Medical Center for Gays, Lesbians Opens

A medical center designed to serve gay and lesbian patients celebrated its opening Monday, and officials said they expect it to serve about 1,500 patients in its first year.

Lambda Medical Group physicians will provide primary and preventive health care at offices in Wilshire Boulevard’s Miracle Mile district, said Lorri L. Jean, executive director of the Hollywood-based L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center, which runs the new medical offices.

The center has offered HIV/AIDS and gynecological care for years, Jean said, but began studying the idea of creating a primary care facility two years ago.

“A lot of studies show that gay men who are HIV-negative and lesbians do not seek general preventive care [as often as] the straight population,” Jean said, adding that she believes the new medical group is the first of its kind in the country.

Lambda Medical Group, which also serves heterosexual patients, is staffed by physicians affiliated with the Department of Family Medicine at the USC School of Medicine.

The group accepts most major insurance plans, as well as Medi-Cal and Medicare, officials said. Its offices are located at 5757 Wilshire Blvd. Information: (323) 860-7311.