Los Angeles County Public Health: Clinics, Records, Complaints and Treatment Services

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (DPH) provides disease prevention, selected clinic services, environmental health oversight, recent birth and death records, substance use treatment referrals, and family support programs. This guide helps you find the appropriate service, prepare for a visit or request, and contact the responsible program.

Independent information guide: This website is not affiliated with DPH. Official agencies and healthcare providers handle appointments, medical assessments, treatment, reports, records, and program eligibility.

Need emergency medical assistance? Call 911. For help finding public health services, call the Public Health Infoline at 833-540-0473, available daily from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Pacific Time. The Infoline and online reporting forms are not emergency medical services.

Choose Your Next Step

Clinical care, environmental complaints, certificate orders, and professional disease reports use different services. Start with the action you need to take.

Starting points for common public health requests

Your situation	Where to start	What to prepare
You need help finding a health service	Call the Public Health Infoline at 833-540-0473.	The service needed, city or ZIP Code, and any appointment or access concerns.
You need a public health clinic visit	Check the clinic's services and visit instructions.	Requested service, appointment details, and any documents specified by the clinic.
You need STI/HIV testing, treatment, or prevention services	Use the sexual health clinic information and scheduling service.	The type of visit needed, relevant symptoms or exposure timing, and existing patient information when applicable.
You need a vaccination location or eligibility information	Review official vaccine resources.	Age, vaccine sought, vaccination history, and insurance information when requested.
You need a birth or death certificate	Identify the records office using the event year and city.	Name on the record, event date and location, copy type, and requester eligibility.
You want to report a food facility or property health concern	Choose the appropriate Environmental Health reporting route.	Facility or property address, dates, and a specific description of the condition.
Someone became ill after eating food	Use the foodborne illness report route.	Meal details, symptom onset, facility information, and the number of people affected.
An animal bite or bat encounter occurred	Seek appropriate medical or veterinary assessment and review reporting instructions.	Date, location, animal type, contact details, and circumstances of the encounter.
You need alcohol or drug treatment support	Call 844-804-7500 or review treatment entry options.	The help requested, location, and information needed for screening.
You need pregnancy, postpartum, or child development support	Select the relevant family support program.	Pregnancy or postpartum stage, child age when applicable, and the type of support needed.

Check the Service and Location

Use the official DPH website to find services by topic. The program directory and A–Z Topics directory provide additional entry points for specialized subjects.

Confirm the Responsible Agency

Long Beach and Pasadena operate their own city health departments. For services connected to an event, facility, or address in either city, confirm the responsible agency before submitting a report or records request.

This jurisdictional distinction should not be treated as a blanket eligibility rule for every County-supported health program. Check the specific program's service area and eligibility instructions.

For an individual patient's treatment or test results, contact the clinic or healthcare provider involved. For complaints about a healthcare facility, use the facility-specific route in the official contact directory.

Public Health Centers and Clinics

County public health centers provide selected preventive and clinical services. The Public Health Centers page provides current locations and service information.

Services may include sexual health care, vaccinations, tuberculosis services, and harm reduction resources. Not every location provides every service, and some programs require referrals or specific eligibility.

Before Visiting

• Confirm that the location provides the service you need.
• Check whether an appointment, referral, or other preparation is required.
• Review current registration hours, holiday closures, and relocation notices.
• Bring the identification, insurance information, vaccination history, or referral documents requested for that service.
• Ask about language assistance or accessibility needs when arranging the visit.

Appointments and Walk-Ins

Some services prefer appointments and offer limited walk-in visits. A published walk-in option does not guarantee that you will be seen, even if you arrive early.

Confirm time-sensitive care directly with an appropriate healthcare provider rather than waiting for a routine appointment or relying on walk-in availability.

Sexual Health Services

The official Sexual Health Clinics page explains testing, treatment, prevention, family planning, appointment procedures, and current clinic arrangements.

For scheduling and assistance with results, the program lists 213-449-7009. Ask which location is appropriate for your visit, especially when you have symptoms or believe an exposure occurred.

Choose Screening or Clinical Evaluation

Available services include STI/HIV testing, treatment, HIV prevention consultations, mpox services, and selected family planning care. A screening-only location may not provide the examination or treatment needed for symptoms or a possible exposure.

Confirm the service with the scheduling unit before traveling. Clinic schedules and locations can change.

Possible Recent HIV Exposure

If you may have recently been exposed to HIV, contact a healthcare provider, urgent care service, or emergency department immediately to ask about post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). It must be started within 72 hours, and earlier treatment is preferred.

Do not wait for a routine clinic appointment or test results before seeking an assessment. A clinician determines whether PEP is appropriate.

Prevention and Family Planning

Clinics provide information about pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), DoxyPEP, contraception, emergency contraception, and other listed services. Eligibility and the appropriate option depend on the individual situation.

If you need emergency contraception, seek timely advice from a clinician or pharmacist about available options and their time limits. Do not delay while arranging a general clinic visit.

Fees, Insurance, and Confidential Care

The County sexual health clinic program states that patients are not charged clinic fees, copayments, or coinsurance for its described services, although immunization fees may apply. Patients with insurance are asked to provide their information so the clinic can bill the plan.

The program states that services are available regardless of citizenship and that immigration status is not reported to authorities. Patients age 12 or older may consent to specified STI/HIV services without parental notification as permitted by California law.

These consent rules do not apply identically to every clinic service. Ask staff about the particular service and discuss any concerns about privacy, insurance billing, or communications before the visit.

Appointments and Test Results

Previously seen sexual health clinic patients may use the LA Health Portal to request appointments after enrolling or obtaining access. Follow the instructions linked from the official clinic page.

The program lists a result timeframe of two to ten business days. Follow your clinic's instructions for reviewing results and obtaining follow-up care. Contact the program if you cannot access the portal or expected results.

Vaccination Services

The Vaccine Preventable Disease Control Program provides vaccine information, location tools, provider resources, and links to current guidance.

Confirm Before Traveling

• Identify the vaccine and dose you need.
• Check the location's eligible ages and other requirements.
• Confirm vaccine availability and appointment or walk-in arrangements.
• Ask about charges and insurance requirements.
• Bring the vaccination records or other documents requested.

For school or childcare requirements, review the current official requirements for the setting and age group. Discuss individual vaccination questions with a qualified healthcare provider.

A vaccine listed on a program page is not a guarantee that every clinic has it available on a particular day.

Birth and Death Records

The DPH Vital Records Office maintains selected recent birth and death records. Choose the office based on the event year and city.

Starting points for birth and death certificate requests

Event details	Where to start	What to verify
Birth or death in Los Angeles County during the current or previous year, excluding Pasadena and Long Beach	DPH Vital Records.	Registration and availability, copy eligibility, application method, and fees.
An older Los Angeles County birth or death record	Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk record services.	The record year, required copy type, and current request instructions.
An event in Pasadena or Long Beach	Check the relevant city health department's vital records instructions.	The city's record coverage and the appropriate office for the event year.
An event outside Los Angeles County	The records authority responsible for the event location.	Jurisdiction, record availability, and the authority's application requirements.

DPH states that certificates are available ten days after the original certificate has been registered. This interval is measured from registration, not simply from the date of birth or death. Confirm availability before ordering or traveling.

Prepare the Application

• The name shown on the record.
• The event date and city.
• The certificate type and number of copies.
• Your relationship or authority when requesting an authorized copy.
• The identity, statement, and payment documents required for the selected request method.

Online, in-person, and mail requests may have different procedures. An informational copy may not satisfy an identity, benefits, or other official requirement, so check the intended use before ordering.

Environmental Health Reports

Environmental Health provides complaint and inspection routes for listed food facilities, rental property conditions, sanitation concerns, and other regulated activities.

Use the official contact directory to select the appropriate reporting category. For Environmental Health assistance, call 888-700-9995.

Property and Facility Conditions

Report the specific observed condition, such as accumulated trash, rodents, sewage discharge, lack of water, or a listed rental housing concern. Program responsibility depends on the location and issue.

• Give the complete address and unit number when applicable.
• Identify the business or property type.
• Describe the condition and the dates observed.
• Explain whether the problem is continuing or recurring.
• Provide supporting information requested by the reporting process.

If the online form does not work, use the published telephone number or contact directory for assistance. Keep any report confirmation or reference number.

Food Facility Complaints and Foodborne Illness

A complaint about restaurant sanitation or operations is different from a report that someone became ill after eating food. Both routes are identified in the official contact directory.

For a facility complaint, identify the business, location, and condition observed. For suspected foodborne illness, prepare the meal date, foods consumed, symptom onset, number of people affected, and other information requested by the illness report.

Reporting suspected illness does not replace medical care or establish which food caused it. Seek appropriate care when needed.

Healthcare Facility Complaints

Use the Healthcare Facility Complaint route in the official contact directory. It directs users to the applicable California Department of Public Health process and information about monitored facility types.

Do not assume that a general Environmental Health complaint is the correct route for a hospital, nursing facility, or other healthcare setting.

Animal Bites and Bat Encounters

The DPH contact directory provides an Animal Bite Report route to Veterinary Public Health. It states that animal bites to people are reportable in Los Angeles County, except rodent and rabbit bites. Bites to domestic animals by wild mammals, excluding rodents and rabbits, are also reportable.

DPH also directs reporting of bat-human and bat-domestic animal interactions because a bite may be too small to detect. Review the official reporting instructions for the encounter.

Seek Assessment and Make the Report

Seek prompt medical assessment for a possible human exposure and veterinary advice for an exposed domestic animal. Reporting to Public Health does not replace that assessment, and the absence of a visible bite does not by itself rule out a concerning bat exposure.

• Record the date and location.
• Describe the animal and circumstances of contact.
• Provide owner information when known.
• Include available animal vaccination information.
• Follow the reporting instructions for the affected person or animal.

Do not handle a bat or other potentially dangerous animal yourself. For an animal-control response, contact the agency serving the location.

Substance Use Treatment

The Substance Abuse Prevention and Control program provides pathways to alcohol and drug treatment, recovery support, and harm reduction resources.

Call the Substance Abuse Service Helpline at 844-804-7500, available 24 hours a day, for screening, information, and treatment referrals.

Ways to Enter Treatment

The official treatment entryways page explains helpline referrals, Client Engagement and Navigation Services, and direct contact with treatment providers.

No-cost services depend on County residence, an assessment of medical necessity, and the applicable Medi-Cal or other program criteria. A share of cost may apply in some circumstances.

If you are unsure about eligibility, ask for screening rather than assuming you cannot receive help. The program provides access information regardless of immigration status, language preference, sexual orientation, or identity.

Urgent Medical Needs

The treatment helpline is not an emergency response service. Call 911 for a suspected overdose or another immediate medical emergency. Do not wait for a treatment referral.

Pregnancy, Child and Family Support

The Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health program provides entry points for pregnancy and postpartum support, home visiting, child development resources, lead prevention, infant health, and adolescent programs.

Select the Relevant Program

• Pregnancy and postpartum: Review prenatal provider resources, home visiting, and listed maternal support programs.
• Infants and young children: Review child development connections, safe-sleep resources, and family support services.
• Child health concerns: Use the appropriate lead prevention, medical services, or other listed program.
• Adolescent health: Review age-specific resources and program opportunities.

Eligibility can depend on pregnancy stage, postpartum timing, child age, residence, coverage, and the program's intended population. Check the individual program page rather than treating the general directory as an eligibility determination.

Have the relevant pregnancy or child information and type of support requested available. Submit sensitive information through the designated referral process.

Health Alerts and Preparedness

Use the DPH homepage for current notices about disease exposures, heat, wildfire-related health concerns, beach water quality, food recalls, and other public health matters.

Check the Notice Details

• Review the publication date and any update.
• Identify the affected locations and time period.
• Read the instructions for the people or activities covered.
• Check whether a warning, advisory, or restriction remains in effect.

A notice concerning one beach area, exposure location, or date range should not be assumed to apply everywhere. Follow the current official instructions relevant to your situation.

Prepare Household Health Information

The Emergency Preparedness and Response Division provides resources for families, older adults, people with disabilities, medication needs, and pets.

Keep medication information, emergency contacts, and plans for household members who need assistance accessible. Review the official materials for the emergency risks relevant to your household.

Health Professional Reporting

The Health Professionals page provides disease-reporting instructions, consultation resources, and links to the Los Angeles Health Alert Network (LAHAN).

Healthcare providers should use the reporting process and timeframe specified for the disease or condition. A general inquiry, patient complaint, or public records request does not replace required reporting.

For urgent public health consultations that cannot wait until the next working day, the page directs healthcare providers to call 213-974-1234 and ask for the physician on call. This is a professional consultation route, not a general patient appointment or emergency medical hotline.

Public Records and Subpoenas

The DPH contact directory identifies the Public Health Investigation Unit as the department's Custodian of Records and provides separate Public Records Act and subpoena instructions.

Choose the Appropriate Records Process

• Birth or death certificate: Use the applicable vital records office.
• Personal test results or clinical records: Contact the treating clinic or healthcare provider through its patient records process.
• Department public records: Follow the Public Records Act request instructions.
• Subpoena: Follow the Custodian of Records' designated service procedure.

For a public records request, identify the program, record type, subject, and date range as specifically as possible. Access depends on the record and applicable confidentiality or disclosure requirements.

Do not send sensitive patient information through a general website correction form or an unrelated public inquiry channel.

Public Health Contacts

Contacts and entry points for public health assistance

Service	Contact or official entry point	Purpose and availability
Emergency medical assistance	911	Immediate medical emergencies, including a suspected overdose.
Public Health Infoline	833-540-0473	Help finding public health information and services. Daily, 8:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m. Pacific Time.
Sexual health clinic scheduling and results assistance	213-449-7009 Sexual Health Clinics	Confirm the appropriate clinic, appointment process, and result-access instructions. Check current schedules.
Environmental Health assistance	888-700-9995 Reporting categories	Help selecting the appropriate environmental complaint or service route.
Substance Abuse Service Helpline	844-804-7500	Alcohol and drug treatment screening, resources, and referrals, available 24 hours a day.
Recent birth and death certificates	DPH Vital Records	Check event year, city coverage, availability, and application method before ordering.
Animal bite and bat encounter reporting	Animal Bite Report route	Veterinary Public Health reporting instructions. Reporting does not replace medical or veterinary assessment.
Professional disease reporting and consultation	Health Professionals	Reporting forms, disease-specific contacts, professional consultation, and LAHAN resources.
Public records and subpoenas	Custodian of Records instructions	Select the Public Records Act or subpoena procedure.
Other County services and community resources	211	Connections to services such as housing, food, transportation, and other community assistance.

Before visiting or submitting a request, confirm the program, location, required documents, and current appointment or reporting instructions. Keep any application, referral, or report confirmation.

If you find an outdated detail or broken link in this guide, please contact our website editor. Health questions, medical records, appointments, complaints, and official reports should go to the responsible healthcare provider or public agency.