MLK Community Healthcare

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MLK Community Healthcare

MLK Community Healthcare (MLKCH) is a private, non-profit, safety-net health system. Learn more about MLK Community Healthcare: www.mlkch.org

MLK Community Healthcare (MLKCH), a private, non-profit, safety-net health system, now offers inpatient, maternity and emergency care at MLK Community Hospital in Willowbrook as well as primary and specialty care at three outpatient sites. In addition, the health system runs a number of community-based health education, screening and treatment programs. MLKCH outpatient services include:

✅ Primary care
✅ Pediatrics
✅ Diabetes (endocrinology)
✅ Heart Disease (cardiology)
✅ Lung Disease (pulmonology)
✅ Urology (men’s health)
✅ Mental and behavioral health (psychiatry/social work)
✅ Foot care (podiatry)
✅ Wound care and hyperbaric healing
✅ Infectious disease
✅ Surgery
✅ Addiction medicine

The evolution of MLKCH from hospital to health system is a direct response to South LA’s chronic lack of resources and access to care. The community suffers from a severe shortage of doctors – 1,200 fewer than in average areas – as well as the fewest number of hospital beds in all of LA County.

“Lack of access to quality healthcare made this community vulnerable to Covid,” said Dr. Elaine Batchlor, CEO of MLK Community Healthcare. “South LA has a high burden of diabetes, heart disease, kidney-related illness and other chronic conditions. Our aim is to create the resources and infrastructure necessary to address and reverse poor health.”

Since its opening in 2015, MLKCH has garnered awards and headlines for its innovative approaches to quality, safety and patient satisfaction.

03/09/2026

After receiving the People’s Choice Award for their presentation on reducing hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPIs) at the ACNL conference, members of our nursing team were invited to present their work again at Huntington Health’s Nursing Research Day in Pasadena.

Our nurses shared their learnings alongside nurse scientists and staff presenting evidence-based research from across the field. It was a great opportunity to learn and connect with colleagues!

We’re grateful to Huntington Health for the invitation and proud of our team for continuing to share the story of MLKCH’s progress and innovation.

Leave a 👏🏾 for our incredible nurses in the comments!

03/04/2026

Meet Amilcar Pina, part of the Social Services Department at MLKCH!

Amilcar was inspired to get into social work early. Growing up in the Pico Union neighborhood, he witnessed firsthand what happened when people didn’t have access to mental health services. He became passionate about helping people get the care they need.

As a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), he assesses and treats mental disorders and provides psychotherapy. While he typically does this in a clinical setting, he travels with the Street Medicine team once a week. “It’s challenging treating outside of controlled environments, but I love it,” he says of these trips. "Most of my unhoused patients are receptive and willing to share.”

Swipe through to learn more about his story ➡️

Happy to Amilcar and everyone on our care team! Leave a little love for them in the comments 👇🏽

03/02/2026

Congrats to the newest nurse leaders at MLKCH: Meray Santander, Oro Omene, Gabrielle Cordero, Hana Dhillon, James Evalle!

These nurses have stepped into the vital role of preceptor—providing one-on-one coaching, support, and mentorship to help new grads and new hires feel confident, capable, and truly welcomed.

We’re proud to invest in nurses who are ready to lead, and grateful for the way these preceptors are shaping the next generation of care in South LA.

02/26/2026

Shoutout to the Employee Wellbeing team who is always there to help staff find balance, support, and renewal while doing demanding work.

They host events like Coffee With The Reverend (pictured here), where anyone seeking blessings, spiritual support, or just a nice jolt of caffeine can get what they need. From counseling to pet therapy and more, they help our caregivers stay grounded and ready to provide compassionate, high-quality care.

02/24/2026

75° degrees? ✅
Sunny? ✅
In-N-Out truck? ✅

Must be a Tuesday in South LA! ☀️🌴🍔

02/23/2026

We’re proud to announce the launch of MLK Community Healthcare’s inaugural Community Advisory Council—a cross-sector group of community leaders helping guide our work to advance health equity in South Los Angeles.

“This council represents a shared commitment of trust and community partnership,” said Dr. Atul Nakhasi, VP of Government & Community Relations at MLKCH. “I’m deeply grateful to the community leaders who are lending their time and expertise, and to the partners who helped us reach this moment.”

Thank you to our inaugural members and partners, including El Nido Family Centers, Black Business Association, California Black Women's Health Project, Los Angeles Sentinel Newspaper, Community Coalition, NAACP Los Angeles, Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Los Angeles - Watts Willowbrook, WAM, All Peoples Community Center, St. Anne's Family Services.

Together, we’re strengthening community-informed care across South LA.

Learn more: mlkch.org/news/inaugural-cac

02/20/2026

Congrats to Evelyn Narvaez, Cynthia Pineda and Sandra Temple who represented MLKCH at the 2026 Association of California Nurse Leaders (ACNL) Conference.

Their presentation highlighted innovative tools we use to reduce Hospital-Acquired Pressure Injuries (HAPIs) and was recognized with a People’s Choice Award!

We are grateful for the opportunity to showcase the impactful work being done at MLKCH and to connect with nursing leaders who share our passion for excellence in healthcare.

02/18/2026

A little kindness goes a long way, and recently our staff felt it in the best way.

Thank you to our Employee Wellbeing team and the Beauty Bus Foundation for bringing a pop-up salon to MLKCH for National Random Acts of Kindness Day. Our café turned into a self-care haven, with hairstylists, nail techs, and estheticians treating team members to haircuts and styles, facials, hand massages, and more.

We’re also deeply grateful to the American Tire Foundation for funding this experience and helping our caregivers feel cared for.

02/16/2026

Living with diabetes can change everything—especially when a small wound turns into a serious setback.

Watch the video to hear how one of our patients got his diabetes under control after partnering with the team at our Wound Care Center.

Learn more about how we can help: mlkch.org/diabetes

02/12/2026

Congrats to Anahiz Correa and Julio Vides, who recently represented MLKCH at the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) 2026 Leadership Conference in Dallas, Texas.

Their presentation was on innovative solutions to address overcrowding in the emergency department. It’s a topic we know a lot about—our ED was built to serve 25,000 patients a year and we routinely see more than 100,000.

Anahiz and Julio showcased some of the operational and patient-centered innovations that we have implemented to improve patient flow, enhance care delivery, and support frontline staff. The session highlighted how teamwork and creative problem-solving continue to drive meaningful improvements in access, safety and patient experience.

Thank you Anahiz and Julio for representing our team on this national stage!

02/10/2026

MLKCH CEO Dr. Elaine Batchlor was one of only three hospital CEOs nationwide interviewed by Becker’s Hospital Review on how leaders are planning for growth in 2026 while navigating real-world constraints.

We’re grateful for this opportunity to share the realities of safety-net care on a national platform.

Read the full piece: beckershospitalreview.com/hospital-management-administration/growth-under-pressure-how-ceos-are-moving-forward-in-2026/

02/09/2026

This , MLK Community Healthcare honors the leadership, advocacy and lived experiences of Black communities who continue to shape healthcare in South Los Angeles and across our nation.

Address

1680 E 120th Street
Los Angeles, CA
90059

Website

http://www.mlkch.org/

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Mary Kay Cocharo, MFT
11500 W. Olympic, Suite 614

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