To say that 2020 was a challenging year would be a gross understatement. We will all look back at last year with a sense of awe considering the obstacles we faced and with a sense of gratitude that somehow, with determination, flexibility, and hard work, we made it through.
2019 was a great year for our organization. We grew in size, we diversified, we expanded our goals. This was fortunate because we were in a strong position when the global coronavirus pandemic hit in early 2020 and we were able to rapidly make the changes that were needed to navigate the challenges that 2020 would bring.
Our chief goal in 2020 was to protect those we cared about the most- our patients, our staff, and our community. When the world shut down in March 2020, we rapidly implemented a system of telehealth. Patients were afraid to come to the office and providers were afraid to see them. In only two weeks, we set up a telehealth network allowing for uninterrupted care to continue safely and efficiently. We converted our pharmacy to a closed-door model, protecting our pharmacy staff and keeping patients safe and well cared for by delivering all medications to them at home. We strengthened our IT efforts to allow providers and staff to work from home and still provide the high quality of care that we are known for.
Our community was calling out for COVID-19 testing which was hard to find at the beginning of the pandemic. We instituted parking lot testing at both our West Hollywood and our South LA locations, providing a valuable service to our patients and providing valuable information about the state of the pandemic to our colleagues at LA County.
Our organization worked tirelessly all year to battle the pandemic and to care for our patients. The clinical research division got involved early in cutting edge COVID treatment trials. As the epidemic surged and it became clear that vaccination was the key, we established a new Vaccine Center in the heart of West Hollywood. We began testing the Johnson and Johnson vaccine and our efforts escalated as we became the second highest enrolling site for the trial in the United States.
On December 23, just in time for Christmas, we received the first COVID-19 vaccines to protect our staff and soon after we received the vaccine for distribution to the community. Men’s Health Foundation was one of the first three organizations chosen by LA County to administer the vaccine to health care workers and the elderly. It was a huge challenge to mobilize and redirect resources to implement the vaccine rollout but we met the challenge and became one of the most successful vaccination sites in the County.
As we look forward to 2021, we all hope to see light at the end of the dark tunnel of 2020. Men’s Health Foundation can look back on 2020 with pride and with gratitude. Our staff stepped up when they were needed, our patients supported us through the challenges, and we have emerged as a stronger organization. I want to personally thank our staff, our patients, our Board of Directors, our donors, and our community for the support each of you has provided to keep our organization strong.
Humbly,
Tony Mills M.D.
CEO, Men’s Health Foundation
Men’s Health Foundation reflects on World AIDS Day 2020
MHF enjoys a special relationship with SoCalMMG in West Hollywood, a community medical practice. Our relationship exists with one goal in mind: To provide, maintain and improve access to the highest level of primary and specialty medical care, advocacy, and medical case management for men at risk in its service area.
*Some patients were provided care from multiple MHF locations.
We support our Trans patients and strive to provide gender neutral high quality, accessible care to all.
AMMD/MHF operates a laboratory qualified to perform moderate/high complexity testing. Our lab which is certified by the Commission on Office Laboratory Accreditation (COLA) received a 100% score at the last site visit. This level of quality also afforded our organization to participate in the early COVID vaccination efforts at the end of 2020 because of the level of quality maintained by our laboratory.
We accept private insurance, HMO Medi-Cal, and Cash Pay.
Common insurance types by age group:
AMMD/MHF is one of the premier sexual health practices in Los Angeles County. In 2020, we provided almost 30,000 screenings and tests for Gonorrhea, Chlamydia, Syphilis, and HIV.
54% of our patient population was vaccinated against the flu vaccine.
32% of our eligible patient population completed the 3-dose series for HPV.
We support our Trans patients and strive to provide gender neutral high quality, accessible care to all.
AMMD/MHF operates a laboratory qualified to perform moderate/high complexity testing. Our lab which is certified by the Commission on Office Laboratory Accreditation (COLA) received a 100% score at the last site visit. This level of quality also afforded our organization to participate in the early COVID vaccination efforts at the end of 2020 because of the level of quality maintained by our laboratory.
We accept private insurance, HMO Medi-Cal, and Cash Pay.
Common insurance types by age group:
AMMD/MHF is one of the premier sexual health practices in Los Angeles County. In 2020, we provided almost 30,000 screenings and tests for Gonorrhea, Chlamydia, Syphilis, and HIV.
54% of our patient population was vaccinated against the flu vaccine.
32% of our eligible patient population completed the 3-dose series for HPV.