inmate in California.

“Think it’s cheaper to house a kid then let him go to foster care and wind up in prison?” Pearson asked rhetorically. “This is not only the right and moral thing to do. It’s economic suicide to ignore our homeless children.”

For more information, visit the collective’s website at www.southlatay.org.

Board Approves $20 Million for Diversion

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The Board of Supervisors Tuesday voted to set aside $20 million to fund mental health services, substance abuse treatment, job counseling, as well as supportive housing for mentally ill offenders as an alternative to incarceration.

“We know that jail is not the best place to treat the mentally ill and substance abusers,” said Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, who sponsored the motion setting aside the funds. “Jail only makes the mentally ill sicker, and this County has not been able to figure out how to keep them stabilized and healthy in an environment that only makes them worse.”

The mentally ill are jailed at higher rates than others, and those numbers are outpacing the County’s ability to properly treat them. Diversion, or rerouting mentally ill offenders to treatment instead of incarceration, is intended to stabilize them and reduce the likelihood of recidivism. Many of the mentally ill people that wind up in County jails have co-occurring disorders and are homeless.

“Unnecessarily jailing people with mental illness is not only expensive, because they can be treated for a fraction of the cost using community-based programs, but it is also harsh and insensitive, and dare I say, inhumane,” the Supervisor said. “Having an untreated mental illness should not be a crime.”

The County of Los Angeles has been under a Memorandum of Agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice since 2002 and could face a consent decree because the jails were not designed to accommodate or deliver treatment to inmates with severe mental illnesses.

Today, the Board of Supervisors joined with District Attorney Jackie Lacey, County mental and public health departments and the Sheriff’s Department as a financial partner committed to diversion. In 2015, the board will vote on whether to build a $2 billion jail. By setting aside $20 million in a separate fund pending receipt of the District Attorney’s report, the Board has expressed a commitment to righting this wrong.

In the Second Supervisorial District efforts to expand diversion are already underway. The MLK Mental Health Urgent Care Center opened its doors earlier this month on the Martin Luther King Medical Campus. The center is a one-stop shop for families, individuals and law enforcement to bring a person suffering acute distress or an episode related to mental illness. Patients will receive a variety of services including psychiatric evaluation and assessment, crisis intervention, substance abuse counseling and medication support from an on-site team of experts from the county’s departments of mental health, social services, health services and public health.

For more information on the MLK Mental Health Urgent Care Center, please visit:

http://ridley-thomas.lacounty.gov/index.php/mlk-mental-health/

My Health LA to Enroll More Residents

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With an estimated 400,000 people in Los Angeles County unable to qualify for health coverage under the federal; Affordable Care Act, Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas and St. John’s Well Child and Family Center have moved to provide free health care for those still in need.

The My Health LA program, which launches October 1, is a no-cost health care program through 164 community partner clinics for low-income residents of Los Angeles County who do not have health insurance. The program, which received $61,000 in funding from Los Angeles County, has evolved from a two decade-long partnership between LA County and local community clinics and health centers. Patients will receive primary care services at clinics, such as health screenings, physicals, chronic disease management, and prescription medications. Specialty care and more acute services will be provided by LA County’s Department of Health Services.

“My Health LA demonstrates the commitment of Los Angeles County to expand health coverage to the uninsured and to ensure access to care for the most vulnerable among us,” said Supervisor Ridley-Thomas. “Every person living in Los Angeles deserves access to health care and we will not stop until this is achieved. We need health care for all.”

By giving access to medical care for all residents, patients can treat their symptoms early on in their illness and avoid much more expensive emergency care later on. In addition, diagnosing certain contagious illnesses at their onset is increasingly important to contain them quickly.

Since January, hundreds of thousands of people in California have enrolled in the Affordable Care Act. In addition, free medical, dental and vision services recently were made available to thousands through the fifth annual Care Harbor Free Clinic.

St. John’s Chief Executive Jim Mangia noted that the center, which offers primary care services and supportive services to address families’ educational, socio-economic, and mental health needs, will not turn anyone away.

Sister Dolores Riojas of St. Thomas Church in Los Angeles said many of her parishioners were lacking in healthcare.

“We thank Supervisor Ridley-Thomas for the leadership he has provided in helping working families,” she said. “Now they will be getting treated early on.”

Click here to find a clinic near you. Participants should call the clinic to make an appointment to enroll and to make sure the clinic is taking new patients.healthy

My Health LA to Enroll More Residents

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With an estimated 400,000 people in Los Angeles County unable to qualify for health coverage under the federal; Affordable Care Act, Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas and St. John’s Well Child and Family Center have moved to provide free health care for those still in need.

The My Health LA program, which launches October 1, is a no-cost health care program through 164 community partner clinics for low-income residents of Los Angeles County who do not have health insurance. The program, which received $61,000 in funding from Los Angeles County, has evolved from a two decade-long partnership between LA County and local community clinics and health centers. Patients will receive primary care services at clinics, such as health screenings, physicals, chronic disease management, and prescription medications. Specialty care and more acute services will be provided by LA County’s Department of Health Services.

“My Health LA demonstrates the commitment of Los Angeles County to expand health coverage to the uninsured and to ensure access to care for the most vulnerable among us,” said Supervisor Ridley-Thomas. “Every person living in Los Angeles deserves access to health care and we will not stop until this is achieved. We need health care for all.”

By giving access to medical care for all residents, patients can treat their symptoms early on in their illness and avoid much more expensive emergency care later on. In addition, diagnosing certain contagious illnesses at their onset is increasingly important to contain them quickly.

Since January, hundreds of thousands of people in California have enrolled in the Affordable Care Act. In addition, free medical, dental and vision services recently were made available to thousands through the fifth annual Care Harbor Free Clinic.

St. John’s Chief Executive Jim Mangia noted that the center, which offers primary care services and supportive services to address families’ educational, socio-economic, and mental health needs, will not turn anyone away.

Sister Dolores Riojas of St. Thomas Church in Los Angeles said many of her parishioners were lacking in healthcare.

“We thank Supervisor Ridley-Thomas for the leadership he has provided in helping working families,” she said. “Now they will be getting treated early on.”

Click here to find a clinic near you. Participants should call the clinic to make an appointment to enroll and to make sure the clinic is taking new patients.

Care Harbor LA Offers Free Healthcare to Thousands


It’s been three years since Kameron Lyons, 21 of Long Beach has seen a dentist.  The Cal State University Long Beach senior says that she has suffered through extreme pain in her mouth for the last three months that prevents her from eating anything cold including her favorite- ice cream.

But on Thursday, thanks to the Care Harbor LA free healthcare clinic, Lyons received two fillings and a teeth cleaning from a dentist free of charge.

“My mouth feels better now,” Lyons said. “I’m grateful and really happy to be here.”

The mounting cost of tuition and books has forced Lyons to spend her limited income on school rather than healthcare.

“It’s nice to know that people care about those of us that don’t have the luxury of going to a dentist,” Lyons continued. “The aura here is positive, the people volunteering are happy to be here and it is all good vibes.”

For four days, hundreds of doctors, dentists, nurses and other volunteers provide free screenings, treatment, prevention resources and follow-up care to thousands of uninsured, underinsured and at-risk individuals and families inside the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena.  At the clinic, patients also will be able to receive HIV tests, specialty medical care and primary care.

Like Lyons, James Scott, 75 of Los Angeles is thankful for the opportunity to receive free healthcare at the clinic. Scott says that he has stopped driving altogether because of his poor eyesight and that he is looking forward to seeing an optometrist.

“I’m reliant on my right eye and have become a one-eye reader,” Scott said.  “I have Medicare but it doesn’t fully cover what I need and I can’t afford to see an optometrist.  My license is expired and I need a prescription and glasses so that I can see better and pass the vision exam at the DMV.”

One of the primary goals for the event is not only to provide people with quality, holistic medical care, but to sign up eligible residents for insurance through the Affordable Care Act.

“We want to create an event so that the people going through the line this year are not going to have to have to be in line next year,” Don Manelli, president and founder of Care Harbor said. “We are working hard to become obsolete.”

Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, whose office is one of the sponsors of Care Harbor LA, said that the need for the event is clear, referring to the line of individuals waiting to enter the sports arena to receive medical attention.

“We are proud to provide compassionate and efficient healthcare to thousands of individuals in need of care,” he said.  “Care Harbor represents the best of our communities and humanity at its best to help those who are less fortunate.”

 

Care Harbor LA Offers Free Healthcare to Thousands


It’s been three years since Kameron Lyons, 21 of Long Beach has seen a dentist.  The Cal State University Long Beach senior says that she has suffered through extreme pain in her mouth for the last three months that prevents her from eating anything cold including her favorite- ice cream.

But on Thursday, thanks to the Care Harbor LA free healthcare clinic, Lyons received two fillings and a teeth cleaning from a dentist free of charge.

“My mouth feels better now,” Lyons said. “I’m grateful and really happy to be here.”

The mounting cost of tuition and books has forced Lyons to spend her limited income on school rather than healthcare.

“It’s nice to know that people care about those of us that don’t have the luxury of going to a dentist,” Lyons continued. “The aura here is positive, the people volunteering are happy to be here and it is all good vibes.”

For four days, hundreds of doctors, dentists, nurses and other volunteers provide free screenings, treatment, prevention resources and follow-up care to thousands of uninsured, underinsured and at-risk individuals and families inside the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena.  At the clinic, patients also will be able to receive HIV tests, specialty medical care and primary care.

Like Lyons, James Scott, 75 of Los Angeles is thankful for the opportunity to receive free healthcare at the clinic. Scott says that he has stopped driving altogether because of his poor eyesight and that he is looking forward to seeing an optometrist.

“I’m reliant on my right eye and have become a one-eye reader,” Scott said.  “I have Medicare but it doesn’t fully cover what I need and I can’t afford to see an optometrist.  My license is expired and I need a prescription and glasses so that I can see better and pass the vision exam at the DMV.”

One of the primary goals for the event is not only to provide people with quality, holistic medical care, but to sign up eligible residents for insurance through the Affordable Care Act.

“We want to create an event so that the people going through the line this year are not going to have to have to be in line next year,” Don Manelli, president and founder of Care Harbor said. “We are working hard to become obsolete.”

Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, whose office is one of the sponsors of Care Harbor LA, said that the need for the event is clear, referring to the line of individuals waiting to enter the sports arena to receive medical attention.

“We are proud to provide compassionate and efficient healthcare to thousands of individuals in need of care,” he said.  “Care Harbor represents the best of our communities and humanity at its best to help those who are less fortunate.”

 

Thousands Received Wristband for Free Healthcare

Danielle Kahl, 25, of Los Angeles, says it’s been years since she saw an optometrist. The left arm on her three-year-old prescription eyeglasses is missing, and making do has been difficult. Kahl, who is unemployed, arrived at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena at 5:30 a.m. Sunday with her 23-month-old son, James, to reserve her place at the 6th annual Care Harbor LA free clinic. Kahl, like thousands of other people from throughout Southern California, had lined up to obtain the wristbands that would guarantee them treatment Thursday at one of the nation’s largest events promising free health care to all comers.

From Thursday through Sunday, hundreds of doctors, dentists, nurses and other volunteers provide screenings, treatment, prevention resources and follow-up care to thousands of uninsured, underinsured and at-risk individuals and families. At the clinic, patients also will be able to receive HIV tests, specialty medical care and primary care.
“I’ve never been to an event like this,” Kahl said. “This is so cool.”

Don Manelli, president and founder of Care Harbor, notes that one goal for the event is not only to provide people with quality, holistic medical care, but to help eligible residents sign up for insurance through the Affordable Care Act.

“We want to create an event so that the people going through the line this year are not going to have to have to be in line next year,” Manelli said. “We are working hard to become obsolete.”
Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, whose office is one of the sponsors of Care Harbor LA, said that the event is a testament to the profound work of volunteers to help those in need.

“Care Harbor is an example of compassion, ingenuity, skills, expertise, time and money, rolled into an annual event to help those who are less fortunate,” he said. “It represents the very best of our communities.”

For Antonio Relnado-Sergio, 52 of Van Nuys, who is homeless, looking down at the green wristband that will admit him into the clinic on Thursday gave him a sense of relief. After losing both of his front teeth, he will finally have to opportunity to see a dentist. Relnado-Sergio says he has been actively seeking work but has been told an unattractive smile is to blame for the lack of follow-up interviews.
“I got it,” said Relnado-Sergio, referring to his wristband. “God bless the organizers of this event. This is amazing.”

 

Thousands Received Wristband for Free Healthcare

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Danielle Kahl, 25, of Los Angeles, says it’s been years since she saw an optometrist. The left arm on her three-year-old prescription eyeglasses is missing, and making do has been difficult. Kahl, who is unemployed, arrived at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena at 5:30 a.m. Sunday with her 23-month-old son, James, to reserve her place at the 6th annual Care Harbor LA free clinic. Kahl, like thousands of other people from throughout Southern California, had lined up to obtain the wristbands that would guarantee them treatment Thursday at one of the nation’s largest events promising free health care to all comers.

From Thursday through Sunday, hundreds of doctors, dentists, nurses and other volunteers provide screenings, treatment, prevention resources and follow-up care to thousands of uninsured, underinsured and at-risk individuals and families. At the clinic, patients also will be able to receive HIV tests, specialty medical care and primary care.
“I’ve never been to an event like this,” Kahl said. “This is so cool.”

Don Manelli, president and founder of Care Harbor, notes that one goal for the event is not only to provide people with quality, holistic medical care, but to help eligible residents sign up for insurance through the Affordable Care Act.

“We want to create an event so that the people going through the line this year are not going to have to have to be in line next year,” Manelli said. “We are working hard to become obsolete.”
Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, whose office is one of the sponsors of Care Harbor LA, said that the event is a testament to the profound work of volunteers to help those in need.

“Care Harbor is an example of compassion, ingenuity, skills, expertise, time and money, rolled into an annual event to help those who are less fortunate,” he said. “It represents the very best of our communities.”

For Antonio Relnado-Sergio, 52 of Van Nuys, who is homeless, looking down at the green wristband that will admit him into the clinic on Thursday gave him a sense of relief. After losing both of his front teeth, he will finally have to opportunity to see a dentist. Relnado-Sergio says he has been actively seeking work but has been told an unattractive smile is to blame for the lack of follow-up interviews.
“I got it,” said Relnado-Sergio, referring to his wristband. “God bless the organizers of this event. This is amazing.”

 

Wristband Distribution for the County’s Largest Free Health Clinic

County residents in need of free vision, dental or medical care should clear their calendars: at 8 a.m. Wednesday, September 10, Care Harbor LA an annual free clinic for families and individuals in need, will distribute 1,000 wristbands on a first come basis at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena’s VIP Parking Lot.

Although the upcoming four-day clinic will take place from September 11-14 from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., only those who obtained wristbands ahead of time will be seen. Each wristband will have a specific day printed on it designating the day on which patients should return for treatment.

During Care Harbor LA the Sports Arena will be transformed into a medical clinic where hundreds of doctors, dentists, optometrists, nurses and general volunteers will be onsite to serve those who are uninsured, underinsured and in need of medical, dental and vision care.

This will be the sixth massive free clinic produced by Care Harbor, in an effort to bring desperately needed care to the most vulnerable populations in Los Angeles County. The organizers and healthcare professionals who formed Care Harbor, a nonprofit organization, are dedicated to providing free care to thousands of uninsured and underserved people in Southern California. Last year more than 3,000 patients were served at the Care Harbor LA clinic. Just as the previous years, this year’s free health care clinic is forecasted to serve thousands of people.

  • One wristband per person.
  • Patients will not be admitted into the free clinic without a wristband.

The Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena is located at 3939 South Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA 90037.