(October 14, 2008) Downtown, Los Angeles – During a recent tour at the Eisner Pediatric & Family Medical Center in Downtown, Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard congratulated the clinic’s staff on the launch of its new Women’s Health Center.

The congresswoman said: “It is my pleasure to be here for the official opening of the Women’s Health Center and I thank Carl Coan, the center’s CEO and Executive Director, for the privilege of joining you for this wonderful celebration.  The new Women’s Center is a tribute to you, the staff and supporters of Eisner, and to your commitment to expand and improve services through innovation.  These new services provided by the Women’s Center bring an important new dimension to Eisner Pediatric and Family Medical Center’s strong continuum of family health care.”

A longtime supporter of the center, the congresswoman secured federal funds for the initial construction of the center and for its Parent-Child Home Program, which prepares two-and three-year old children from low-income families to enter school ready to learn.

During the congresswoman’s visit, she praised the Women’s Health Center’s midwifery-run maternity care service for providing access to personalized care and education.  She also recognized its emphasis on “centering pregnancy,” which provides prenatal care and counseling in a group setting.  This service is viewed as an empowering component of maternal health care usually found only in the private sector.

The Women’s Health Center was acquired from the California Hospital Medical Center in 2006.  Additional new services that complement the gynecological and prenatal care already provided through the Family Medical Center include: Certified Nurse Midwifery Obstetrical Experts available 24/7 for patients delivering at California Hospital Medical Center by board certified obstetrician/gynecologists; Family Planning Services; and a High Risk Clinic providing individualized care for women with diabetes and other conditions.

Located at Venice Blvd and Olive Street in Downtown in the 34th Congressional District, Eisner Pediatric & Family Medical Center is a private non-profit community-based organization dedicated to providing the working poor and uninsured patients with medical, dental and mental health services, children's day care and early intervention programs.

Pictured in the photo from left to right: Los Angeles City Councilmember Jan Perry; Carl E. Coan, President and CEO of Eisner Pediatric and Family Medical Center; Elizabeth “Betsy” Jenkins, M.P.H, C.N.M, Director of Nurse-Midwives; Ruth Milke CNM, MS, EPFMC Certified Mid-Wife; and Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard.