This project would renovate the existing Ted Watkins Building (increasing facilities to approximately 10,000 square feet) on the Martin Luther King Jr. Medical Campus to expand provision of much needed sexual health services for the surrounding community. The MLK Sexual Health Center is the primary provider of HIV/AIDS care in South Los Angeles County and presently has insufficient space to meet existing and projected patient care needs. Construction work for the sexual health clinic will be delivered by the Department of Public Works (DPW) through a contractor, while service provision will be provided by the Department of Health Services (DHS).
This renovation responds directly to needs highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic exposed the true severity of preexisting disparities in the communities served by MLK Community Hospital, particularly in terms of access to care and resources and the ability for people to take care of themselves. The area surrounding the medical campus has some of the highest mortality rates and some of the lowest vaccination rates in the county, reflecting difficulty in access, gaps in health literacy, and lack of transportation. This is also a “highest need” by the COVID-19 Vulnerability Index and surrounded by many neighborhoods designated as “highest” and “high need.”
Furthermore, the pandemic caused the delay of efforts to stem sexually transmitted infections (STIs) when all activities were focused on emergency response to COVID-19. STI treatment and prevention efforts must now be ramped back up to prevent further increases of STIs in the community. Finally, this project reflects lessons learned from the pandemic regarding the importance of treating the whole person as well as the recognition of the pandemic’s impact on both physical and mental health.
The renovated clinical space will allow full integration of medical, preventive, and mental health support services. The space will be able to accommodate HIV services, the Storefront Test Site, the Care Coordination Program, and mental health services all in one convenient location for patients, along with auxiliary campus signage to support patients visiting the MLK medical campus for services. The renovation of the Ted Watkins Building at the MLK Sexual Health Center will support HIV Ambulatory Outpatient Services and Medical Care Coordination services as well as expand services to the LGBTQ community. The existing clinic currently provides services to approximately 700-1,000 patients in a 6,000 square-foot modular building. There is insufficient space for patient care, mental health, social work, and community staff to meet with patients, not to mention for group sessions and support groups or educational workshops.