Pulse – June 2024

DIRECTOR’S DESK CHRISTINA R. GHALY, MD

Summer is once again upon us and I hope you are able to enjoy the longer days in new ways.

LA Health Services staff are consistently seeking out new opportunities to enhance our services to improve the health outcomes of our patients. It gives me great pleasure to share when the good work that goes on in the department gets recognition. This month, the National Association of Counties (NACo) released their list of winners, and I was delighted to learn that 27 projects from LA Health Services earned recognition.

The projects were based in our hospitals, in the Ambulatory Care Network, Community Programs and Correctional Health Services. The projects involved screening for health conditions, enhancing services for our patients across the lifespan, streamlining processes to improve productivity and efficiency and reduce wait times to access critical services. Our patients come from Los Angeles County and beyond. We treat patients in our facilities, in the streets, and in correctional facilities. We meet people where they are. The projects that earned recognition reflect our workforce members’ abilities to successfully identify problems and corresponding solutions and carry them out in innovative ways.

Congratulations to all the Countywide programs that earned national recognition through NACo. This is a proud moment for us all. See below for a summary of the winning programs.

This month, in honor of Pride month, LA Health Services facilities flew the Progressive Pride flag and workforce members had opportunities to participate in Pride events at our facilities and in the community. See below to learn more about the Progressive Pride flag and see photos from this year’s LA Pride Parade.

Los Angeles County recognizes June as Silicosis Awareness Month. This is an important issue that affects the health and wellbeing of many of our patients and community members. There is still much to do and much to learn about this condition, which is why it is important to raise awareness and work together toward solutions.

Thank you for all you do.

Dr. Christina Ghaly