Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair, Hilda L. Solis and area community members celebrate during the grand opening ribbon cutting ceremony

It was a beautiful day in Southeast LA!

On Saturday July 31, 2021, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair, Hilda L. Solis, Supervisor to the First District, Los Angeles County Health Services and the City of Bell hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony and wellness fair to mark the grand opening of the new Bell Health Center with over 600 community residents in attendance.

“The launch of the Bell Health Center comes at a crucial moment as the County commits to the ongoing work of addressing systemic inequities in areas like healthcare,” said Chair Solis. “Preventive care is one of the primary means in which residents can better manage their health and chronic conditions like high blood pressure and obesity. Right now, many residents in the Southeast region have to travel up to seven miles or more to get to the nearest primary care site, making it a challenge to properly manage their health. By reducing barriers to these essential services, we can improve health outcomes by providing the essential resources residents need to thrive.”

The event featured a free fun-filled outdoor community event with music, giveaways, free health screenings, health and wellness information from community organizations, and free laptops, hotspots, and baby supplies to qualifying families. Los Angeles County Health Services also hosted a COVID-19 vaccine clinic offering the Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson vaccine. A total of 65 residents were vaccinated on-site.

“Our focus at Health Services has always been to deliver world-class community-based care that is accessible and welcoming for everyone,” said Margarita Pereyda, MD, Chief Medical Officer, DHS Ambulatory Care Network. “By expanding our footprint in the Southeast Los Angeles region, more residents will have access to quality primary care services provided at Bell Health Center, including doctor visits, nurse visits, lab draws, and immunizations. Through Health Services’ expansive network of specialists, medical centers, hospitals and community programs, patients will also have access to a wide range of clinical care, supportive services, mental health care, substance use disorder treatment, social workers, health educators, community health navigators, and specialty care – such as cardiology, dermatology, physical therapy, and surgery.”

“The City of Bell is proud to be the home of the new Los Angeles County Department of Health Services health center where residents from the region will have access to comprehensive healthcare,” said City of Bell Mayor Alicia Romero. “On behalf of the community, I would like to express our deep gratitude to Supervisor Solis for her commitment to the health and well-being of Southeast Los Angeles.”

The launch of this health center comes after an evaluation of the health services offered in the community that identified Southeast Los Angeles as a community with the highest need and lowest primary care access areas in the County.

If you have any questions or require additional information, please contact Sheila Rodriguez at acnpio@dhs.lacounty.gov.