Asian Pacific Liver Center at St. Vincent Medical Center Celebrates Grand Opening November 15

St. Vincent Medical Center:

What:

 

Grand opening of the Asian Pacific Liver Center at St. Vincent Medical Center, the only center in Southern California dedicated exclusively to the prevention, detection and treatment of hepatitis, with special emphasis on the high rate of disease in the Asian American Community.

 

 

When:

November 15, 2007, 5:30 p.m.

 

Where:

At St. Vincent Medical Center, 2131 West Third Street, Los Angeles, CA (at Third and Alvarado, just west of downtown)

 

Who:

The APLC’s physician leaders, Dr. Tse-Ling Fong and Dr. Ho Bae, will discuss the challenge of hepatitis for the Asian American Community. Dr. Hie-Won Hann, a world-renowned expert in the transmission and treatment of hepatitis, will also speak, as will honorary event chairperson Korean Consul General Byung-Hyo Choi. More than 100 community leaders, physicians, and non-profit agencies are expected to attend the event.

 

Why:

Thousands of people of Asian descent in the greater Los Angeles area have hepatitis B, but most are not aware they are infected. Infection typically occurs at birth or during early childhood. Since the infection does not cause symptoms in the early stages, most people do not know they need to be treated until serious complications occur. Also:

 

— Hepatitis B is the leading cause of liver cancer among Asian Americans

— Hepatitis B can lead to premature death as a result of liver failure caused by cirrhosis and/or liver cancer

— Despite the availability of the hepatitis B vaccine, vaccination rates are low

 

How:

The complete medical services of the Asian Pacific Liver Center take patients from testing and counseling to treatment and ongoing monitoring. We also reach out to family members who may be infected. Our hepatitis experts are available to talk to community groups and coordinate large-scale testing. In addition, the APLC will provide information and the opportunity to participate in leading edge research as well as connecting patients and referring physicians with other St. Vincent Medical Center resources.

Established in 1856, St. Vincent Medical Center is Los Angeles’ first and oldest continually operating hospital. Located just west of downtown, St. Vincent is a world-renowned, 347-bed state-of-the-art facility offering comprehensive medical services, including acute, tertiary and primary care.