DIRECTOR’S DESK CHRISTINA R. GHALY, MD DIRECTOR
Nationally, the month of May is used to acknowledge the contributions and significance that health care services has on our communities. This May is particularly important as we surpass the grim milestone of a year in pandemic. During the last year, the importance of the work you do as part of LA County’s Health Services has been front and center in the hearts and minds of LA County residents. Without a doubt everyone at Health Services continues to step up and contribute to the essential work of providing compassionate care for the most vulnerable in our communities and for that I am grateful.
As we kick off the month of May, there is much to be proud of and celebrate. National Nurse Day will be celebrated on May 6, National Public Service Recognition Week is May 2 – 8 and National Hospital Week will be commemorated May 10-14.
LA General Medical Center will be hosting a virtual celebration for the 2021 Nurse of the Year event. Supervisor Solis will be recording a message and Aries Limbaga, CEO of Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center and Jorge Orozco, CEO of LA General Medical Center and I will be part of the program. The Chief Nursing Officers (CNO) will receive the scrolls in honor of all the nurses from: LA General Medical Center, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Olive View-UCLA Medical Center, Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center, 
Ambulatory Care Network, Correctional Health Services, Emergency Medical Services, Juvenile Court Health Services, and our sister departments Department of Mental Health, Department of Public Health and LA County Fire Department. Stay tuned for more information and the access link to join us!
Given the herculean effort Health Services has and continues to undertake throughout the pandemic, we will be extending the recognition of Public Service beyond one week.
Follow our social media platforms for Public Service Recognition highlights and stay tuned for more details on our collective celebrations!
This year, each of the hospitals will be celebrating National Hospital Week in their own way. See the article below for a summary of planned activities at each of our hospitals and plan to participate.
Join the celebrations and take time to show appreciation to each other for everything you have done and continue to do.
Thank you,
Dr. Christina Ghaly
MLK, Jr. Outpatient Department COVID-19 Taskforce reaches out to the African American Faith-Based Community
MLK, Jr. Outpatient Department COVID-19 Taskforce reaches out to the African American Faith-Based Community https://dhs.lacounty.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/MLK-OPD-Photos-and-Participants-1.jpg 514 472 Health Services Los Angeles County //dhs.lacounty.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/dhs-logo.svgThe COVID-19 virus tragically took many lives over the past year. Los Angeles (L.A.) County saw alarming rates of morbidity and mortality.
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Changing Lives, One Job at a Time – Spotlight on OT During Occupational Therapy Month
Changing Lives, One Job at a Time – Spotlight on OT During Occupational Therapy Month https://dhs.lacounty.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Photo-Rancho-OT-04.09.21-1024x829.jpg 1024 829 Health Services Los Angeles County //dhs.lacounty.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/dhs-logo.svgThe Occupational Therapy (OT) profession dates back to 1917. Los Angeles County hired its first Occupational Therapist in 1926 to help “inmates” living at the County Poor Farm be productive despite whatever circumstances they faced.
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Planned Activities at Health Services Hospitals in Honor of Hospital Week May 10-14
Planned Activities at Health Services Hospitals in Honor of Hospital Week May 10-14 https://dhs.lacounty.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/rancho-2-2.png 591 472 Health Services Los Angeles County //dhs.lacounty.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/dhs-logo.svgHospital Week will be celebrated throughout Health Services. See below for the planned activities at the hospitals and plan to participate.
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Health Services Staff Recognition
Health Services Staff Recognition https://dhs.lacounty.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/DHS-Staff-Recognition-1024x410.jpg 1024 410 Health Services Los Angeles County //dhs.lacounty.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/dhs-logo.svgCongratulations to Erica Flores Uribe, M.D., M.P.H. for being honored with a Los Angeles Healthcare Award. Congratulations to the Office of Diversion and Reentry’s Medical Director Dr. Kristen Ochoa as the first recipient of the Judge Stephen S. Goss Memorial Award. Congratulations to the MAMA’s Neighborhood team whose success in reducing preterm birth rates for Black birthing people have been published in the May 2021 issue of NEJM Catalyst Innovations in Care Delivery.
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LA County and Health Services Supports the Healthy Lives of Moms and Babies
LA County and Health Services Supports the Healthy Lives of Moms and Babies https://dhs.lacounty.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/LA-County-and-DHS-Supports-the-Healthy-Lives-of-Moms-and-Babies.png 1008 1007 Health Services Los Angeles County //dhs.lacounty.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/dhs-logo.svgLos Angeles County announced the launch of the 37th Annual March of Dimes campaign earlier this year and is continuing its commitment to support the healthy lives and well-being of mothers and babies.
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Health Services Stands with AAPI Communities
Health Services Stands with AAPI Communities https://dhs.lacounty.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/DHS-EDIA_Logo_Final@1x.png 800 401 Health Services Los Angeles County //dhs.lacounty.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/dhs-logo.svgOver the last several weeks, we have been in deep conversation with staff from Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities, listening to their concerns and discovering how we can better support our staff during a time of increased hate and violence against AAPI people, while also acknowledging and denouncing the long-standing racism impacting these communities.
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Housing for Health Achieves 75 Percent Success Rate In Giving Second Vaccine Doses to Homeless Persons
Housing for Health Achieves 75 Percent Success Rate In Giving Second Vaccine Doses to Homeless Persons https://dhs.lacounty.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/secondvaccine.jpg 800 450 Health Services Los Angeles County //dhs.lacounty.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/dhs-logo.svgThe Department of Health Services’ Housing for Health teams have achieved an average 75 percent success rate in giving persons experiencing homelessness their second dose of COVID-19 vaccine, using a multi-faceted strategy of education, encouragement and follow-up.
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