
Los Angeles County, California, is home to 88 hospitals, according to the LA County Healthcare Coalition. The county's Department of Health Services (DHS) operates a network of medical facilities, including four hospitals, two ambulatory care centres, six comprehensive health centres, and ten health centres. The DHS provides health services to over 800,000 patients, including many uninsured individuals, and its hospitals recorded 295,000 emergency department visits and 1.1 million outpatient visits in 2011. With a long history of healthcare in the region, LA County has a range of hospitals, including academic teaching hospitals, acute care hospitals, and long-term acute care facilities.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of hospitals | 88 |
| Definition of a hospital (according to the American Hospital Association) | Licensed institutions with at least six beds whose primary function is to provide diagnostic and therapeutic patient services for medical conditions |
| Definition of a hospital (according to the World Health Organization) | An establishment permanently staffed by at least one physician, offering inpatient accommodation, and providing active medical and nursing care |
| Types of hospitals | Acute Care hospitals (Short-Term Acute Care hospitals), Long-Term Acute Care hospitals |
| Examples of hospitals | High Desert Hospital, LA County-USC Medical Center, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles General Medical Center, Olive View-UCLA Medical Center, Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center, Martin Luther King, Jr. Outpatient Center |
| Hospital admissions | 74,811 |
| Outpatient visits | 1,251,553 |
| Births | 4,850 |
| Emergency department admissions | 300,000+ |
| Ambulatory care admissions | 2.6 million+ |
| Urgent care admissions | 230,000 |
| Emergency department visits | 295,000 |
| Outpatient hospital visits | 1.1 million |
| Urgent care visits | 76,000 |
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What You'll Learn

LA County has 88 hospitals
Los Angeles County, California, is served by 88 hospitals. The county's healthcare system has a long history, with a small hospital for the poor established in the 1860s. Over the years, the county's healthcare services have evolved, with the Department of Charities formed in 1913, which later split into the Departments of Hospitals and Public Social Services. Today, the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services (LADHS) operates a network of medical facilities, including hospitals, ambulatory care centres, comprehensive health centres, and health centres.
The 88 hospitals in LA County include a mix of acute care hospitals and long-term acute care hospitals. Acute care hospitals provide short-term and immediate medical care, while long-term acute care hospitals offer transitional or extended care for patients who require prolonged hospitalization. LA County is also served by academic teaching hospitals, such as Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles General Medical Center, and Olive View-UCLA Medical Center, which provide inpatient, outpatient, and emergency services.
The county's healthcare system caters to a diverse range of medical needs, including emergency, outpatient, and urgent care services. DHS hospitals alone recorded 295,000 emergency department visits, 1.1 million outpatient hospital visits, and 76,000 urgent care visits. The county has also implemented initiatives to improve access to healthcare for its residents, such as Healthy Way LA (HWLA), a publicly funded health program for uninsured or underinsured low-income residents.
LA County's hospitals are licensed institutions, adhering to the definitions provided by the American Hospital Association (AHA) and the World Health Organization (WHO). According to the AHA, hospitals have a minimum of six beds and primarily offer diagnostic and therapeutic patient services with organized physician and nursing staff. The WHO defines hospitals as establishments permanently staffed by at least one physician, offering inpatient accommodation and active medical and nursing care.
The healthcare infrastructure in LA County is comprehensive, with 88 hospitals distributed across the county. These hospitals vary in size, specialty, and services offered, ensuring that the residents of LA County have access to a range of medical services and treatments.
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The hospitals are licensed institutions
Los Angeles County is home to 88 hospitals, according to the LA County Healthcare Coalition. The American Hospital Association (AHA) defines hospitals as licensed institutions with a minimum of six beds. Their primary purpose is to offer diagnostic and therapeutic patient services for various medical conditions. Hospitals, according to the AHA, should have an organised physician staff available 24/7 and provide continuous nursing services under the supervision of registered nurses.
The World Health Organization (WHO) shares a similar definition, stating that hospitals should be permanently staffed by at least one physician, offer inpatient accommodation, and provide active medical and nursing care. LA County hospitals fall under the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services (LADHS), which includes four hospitals, two ambulatory care centres, six Comprehensive Health Centers (CHC), and ten Health Centres (HC).
The LADHS operates three academic teaching hospitals and one rehabilitation hospital: Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles General Medical Center, Olive View-UCLA Medical Center, and Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center. These hospitals provide inpatient, outpatient, and emergency services for men, women, and children. The LADHS also operates two outpatient care centres through its Ambulatory Care Network (ACN), including the Martin Luther King, Jr. Outpatient Center (MLK OC).
The history of healthcare in Los Angeles County dates back to the 1860s when a County Physician was appointed, and a small hospital for the poor was established. Over the years, the county has expanded its healthcare services, acquiring and establishing new institutions, including military hospitals and rehabilitation centres. Today, LA County hospitals serve a diverse range of patients, including underinsured and uninsured individuals through programmes like Healthy Way LA (HWLA).
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They offer diagnostic and therapeutic services
Los Angeles County is home to 88 hospitals that provide diagnostic and therapeutic services. These hospitals are licensed institutions with a minimum of six beds, offering continuous nursing care under the supervision of registered nurses and an organised physician staff.
Diagnostic services include a range of medical imaging techniques and laboratory tests to identify health conditions. For example, Los Angeles Community Hospital provides diagnostic radiology, MRI, CT scans, and clinical laboratory services. These services help detect and characterise diseases or injuries, aiding physicians in making accurate diagnoses and determining appropriate treatment plans.
Therapeutic services refer to the treatments offered to address specific medical conditions. These can include both non-invasive and invasive procedures, depending on the nature and severity of the condition. Therapeutic services aim to alleviate symptoms, cure diseases, or improve patients' overall health and well-being. For instance, the Los Angeles Community Hospital offers acute renal dialysis, physical therapy, respiratory care, and intensive care services.
Hospitals in LA County also provide emergency services, acute care, and surgical procedures. Acute care hospitals specialise in delivering short-term and immediate medical attention, while surgical services encompass inpatient and outpatient procedures. Additionally, some hospitals have dedicated emergency departments equipped to handle urgent medical situations.
The combination of diagnostic and therapeutic services enables hospitals in LA County to provide comprehensive patient care. By utilising advanced technology and a skilled healthcare workforce, these hospitals strive to meet the diverse medical needs of their communities.
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There are four hospitals in the DHS system
Los Angeles County is home to 88 hospitals, according to the American Hospital Association (AHA). The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services (LADHS) operates four hospitals: Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles General Medical Center, Olive View-UCLA Medical Center, and Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center.
The LADHS provides health services to a large number of patients, including many uninsured individuals. The department's four hospitals recorded over 74,000 admissions, 1.25 million outpatient visits, and nearly 5,000 births in Fiscal Year 2011-2012. The DHS system, including MACCs, received over 300,000 emergency department admissions and nearly 230,000 urgent care admissions during the same period.
Harbor-UCLA Medical Center has been recognised for its contributions to organ donation, consistently earning the Joint Commission's Medal of Honor and, most recently, a silver medal in 2012. The other hospitals in the DHS system are also accredited by the Joint Commission.
In addition to the four hospitals, the LADHS also operates two ambulatory care centres, six Comprehensive Health Centers (CHC), and ten Health Centres (HC). The department's network of medical facilities offers a range of services, including inpatient, outpatient, and emergency care, as well as physical therapy and specialty services.
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LA County hospitals include acute and long-term care facilities
Los Angeles County is home to 88 hospitals, according to the American Hospital Association (AHA). These hospitals cater to a wide range of medical needs, including acute and long-term care. Acute care hospitals, often referred to as short-term acute care, provide immediate and short-term medical attention. They are distinct from long-term acute care hospitals, which offer transitional or extended care for patients requiring prolonged hospitalization.
Long-term acute care hospitals (LTCHs) cater to patients with complex medical conditions who require specialized treatment and longer hospital stays. The average length of stay in these facilities is around 25 days, and many patients are transferred from intensive or critical care units. LTCHs focus on treating individuals with multiple serious ailments, aiming to facilitate their improvement over time.
The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services (DHS) operates an extensive healthcare network, including four hospitals, two ambulatory care centers, six Comprehensive Health Centers (CHCs), and ten Health Centers (HCs). The DHS hospitals are:
- Harbor-UCLA Medical Center
- Los Angeles General Medical Center
- Olive View-UCLA Medical Center
- Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center
These DHS hospitals offer a range of services, including inpatient, outpatient, and emergency care. They also provide specialized services such as physical therapy and access to intensive and critical care units.
In addition to the DHS hospitals, Los Angeles County is also served by various other medical facilities, including long-term acute care hospitals like the Barlow Respiratory Hospital, which is accredited by the Joint Commission and licensed by the State of California. These facilities play a crucial role in the continuum of care, often serving as the next step for patients transitioning from intensive care toward recovery.
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Frequently asked questions
There are 88 hospitals within Los Angeles County.
Hospitals in LA County can be classified into two main types: "'Acute Care' hospitals and "'Long-Term Acute Care' hospitals. "Acute Care" hospitals provide short-term and immediate medical care, while "Long-Term Acute Care" hospitals offer transitional or extended care for patients requiring prolonged hospitalization.
According to the American Hospital Association (AHA), hospitals in LA County must be licensed institutions with a minimum of six beds. They should primarily provide diagnostic and therapeutic patient services for various medical conditions. Additionally, they must have an organized physician staff and offer continuous nursing services supervised by registered nurses.
Some of the hospitals within Los Angeles County include the LA County-USC Medical Center, High Desert Hospital, and formerly named institutions such as Beverly Hospital, Citrus Valley Medical Center, and Silver Lake Medical Center.




























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