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    Back to Greater LA

    Greater LA

    Doctor uses ‘street medicine’ to care for Skid Row residents during coronavirus pandemic

    Dr. Susan Partovi is an early practitioner of “street medicine.” She takes her medical knowledge directly to underserved communities, whether they are in encampments, on the streets, or in shelters. Despite the added risk of COVID-19, Dr.

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    Person smiling broadly wearing glasses and plaid shirt against ivy-covered wall background.By Steve Chiotakis • May 12, 2020 • 1 min read

    Dr. Susan Partovi is an early practitioner of “street medicine.” She takes her medical knowledge directly to underserved communities, whether they are in encampments, on the streets, or in shelters. Despite the added risk of COVID-19, Dr. Partovi says most of the people she encounters have the same problems they did before the crisis: hunger, injuries, and mental health issues. Still, she’s doing what she can and seeking out overlooked populations as many people continue to hunker down. Partovi spoke about what she sees on the street in this audio diary for Greater LA.

    The full episode

    1 of 3
    Bringing medicine to the streets during coronavirus
    1. 0:00Doctor uses ‘street medicine’ to care for Skid Row residents during coronavirus pandemicYou’re reading this
    2. 4:51‘Playing chess with a genius monster.’ Union Rescue Mission’s Andy Bales on the fight against COVID-19 on Skid Row
    3. 16:44TreePeople provides free fruit trees to the concrete expanse of Commerce
    • Person smiling broadly wearing glasses and plaid shirt against ivy-covered wall background.

      Steve Chiotakis

      Afternoon News Anchor

    • KCRW placeholder

      Christian Bordal

      Managing Producer, Greater LA

    • KCRW placeholder

      Jenna Kagel

      Radio producer

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Rebecca Mooney

      Producer, The Treatment

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Anna Scott

      Former KCRW Housing and Homelessness Reporter

    • KCRW placeholder

      Dr. Susan Partovi

      medical director for Homeless Health Care Los Angeles

      CultureNewsThe HelpersHomelessnessLos Angeles

    The full episode

    1 of 3
    Bringing medicine to the streets during coronavirus
    1. 0:00Doctor uses ‘street medicine’ to care for Skid Row residents during coronavirus pandemicYou’re reading this
    2. 4:51‘Playing chess with a genius monster.’ Union Rescue Mission’s Andy Bales on the fight against COVID-19 on Skid Row
    3. 16:44TreePeople provides free fruit trees to the concrete expanse of Commerce
    Back to Greater LA