LA Gay and Lesbian Center Will Remodel Offices

The L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center announced Wednesday it is remodeling the third-floor medical-services offices of its Hollywood headquarters to meet increased demand for services.

During the work, however, the center will have reduced capacity for HIV/STD testing, prompting officials to urge its patrons to get tested at The Spot at 745 N. San Vicente Blvd. in West Hollywood, where hours are being extended and additional staff is being brought in to handle the increased demand.

"There will be some short-term inconveniences now, but we'll be providing the same high-quality care as always," said Christopher Brown, director of health and mental services at the center. "And in the long run, these changes will mean we can do even more to care for the health and well- being of the community."

The remodeling of the Gay & Lesbian Center will add four exam rooms, an enlarged waiting room and added space. The center projects that the remodel will allow for thousands of additional medical visits each year.

The center, located in the McDonald/Wright building at 1625 Schrader Boulevard in Hollywood, will move the Jeffrey Goodman Special Care Clinic, where the HIV/STD testing is conducted, from the third to the first floor, according to the medical services provider.

The organization offers a free advanced test for HIV that can detect infection as early as seven days after exposure, according to the center. Both the center and The Spot offer free screenings for the most common STDs, including gonorrhea, chlamydia and syphilis.