Hospital information

MLKCH Visitor Policy Update:
Revised 2/21/22

Effective Monday, February 21, MLKCH will allow one visitor per patient during visiting hours (8AM-8PM) in accordance with CDPH requirements:

#1. All visitors must show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test (taken within one day of visitation for antigen test, and within two days of visitation for PCR tests).

Exceptions may include:

If someone is visiting a patient in critical condition and death may be imminent.
If someone is a parent/guardian of child seeking emergency care.
If someone is supporting a labor and delivery patient or baby bonding.
If someone is a support person for a patient with a disability seeking emergency care.
If someone is supporting a patient during outpatient services.
On duty fire, police, or ambulance workers.

#2. Face coverings and Physical distancing

All visitors will need to be wearing an appropriate mask of (N95, KF94, KN95, or surgical masks) at all times.
Visitors must keep a physical distance from other patients/residents/visitors that are not part of their group.

We thank you for your patience and understanding during this time.

Who can use this hospital? You can!

It doesn’t matter if you have health insurance, what language you speak, where you are from, or if you can pay for our services. Our primary goal is to make every resident of South Los Angeles as healthy as they can be.

We're committed to creating an excellent patient care experience for you and your family. We’re proud to provide our community with highly skilled healthcare in a beautiful new hospital. When you need us, we’ve got you covered.

Our patient-first philosophy

In our hospital, we take a patient-focused approach to healthcare, which means that our patients—you—are at the center of every decision we make. When you become our patient, you and your family become the most important members of the healthcare team. We expect—and encourage you—to be actively involved in making decisions about your own care.

Understand your patient rights & responsibilities

Where is the hospital located?

We’re located on the Martin Luther King, Jr. Medical Campus in Willowbrook, Los Angeles. Our address is 1690 E 120th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90059.

Get directions for Metro, driving, and parking—as well as specific directions to our emergency entrance.

Who can use the hospital?

We’re open to everyone. Your immigration status is not important. Your ability to pay is not important. All that matters is that you need care.

I don’t have health insurance. What can I do?

If you don't have insurance, that's ok. We can help. We will provide healthcare to you for free or at a reduced cost. Our financial counselors can also help you apply for health insurance.

Learn more about getting help with your hospital bills.

Why did you transfer my family member to another hospital?

Our hospital emergency room is open 24 hours, 7 days a week to anyone seeking treatment. In some cases, we can’t provide the special treatment needed for our patients. That’s when we transfer patients to a different hospital as quickly as possible.

Who might be transferred to another hospital?

We transfer patients who need any of the following types of specialized care:

Premature newborns, or newborns who require incubators and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU)
Organ transplant donors or recipients
Heart surgery
Some stroke patients
Brain surgery
Pediatric care (children)
Psychiatry (mental healthcare)
Chemical dependency (addiction, "detox" or "drying out")
Physical rehabilitation services (recovery and returning to normal with some coaching and physical help)

Because we’re not a Level One Trauma Center we’re also not able to treat people who’ve had a major traumatic injury. Instead, we provide immediate care and arrange for a transfer to a Trauma Center. A major traumatic injury could be a:

Car or other motor vehicle accident
Bullet or stab wound
Fall

Why does it take so long for an emergency room doctor to see me?

Our nurses immediately evaluate everyone who enters the emergency room. Our doctors see people with life-threatening injuries or conditions first, even if they came after you.

If you wait a long time to see a doctor or nurse, it’s because there are people whose lives are in danger.

If you’re worried about your wait, or if you think your condition is getting worse, please let one of our nurses know.

We know that waiting to see a doctor is hard. Thank you for being patient and understanding.