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AltaMed History

1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s

AltaMed Health Services has a long history of delivering quality care to underserved communities. We proudly share this chronology of AltaMed’s growth and progression over more than four decades.

1970s

East Los Angeles Barrio Free Clinic established on Whittier Boulevard – April 30, 1969

Cástulo de la Rocha hired for a three-month temporary assignment; one of three paid employees – 1977

AltaMed becomes Community Health Center under Urban Health Initiative (grant funding), which required 51% consumer representation on Board of Directors;

AltaMed opens first Adult Day Health Care (ADHC) in California. Center started in the basement of a small church across from Obregon Park in East Los Angeles – 1982

1980s

Name change to AltaMed Health Services Corporation; 2nd clinic opened in Pico Rivera–Slauson Plaza; Transportation services established. Multi-Purpose Senior Services (MSSP) established with grant of over $1 million dollars making it the largest grant ever received by AltaMed up until this date. AltaMed is awarded contract for Substance Abuse Treatment program (methadone) including funding for HIV services – 1986

AltaMed purchases Pomona Boulevard site (formerly Bella Vista Hospital) to establish a Senior Services program site – 1988-1989

1990s

Corporate office opened at Citadel in City of Commerce – 1991

BuenaCare Methadone program opened at Zonal Street location, including HIV Services – July, 1991

Senior Health and Activity Center opened on Pomona Boulevard, including AltaMed Medical Group – December, 1991

HIV Mobile Unit granted in cooperation with East Valley Community Health Center and El Portal Latino. Alzheimer’s Program began – 1992

HIV Services relocated from Zonal Street location to Sunol Drive; Tuberculosis Screening, Education & Prevention Program began – 1993

AltaMed Medical Group - El Monte, opened; ADHC opened at former church site on Indiana Street; Area Agency on Aging (AAA) Support Services Program began – 1994

Cal-Learn program established – 1995

Indiana ADHC converts to Senior BuenaCare PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) – March, 1996

Adolescent/Siblings Program began – November, 1996

Rugby Plaza ADHC opened in Huntington Park – April, 1997

HIV Outreach and Education Programs began at Pomona Boulevard location – June, 1997

Mobile Health Unit became operational; AltaMujer, HIV program moved to Montebello facility – October, 1997

AltaMed Medical Group, East L.A. Whittier Boulevard, opened to replace Sunol Drive facility – June 1998

Senior BuenaCare PACE became a full-managed care product with dual capitation (both Medi-Cal and Medicare) – November, 1998

HIV Downtown Referral and Activity Center established – January, 1999

Grand Plaza ADHC (Chinatown) opened – Summer, 1999

AltaMed purchases Youth Services Building in Monterey Park – December, 2000

Initial Joint Commission Accreditation achieved - Behavioral Health – December, 2000

2000s

AltaMed expands primary care service area to include all of East Los Angeles and the Southeast communities of Los Angeles including Bell, Bell Gardens, Cudahy, South Gate, and Huntington Park – March, 2002

Ambulatory Care Joint Commission Accreditation and Health Care Network Joint Commission Accreditation – May, 2002

AltaMed Senior BuenaCare becomes first permanent PACE provider in California – October, 2002

Lynwood ADHC site joins AltaMed family – November, 2002

AltaMed Senior BuenaCare transitions to Senior Health & Activity Center located on Pomona Blvd. Additional services offered including dental and ophthalmology – July 2003

Grand opening of AltaMed Medical & Dental Group in City of Bell – October 2003

Grand opening of AltaMed Medical & Dental Group East Los Angeles, the original site of the Elias Chico Clinic and formerly known as Community Health Foundation – February 2004

AltaMed celebrates its 35th Anniversary – April 2004

AltaMed partners with Community Care Health Centers in Orange County to merge 5 primary care and dental facilities with the AltaMed family - April 2008

AltaMed celebrates grand opening of it’s newly constructed El Monte Family Health and Wellness Center in El Monte – August 2008

Coinciding with its 40th Anniversary celebration, AltaMed announces acquisition of six new facilities, five in Orange County and one in Los Angeles County - May 2009

AltaMed launches its new brand identity – March 2010