In addition to bringing high-quality medical care to the Los Angeles area, St. Vincent Medical Center supports a wide range of community initiatives and public health projects. St. Vincent Medical Center was founded more than 155 years ago and has worked under the guidance of the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul throughout the years as it expanded from a small school and orphanage into the large and successful medical center that it is today. St. Vincent Medical Center physicians are in the forefront of their fields, using innovative technology and procedures for their patients. St. Vincent maintains a Health Sciences Library for its staff and physicians. The Health Sciences Library also maintains a website containing links to several respected sites for patient information and education. St. Vincent Medical Center maintains several community health programs, including the Multicultural Health Awareness Program and the Diabetes Education Program. Both programs bring St. Vincent Medical Center's expertise to low-income and at-risk communities, helping patients to achieve the best health for themselves and their families. Serving Chinese, Filipino, Latino, Korean, and other vulnerable populations, St. Vincent's Multicultural Health Awareness Program focuses on disease prevention, health education, early detection, and information and referral services. The program offers cancer education, community health fairs, free mammograms and pap smears, and basic education on nutrition, diabetes, and heart disease. St. Vincent Medical Center's Diabetes Education brings practical education on the details of diabetes management to patients, ranging from monitoring blood glucose levels to using medication as effectively as possible. The Diabetes Education Program works not only with patients but also with their families and offers services based on the National Standards for Diabetes Self-Management Education in both English and Spanish.
