Roderick Seamster, MD, MPH
To improve the health and well-being of the people and communities that we serve by ensuring access to compassionate, quality, culturally sensitive preventive and primary health care services.
Watts Health Center, opened its doors in October of 1967. With a $2.7 million grant from the Office of Economic Opportunity, it was one of the first community health centers in the United States.
Its flagship facility, the Watts Health Center, is a 69,000 square foot building which opened in 1979 in the community of Watts, adjacent to several large public housing projects. As of 2019, Watts Health Center houses 56 examination rooms.
The center is owned and operated by the Watts Healthcare Corporation (WHCC), a 501 c 3 Federally Qualified Health Center. The WHCC also oversees the Crenshaw Community Health Center, a satellite clinic, the Jefferson Crenshaw Health Center both located in the Crenshaw District, the 9901 Wellness Center in Watts and two school-based clinics–one at Jordan High School and one at Locke High School. WHCC also owns the House of Uhuru Substance Abuse Treatment Center and the Lumpkin House a sober living facility.
The services provided are supported by federal, state, and county grants and contracts along with managed care agreements; Medicare revenues; Medi-Cal revenues and reduced fees paid by patients. With a $42 million annual budget, WHCC offers evidence-based medical and dental services that are culturally and linguistically sensitive. The populations we serve resident in SPA 6 who are uninsured or under-insured.
In 2018, 23,783 patients were served during 100,553 visits. The visits were generated primarily in the following areas:
Approximately eighty-five percent (84.8%) of our patients live below 100% of the federal poverty level with 94 percent (93.7%) living below 200% FPL.
Eighty-one percent (81%) are covered by Medi-Cal and approximately 10% percent (9.5%) are uninsured.
We serve a young patient population, with 36 percent ages 19 and under.
For a list of clinics click here.
Finance Office
10300 Compton Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90002
(323) 564-4331 ext. 3144
To learn more about us visit our website: www.wattshealth.org