[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 61 (Wednesday, May 5, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E760]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          RECOGNIZING THE ALTAMED HEALTH SERVICES CORPORATION

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. HILDA L. SOLIS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 5, 2004

  Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the AltaMed Health 
Services Corporation (AltaMed). For 35 years, AltaMed has exemplified 
exceptional leadership in America by providing increased access and 
award-winning quality health care to the medically underserved multi-
ethnic communities of Los Angeles County.
  Established in 1969 at a modest storefront in East Los Angeles, 
AltaMed has never strayed from its commitment to serve medically 
underinsured and uninsured individuals. First known as El Barrio Free 
Clinic and later as La Clinica Familiar Del Barrio, the AltaMed 
organization was first managed by doctors, nurses, and social workers, 
who generously volunteered their non-working hours to treat individuals 
and their families with the best-available medical care. Spurred by a 
federal government measure known as the Urban Health Initiative and a 
federal grant in 1977, La Clinica Familiar Del Barrio managed to 
increase its services and the organization officially changed its name 
to the AltaMed Health Services Corporation.
  Thirty-five years after its inception, AltaMed continues to provide 
quality medical service to over 46,000 patients at 19 service outlets, 
six stand-alone health care clinics, two mobile health care units, and 
11 social service sites throughout Los Angeles County. Proudly serving 
predominantly low-income and underrepresented communities, AltaMed 
continues to be at the forefront of quality health care service. Its 
extensive services provide individuals of all ages with state-of-the-
art medical and dental clinics, geriatric care, home safety, HIV/AIDS 
prevention, youth support groups, and substance abuse prevention and 
treatment programs.
  With an annual operating budget of $55 million, AltaMed is the 
largest nonprofit health care agency in the greater East Los Angeles 
area--servicing 46 Zip codes in Los Angeles County. With support from 
various grants, AltaMed works to enroll uninsured individuals into low 
cost or no cost insurance programs such as Medi-Cal, Healthy Families, 
California Kids and Healthy Kids. In addition, AltaMed continues to 
promote economic and community development and is the second largest 
employer in the greater East Los Angeles area, with over 900 racially 
diverse and multi-lingual staff members.
  I want to commend the work of AltaMed's President and CEO Castulo de 
la Rocha, the Board of Directors, its nine senior management 
professionals, and its generous supporters for their tireless and 
excellent leadership efforts. Their hard work made AltaMed's 35th 
Anniversary Gala a reality.
  May this historic event be an opportunity for everyone to commemorate 
the vision, compassion, and commitment that the original AltaMed 
founders had for their community 35 years ago. And may today's AltaMed 
leadership and medical team carry their mission forward into the 
future.

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