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LGBTQ Healthcare: STD Care and More

At the CARE Center, we provide comprehensive healthcare services that are designed to meet the unique needs of our LGBTQ+ community members and now all of our services are in one convenient location.

 

Health. CARE. Now in one location.

We’ve been hard at work, preparing a place just for you! Whether you need STI testing or treatments, prevention education, prescriptions, dental work, social services, food services, or behavioral health support, we’re here for you. And that’s true, regardless of your ability to pay.

Our beautiful new location is still on the St. Mary Medical Center campus but all of our services are now offered in one convenient setting that has been designed with your comfort and privacy in mind. We offer the same great set of comprehensive services and want to help you live your healthiest, most authentic life possible.

Learn more and hear from our patients in the video below.

Services offered at the CARE Center

  • Specialty HIV medical care
  • HIV and STI testing
  • AIDS drug assistance (ADAP)
  • Health Insurance Premium Assistance (OA-HIPP)
  • Benefits counseling and housing assistance
  • Food and nutritional services
  • Hepatitis C screening and treatment
  • Case managers from the comfort of your home
  • Medical care coordination

CARE is recognized by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors as a Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Center of Excellence.

PrEP is a once-daily pill or a bi-monthly injection that can prevent you from contracting HIV. Longer-lasting bi-monthly injections for PrEP also offer the same protection without a daily pill. PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) can prevent HIV infection if you’ve had recent exposure to HIV and are not currently on PrEP. PEP is an emergency medicine that must be taken within 3 days of HIV exposure.

The CARE Center also offers Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI)* testing, treatment, and prevention options including DoxyPEP. Dozens of STIs are spread through sexual contact (cdc.gov/std). While some are curable, other STIs like herpes, HIV, and HPV are not although there are treatment options.

We offer testing and healthcare for the following:

  • Chlamydia
  • Gonorrhea
  • Hepatitis
  • HIV
  • Syphilis

CARE Dental Services include comprehensive dental care (hygiene, white fillings, crowns, bridges, partial and full dentures and more). CARE has a multi-lingual staff, 2 full time dentists, 1 hygienist and multiple treatment rooms.

The CARE Program offers individual, partner and relational therapy for you and your loved ones. Your behavioral health is a very important part of staying healthy. It affects how you think, feel and behave.

It also can determine how you handle stress, relate to others, and make important choices. You are not alone. We also offer various support groups where you can receive compassionate care.

Our food pantry is part of the non-profit organization that distributes food to CARE Center patients lacking adequate food to sustain good health. Patients can see the CARE Center Registered Dietitian for more information regarding enrolling for this service.

*CARE Center Clients must see the CARE Center Dietitian before attending the pantry.

Leader in LGBTQ Health Care

  • HEI Award 
    • St. Mary Medical Center is recognized by the Human Rights Campaign as a Leader in LGBTQ Healthcare Equality. The Healthcare Equality Index Award is given by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation who evaluates the hospital’s efforts to provide inclusive and equitable care for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender & Queer patients and their families. With this award, you can be even more certain that everyone will receive the highest quality care at our hospital.
  • Center of Excellence in PEP and PrEP
    • Being a center of excellence requires that we meet rigorous standards in our PEP and PrEP care. This means that you are receiving top-quality care with the best experts available. Designated LA County Rapid Treatment Hub 
    • This is one of only seven locations in Los Angeles with a Rapid Treatment Hub designation from the County of Los Angeles. This means that you won’t have to wait when it matters most.

Other LGBTQ+ Care Resources

At Dignity Health, all patients should expect to be treated with courtesy and respect and receive the highest level of care. We support the health of all patients regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity and expression.

We understand the unique health needs of the LGBTQ community, and we work hard to ensure that patients receive quality, inclusive, culturally competent care.

The History of the CARE Center and St. Mary Medical Center

The CARE Center at Dignity Health - St. Mary Medical Center was founded at the rise of the AIDS crisis in 1986. CARE provides comprehensive services unique to the LGBTQ+ community and includes HIV treatment, PrEP & PEP, social services, dental care, health education, and housing assistance to our community, regardless of ability to pay.

Learn More About Our Generous Donors

LGBTQ+ care is important to us. Our CARE center is supported by generous donations from individuals, the community, grants and government funding. These donations are crucial to our mission and allows us to provide these services to anyone who needs them, regardless of their ability to pay. To learn more about LGBTQ+ inclusive care across Dignity Health, visit foreverycalifornian.org/lgbtq/.

Contact Us

New Client Intake, Medical Clinic
(562) 624-4999

Social Services, Benefits Counseling, Home-Based Case Management, Behavioral Health
(562) 624-4900

Dental Services
(562) 624-4949

Email us at [email protected].


Visit Us - Now at a new location!

CARE Clinic 
1040 Elm Avenue, Suite 200
Long Beach, CA  90813