PLAYING A VITAL ROLE IN PATIENT HEALING Rehabilitation Services offers comprehensive and personalized
From the CEO
This summer has been an exciting and busy time for our health system as we’ve seen patient volumes grow across our hospital departments and our ambulatory locations. This growth reflects the community’s trust in us and our dedication to exceptional care. To meet this demand, we are expanding our services, improving existing infrastructure and adding providers to meet the evolving needs of our community.
In this edition of OnCenter, we are proud to feature our dynamic rehabilitation team and the comprehensive programs that help patients recover to their physical best after illness, injury or surgery. Our new Tech Talk section highlights the technological advancements at Torrance Memorial, including AI implementation, new safety measures on campus and a strategic emergency notification system. We’re also introducing a new service in our continuum of care: Caring Companions. This initiative unites staff and volunteers to activate and carry out a personalized plan, ensuring no patient will die alone.
Curious about the difference between the Torrance Memorial Physician Network and Torrance Memorial IPA? Both are vital programs for the growth of our health system. We clarify their similarities and distinctions. And the Lundquist Tower celebrates its 10th anniversary as a beacon of safety, excellence and compassionate care.
I’m proud of our many achievements this year, including receiving the CMS 5-Star rating for overall hospital quality and the 4-Star Patient Experience award, placing us among an elite group of hospitals. Additionally, Torrance Memorial was named by Daily Breeze as the South Bay’s Best Hospital for the 15th year and by U.S. News & World Report as the 43rd best hospital nationally, 9th in California and 4th in Los Angeles/Orange Counties.
Looking ahead, we are preparing to break ground on the Lundquist Leach Emergency Department, developing a teaching hospital program and kicking off our 100th-anniversary celebration. I am grateful for your hard work and unwavering support during this exciting period of growth. We are making a profound impact on the lives of those we serve.
Enjoy the rest of your summer.
Keith Hobbs President and CEO, Torrance Memorial Medical Center
This publication is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as medical advice. It has not been designed to replace a physician’s medical assessment and medical judgment. Always consult first with your physician regarding anything related to your personal health.
Front: Von Llave, OT, Marina Shelton, SLP, Tracey Mullan, PT, Director of Rehabilitation Services
Prestigious awards are earned, and Torrance Memorial Medical Center has again been recognized as a Best Hospital for 2024–2025 for the 13th year by U.S. News & World Report
This year our rankings remain the 9th highest ranking hospital for overall hospital quality in California and 4th in the Los Angeles and Orange County regions
This year we are nationally ranked in orthopedics and OB-GYN and high-performing in six specialties. We also rank high-performing in 16 of 20 conditions and procedures areas.
Ranking in the top 3% shows we are delivering on our vision to provide patient-centered care with the highest level of quality and service to the community. It means we are honoring our promise to deliver our core values of Service, Excellence, Knowledge, Stability and Community.
2024–2025 — HIGH-PERFORMING SPECIALTIES
High-performing in six specialties and ranked nationally in orthopedics and OB-GYN and endocrinology
• Orthopedics – Ranking #37 in the Nation NEW
• OB/GYN Ranking – #43 in the Nation NEW
• Diabetes Endocrinology
• Gastroenterology and GI Surgery
• Geriatrics
• Neurology/Neurosurgery
• Pulmonology and lung surgery
• Urology
Nationally Ranked Specialties
2024–2025 — HIGH-PERFORMING CONDITIONS AND PROCEDURES 16 out of 20 conditions/procedures
• Back Surgery (Spinal Fusion)
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
• Colon Cancer Surgery
• Diabetes
• Gynecological Cancer Surgery
• Leukemia, lymphoma & myeloma
• Heart Attack
• Heart Failure
• Hip Fracture
• Hip Replacement
• Kidney Failure
• Knee Replacement
• Lung Cancer Surgery
• Pneumonia
• Prostate Cancer Surgery
• Stroke
Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval — Laboratory and Point-of Care Testing Accreditation
Torrance Memorial Medical Center has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for Laboratory and Point-of Care Testing Accreditation by demonstrating continuous compliance with its performance standards. The Gold Seal is a symbol of quality reflecting a health care organization’s commitment to providing safe and quality patient care. Torrance Memorial underwent a rigorous unannounced on-site survey in late April. During the visit, a team of Joint Commission surveyors evaluated compliance with laboratory standards spanning several areas including blood administration, point of care, critical result notification (RN–MD), pathology and performance improvement. The surveyors also conducted on-site observations and interviews. Congratulations to the laboratory team, point-of-care areas and staff who were involved during the survey process.
South Bay’s Best
We are honored our community has once again voted Torrance Memorial Medical Center as the BEST hospital in the South Bay. Readers also voted us BEST: Cancer Treatment Center, Medical and Hospital Groups and Nutrition Services. We were also voted FAVORITE: Knee Center, Medical Supply Store (HealthLinks), Local Outpatient Pharmacy, Physical Therapy Center, Urgent Care Facility and Workplace.
VOTED BEST:
• Hospital
• Cancer Treatment Center (Hunt Cancer Center)
• Hospital Group (Torrance Memorial Physician Network Primary Care/IPA
• Medical Group (Torrance Memorial Physician Network/IPA
• Nutrition Services
VOTED FAVORITE:
• Knee Center
• Medical Supply Store –HealthLinks
• Pharmacy (Local) – (Torrance Memorial Outpatient Pharmacy)
• Physical Therapy Center
• Urgent Care Facility
• Workplace
Newsweek’s America’s Best Maternity Hospitals 2024
Torrance Memorial Medical Center has been recognized as part of Newsweek’s list of America’s Best Maternity Hospitals 2024. High-quality maternity care, provided from pregnancy through birth and postpartum, is key to the long-term health of newborns and women who give birth, and we are honored and proud to receive this recognition.
Newsweek and Statista have partnered to identify this elite group of only 404 leading hospitals in the field of maternity. The list is based on three pillars of a nationwide online survey from doctors, health care professionals and hospital managers, results from patient experience surveys and hospital quality metrics. Based on the analysis results, Torrance Memorial is recognized as America’s Best Maternity Hospitals 2024, reinforcing our reputation of high-quality maternity care, excellent childbirth and postpartum care.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Torrance Memorial Medical Center joins an elite group of hospitals that received 5 stars from Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for overall hospital quality rating. Congratulations on this prestigious hospital quality rating!
CMS is the federal agency providing health coverage to more than 160 million people through Medicare, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program and the Health Insurance Marketplace. CMS works in partnership with the entire health care community to improve quality, equity and outcomes in the health care system.
The methodology used to calculate overall star ratings 1–5 (5 being the highest measurement of excellence) involves multiple steps to select, standardize and calculate scores based on Care Compare measures. Using a seven-step process, the overall rankings are then weighted based on measured groups of mortality, safety, readmission, patient experience and timely effective care.
Of the nearly 5,000 hospitals measured, only 10.4% receive a 5-star ranking!
Lantern Award Redesignation
The Emergency Nurses Association redesignated the Torrance Memorial Medical Center emergency department with the 2024 Lantern award. The Lantern award showcases our emergency department’s accomplishments incorporating evidencebased practices and innovations into emergency care. As part of the application process, we shared stories highlighting our commitment to patient care and the well-being of nursing staff. The award serves as a symbol of our commitment to quality, safety and a healthy work environment.
Valentine’s Day
Love is in the air! Candy bouquets, donated boxes of See’s chocolates and homemade Valentine’s Day cards were floating through Torrance Memorial thanks to the Luminaries, Novas and Local Anchor! We were feeling the love. Happy Valentine’s Day.
Ice Cream Social
The Torrance Memorial Ice Cream Social is a fun way to connect with your #teamtorrancememorial colleagues. Thanks to all who scooped and our dedicated employees who make this a rewarding place to work.
$20 Million Infusion Into the Medical Center
Breaking news! Thanks to the boundless generosity of our amazing community and donors, Torrance Memorial’s Foundation is proud to announce a $20 million infusion into the medical center this fiscal year! Our Foundation board of directors is over the moon celebrating this monumental contribution that will bolster countless programs and services at Torrance Memorial. Together we’re making a tangible difference in health care accessibility and quality.
Posts curated by Kevin Herrera and Dalia Silva
St. Patrick’s Day
Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Our CEO Keith Hobbs loves making the rounds—even when he’s not sporting this snappy clover-covered blazer.
Cooper Steinhauser Foundation Donation
The Cooper Steinhauser Foundation delivered more Cooper Cares bags to our NICU patients. Having a baby admitted to the NICU is scary, and these bags provide support with resources, tips and the message you are not alone.
National Nurses Week
During National Nurses Week, May 6–12, we beamed with pride as we reflected on the incredible dedication and compassion of our nursing team. And what better way to cap off the week of celebration than with images from our Daisy Award Brunch?
Hospital Tour — Gunma Paz University in Takasaki
Nursing students from across the globe visited Torrance Memorial from Gunma Paz University in Takasaki, Japan. We’re always delighted to share our knowledge and expertise with the next generation of health care professionals. George So, MD, who specializes in interventional radiology, demonstrated how we use advanced medical imaging technology to diagnose, treat and cure many kinds of conditions.
Juneteenth
At Torrance Memorial, we believe in celebrating freedom, equality and justice for all. Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in the United States and reflects on the resilience and strength of the Black community. As we came together to recognize this historic day, we also acknowledged the ongoing journey toward equity in health care and beyond. We’re committed to fostering an inclusive and equitable environment where everyone receives the care and support they deserve. Join us in celebrating Juneteenth and advocating for a brighter future for all.
National Siblings Day
At Torrance Memorial, it feels like family. And for Ana Banales, Gloria Bedolla and Anjelica Bedolla, it literally is. On National Siblings Day, April 10, we shone a light on these three sisters, who have dedicated a combined 42 years to Torrance Memorial. Ana works in human resources, Gloria in the business office and Anjelica in security. “It’s awesome working with family,” Ana said. “On breaks we come and talk to each other. It’s a great place to work.” The sisters from Wilmington are very close, and while they all three have busy lives, they make it a point to spend time together—including taking an annual trip with their families to Las Vegas for some fun under the sun. Spend a few minutes with them, and it becomes clear it’s all LOVE!
Shery High School
It was an honor to meet with more than 70 students from Shery High School in Torrance, sharing our stories to hopefully inspire them to consider a career in the rewarding field of health care. We love being a part of the Torrance community!
Torrance Health & Happiness Fair
In January, Torrance Memorial sponsored the Torrance Health & Happiness Fair. Thank you to all those who joined us and participated in our cholesterol testing, including Torrance Mayor George Chen. At Torrance Memorial, we embrace lifelong learning and sharing our wealth of knowledge with our patients and members of the South Bay community.
LPGA Golfers Gurleen Kaur and Hira Naveed
Professional golfers Gurleen Kaur and Hira Naveed were our special guests, taking a tour of the hospital and spending time with a (perhaps) future golfer, little Benjamin, in the mother-baby unit. Torrance Memorial was the official health sponsor of the LPGA Fir Hills Seri Pak Championship at Palos Verdes Golf Club in March, and team members were on-site to provide care to players and spectators. Thank you, Gurleen and Hira, for visiting with us. It’s always a pleasure to educate the community about the services we provide at Torrance Memorial.
National Cancer Survivors Day 2024
Thank you South Bay community for celebrating National Cancer Survivors Day 2024 with us at our luau-themed bash. This event, co-sponsored with Cancer Support Community South Bay, honors the resilience of survivors, their families and the dedicated support teams who make living with cancer more manageable. Your strength inspires us every day. At the Hunt Cancer Institute, we are dedicated to researching, transforming and innovating cancer treatment.
Miracle of Living
Big thank-you to Dr. Arthur C. Bartner, retired director of the USC Trojan Marching Band, Anna Basile B. Mellor, MD, internal medicine, and Helaine Lopes, assistant adjunct professor at USC, and our moderator, the esteemed Mark Lurie, MD, board president, Torrance Memorial Foundation, for participating in our Miracle of Living lecture series “March On: Aging Successfully Today,” now available on our YouTube channel. Highlights include tips on modifying behavior and lifestyles, longevity measures, the importance of daily exercise for improved health and practical advice for aging well.
Pride Month
At Torrance Memorial Medical Center, we celebrate diversity and are committed to providing inclusive, respectful and compassionate care to all. We stand with the LGBTQ+ community and honor the strength and resilience of those who continue to advocate for equality and love. Inclusivity isn’t just a policy—it’s our promise. Our doors and hearts are open to everyone because everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. This #PrideMonth we reaffirmed our dedication to fostering an environment where all individuals feel seen, heard and valued. Our #TeamTorranceMemorial members once again joined our friends at Cedars-Sinai to march in the West Hollywood Pride Parade to celebrate love in all its forms and help build a world where everyone can live their healthiest, happiest lives.
South Bay’s BEST for the 15th time!
We are honored to announce that Torrance Memorial Medical Center has been voted South Bay’s Best Hospital for the 15th time! Thank you to our community for your trust and support. We’re also thrilled to be recognized as the best in Cancer Treatment, Hospital Group, Primary Care/IPA Medical Group and Nutrition Services, and a favorite in several other categories. Your votes inspire us to keep striving for excellence! #SouthBaysBest #TorranceMemorial #ThankYou
Leadership & Communication Classes
To register for any of our upcoming events, please contact Krista Canetti at krista.canetti@tmmc.com or Elaine McRae at elaine.mcrae@tmmc.com for assistance.
Building Positive Relationships/ Team Building for Managers
September 19
9 a.m. to noon
Hoffman Health Conference Center Rooms 1 & 2
Disagreeing with Dignity
October 1
9 a.m. to noon
West Tower Auditorium
Managing Difficult Conversations
October 3
9 a.m. to noon
West Tower Conference Room A
Cultural Humility
October 24, 2024
9 a.m. to noon
West Tower Conference Room A
Inclusive Conversations
September 27 & October 25
Noon to 1 p.m.
Virtual
MICROSOFT TRAINING COURSES
Introduction to OneNote October 11 11 a.m. to noon
Virtual
Teams for Intermediate Users November 8 11 a.m. to noon
Virtual
We Are Here to Help
EAP – Employee Assistance Program
• Strictly confidential
• Licensed mental health providers located conveniently near campus and other South Bay locations
• Both in-person and virtual sessions
• 10 free crisis and intervention visits per calendar year, per family member
• No referrals necessary
• Programs provide short-term counseling, assessment and referral for:
° personal and family issues
° chemical dependency
° financial and legal issues
• Employees and their dependents experiencing personal problems are eligible
• Call Dr. Moe Gelbart at 310-784-4935 or 310-257-5751 for an appointment and identify yourself as a Torrance Memorial employee or family member
PAP – Practitioner Assistance Program
• Strictly confidential
• Licensed mental health providers located conveniently near campus and other South Bay locations
• Both in-person and virtual sessions
• Medical staff members and allied health professionals experiencing personal problems are eligible for up to 10 visits per calendar year
• Program sponsored by the Torrance Memorial Medical Center staff
• Call Dr. Moe Gelbart at 310-257-5751 for an appointment and identify yourself as a Torrance Memorial physician or allied health professional
Support Groups
SOS – Support Our Staff
• Informal emotional support program for all staff experiencing difficulty coping with a situation related to work or home
• Intended to provide confidential and timely support
• Call 310-997-7444 to speak with the nursing house supervisor, who will find you an SOS peer supporter
Speech therapist Jayme Stolz practices “s” sounds with triplets Emma, Milly and Kate Kamienski.
Playing a Vital Role in
Patient Healing
Written by Laura Roe Stevens | Photographed by Michael Neveux
Comprehensive and personalized rehabilitation therapies enhance recovery and quality of life.
When a patient survives what once felt insurmountable—a life-threatening disease or a traumatic accident— euphoria from the successful outcome can quickly dissipate into fearful thoughts about the future. Will they be able to resume “normal” life and activities? How much stronger can they realistically get? Will they truly heal? And what can they expect once they are back at home or work?
It’s essential to recognize each patient’s journey to recovery is unique, and thriving and enjoying life as a survivor is possible. That’s where rehabilitation therapy plays a vital role in a patient’s healing and quality of life.
CUSTOMIZED TREATMENTS
Torrance Memorial Medical Center Rehabilitation Services offers a 360-degree, comprehensive program of diagnostic, preventive and therapeutic services to return patients to their physical best following illness, injury or surgery. Torrance Memorial’s nationally recognized programs provide rehabilitative treatments for nearly all needs—including emergency room care, post-op care and home services.
“When you come to Torrance Memorial for rehabilitation therapy, our expert team evaluates your condition(s), needs and goals before creating a specific program just for you,” explains physical therapist Tracey Mullan, Torrance Memorial’s director of rehabilitation services.
Whether a patient requires occupational, physical or speech and swallowing therapy—or a combined therapeutic approach—the therapists treat each patient uniquely, utilizing proven therapeutic techniques to treat a host of needs. The 108 talented therapists and staff members provide each patient with an individualized treatment plan—from simple to complex.
“We see a wide variety of patients and treat all age groups at the hospital. Our therapists can assist more people than most realize,” Mullan says.
For instance, the rehab team assists children with speech and genetic swallowing disorders—as well as adults recovering from strokes, neurological conditions, heart attacks, cancer, orthopedic surgery and more. They also help patients with less complicated conditions, such as sports injuries and arthritis.
It’s essential to recognize each patient’s journey to recovery is unique, and thriving and enjoying life as a survivor is possible. That’s where rehabilitation therapy plays a vital role in a patient’s healing and quality of life.
THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX
The experienced rehabilitation therapists at Torrance Memorial often think outside the box to better assist patients with multiple health issues. For instance, a cancer survivor who had positive outcomes with surgery, chemo and radiation treatments may seek physical therapy to ease frozen muscles around the shoulders, chest and neck that cause pain, headaches, sleep disruption and limited mobility.
During the consultation, the patient reveals difficulty chewing and mentions joint pain in her hands and wrists—a common side effect of post-treatment medications. Her therapist takes note of the patient’s swollen arms and legs due to stagnant lymph flow. This patient will benefit from a multidisciplinary team approach with a swallowing specialist, a lymphedema expert and a certified hand therapist to ease joint pain.
In addition, shadow conditions spurred from the patient’s painful conditions limiting exercise, sleep and range of motion must be addressed. Has the patient gained significant weight? Do they exhibit signs of pre-diabetes? Are they depressed? If so, the patient will need referrals for further testing or to see a psychologist for depression/anxiety.
“Our therapy staff have a diverse scope of expertise and evaluate all patients’ needs to optimize treatment plans, find additional resources and maximize outcomes for success,” explains Mullan. “It is also important to communicate what skilled therapists should not be ordered for—to dress and/or groom patients, perform as a personal trainer, or for patients who are at their functional baseline.”
She says the ultimate goal for all the rehabilitation therapists— no matter the approach, specialty or treatment plan—is to help patients move from simply enduring their painful conditions to living well, enjoying life and navigating their future with support and confidence.
A RANGE OF SERVICES
The medical center’s rehabilitation services department offers a full range of therapeutic services. Each type has a unique function and purpose:
Physical Therapy (PT) – According to the American Physical Therapy Association, physical therapists are trained and licensed movement experts who can diagnose and treat a large range
of injuries, disabilities and health conditions. Therapists aim to improve a person’s range of movement and quality of life and to prevent further injury or disability.
At Torrance Memorial, two-thirds of PT treatment is done at the West Tower for orthopedic diagnoses and even more at South Bay Ortho Rehab. More physical therapists work in America than ever before, and the number of certified therapists has doubled since 2022. For patients who suffer from a wide range of conditions— including sports injuries, disabilities, traumatic accidents, lymphedema, neurological disease and other mobility challenges—PT has proven to be an integral part of recovery
Speech and Swallowing Therapy – The Torrance Memorial speech and swallowing rehabilitation program offers a comprehensive range of services. Therapists assist people of all ages, from young children to seniors.
Evaluation and treatment services are available for speech and language disorders, neurological conditions, geriatric-related conditions, swallowing disorders and voice and articulation disorders. Therapists work within the hospital (all units) and with outpatients, including those undergoing radiation for head and neck cancer.
“The Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) team provides assessment and treatment for patients with various diagnoses and utilizes a multidisciplinary approach to serve our patients best. The acute-care SLP therapists work with the radiology team when performing videofluoroscopic swallow studies and collaborate with respiratory therapists when working with patients with tracheostomy tubes,” explains speech pathologist Jennifer Karmelich.
The SLP team works with radiation oncology staff to complete baseline swallow evaluations for patients undergoing radiation for head and neck cancer. SLP therapists work with physical and occupational therapists to provide functional treatment for both pediatric and adult outpatients.
“As a team, we value the patients and the goals they have set for themselves, and we include their family members in optimizing treatment outcomes,” Karmelich adds.
Occupational Therapy (OT) – This therapy aims to help individuals with injuries or disabilities regain independence and self-sufficiency in performing daily living skills, such as eating, dressing and working. OT provides individualized rehabilitative treatment,
as well as assistive devices and durable medical equipment evaluations. Patients and families are instructed on the proper and safe use of appropriate equipment to improve safety and independence.
“Occupational therapy treatments are individually tailored to improve a myriad of physical, neurological and psychosocial issues that may have developed from an accident, surgery, or a developmental or medical condition,” says occupational therapist Wanda L. Weimer.
Torrance Memorial’s OT team has established treatment regimens for hand injuries, upper-extremity orthopedic or neurological conditions, arthritis, traumatic brain injuries, stroke and Parkinson’s disease, developmental delays, lymphedema, cancer, ergonomics and difficulties with daily activities.
A therapist will base rehab programs around the occupations that matter most to a person. Depending on the setting, these occupations can look quite different on the surface.
For instance, in a school setting, occupational therapists focus on developmental milestones and help children develop skills to function appropriately in a classroom. For in-home health, therapists prioritize home safety and create occupation-based treatments—allowing individuals to safely navigate their home activities and environment. In an outpatient clinic, treatments address upper-extremity injuries that limit performance at work, at home, or in a sport or hobby.
When it comes to acute care, occupational therapists focus on assessing and treating patient activities of daily living skills, assisting in early mobilization, and performing therapeutic interventions that directly impact a patient’s chances of recovery and their overall discharge plan.
Certified Hand Therapists – The OT team also includes three certified hand therapists who assist with hand and wrist issues. There are only 6,044 certified hand therapists in America today. The Torrance Memorial team has recently developed an effective new treatment protocol in decreasing hand pain in breast cancer patients who suffer when taking Aromatase inhibitor medications.
Rehabilitation therapy—whether OT, PT or SLP—has the multifaceted benefit of being both recuperative and preventive. The critical and immediate aspect of therapy is to assist patients with balance, mobility, strength, flexibility or recovered speech, motion or ability. On the other hand, therapy has the ripple effect of prevention by thwarting shadow health conditions that often appear months and years after injury, illness, surgery and/or disability.
It’s important to address the big picture of a person’s recovery plan—and that is what the Torrance Memorial rehabilitation therapists do best. •
Rehabilitation by the Numbers
108
Number of therapists and support staff, including therapists certified in physical therapy (PT), occupational therapy (OT), and speech and language pathology (SLP)
72%
83%
PT mostly treats orthopedic diagnoses, making up 72% of PT evaluations in the West Tower and 83% at South Bay Ortho Rehab
75%
Percentage of OT evaluations that include hand therapy, performed by 3 certified hand therapists
5,315
Number of treatments provided by pediatric OT/PT/ SLP therapists last year, for 700 patients
3% and 7%
Certified lymphedema therapists work within OT and PT, making up 3% of the PT volume and 7% of the OT workload
6 + 1
The ergonomic program consists of six OT professionals and one from PT who perform worksite assessments for Torrance Memorial employees at the request of management
3
Number of PT professionals in the growing vestibular program
Neurological diagnoses (including strokes and parkinsonism) are seen in the West Tower by therapists from PT, OT and SLP
15%
Percentage of patients of patients they evaluated off-site by South Bay Ortho Rehab who receive pelvic floor therapy at, comprising 15% of the volume
TMIPA includes independent physicians who work under an umbrella organization yet can retain their own practices.
TMPN gives physicians a place to practice medicine without having to also manage their practice.
Torrance
Memorial Independent Practice Association
TMIPA physicians can be independent of TMPN
TMPN physicians are members of TMIPA
What’s Your Medical Home?
Together, TMIPA and TMPN provide a place for everyone.
Written by John Ferrari
Imagine you’re a physician. You want to focus on practicing medicine without having to manage payroll, insurance billing or other administration. Torrance Memorial has a home for you.
Imagine you’re a different physician. You’re an entrepreneur too. You like being able to manage your own practice and employees. Torrance Memorial also has a home for you.
Now imagine you’re a patient in a managed care HMO or Medicare Advantage plan. You’re looking for a comprehensive health care service provider. Torrance Memorial has a home for you as well.
Finally, imagine you’re a nurse, medical technologist, administrative specialist or other health care
professional. You want to work with fellow professionals who share your dedication in a workplace that’s efficient and caring. Yes, Torrance Memorial has a home for you.
These homes intersect in Torrance Memorial’s two physician groups: the Torrance Memorial Physician Network (TMPN) and Torrance Memorial Independent Practice Association (TMIPA). They may sound similar, but they were established to meet different needs, and they provide flexibility and efficiency in different areas.
TMPN and TMIPA also share a lot in common. They both help physicians practice medicine and manage their medical practice. Most importantly, they both
Case Manager RN
Clinical Coordinator
Social Worker
Patient Advocate/ Health Coach
Population Health Specialist
Gerontologist Complex Case Manager RN
TMIPA Patient Member
Torrance Memorial Physician Network
“Here in Torrance, we know our community better than a payer based somewhere else. We coordinate care right here in our offices at Torrance Memorial.” – Chris Rogers
support Torrance Memorial in providing outstanding comprehensive, coordinated health care.
Established in 1983, the Torrance Memorial Independent Practice Association has been around for more than 40 years. “The independent practice association concept was formed in the emerging California managed care market of the 1980s as a way for independent physicians to act as a group and provide more efficient care at a lower cost,” says Torrance Memorial senior vice president Chris Rogers.
After the enactment of the Health Maintenance Organization Act of 1973, managed care HMOs increased in popularity by reducing out-of-pocket costs for consumers—but they also reduced primary care physicians’ flexibility in responding to their patients’ health care needs. IPAs work with managed care HMO and Medicare Advantage plans to provide more responsive, point-of-service care to patients.
“Here in Torrance, we know our community better than a payer based somewhere else. We coordinate care right here in our offices at Torrance Memorial,” says Rogers.
At the same time, IPAs provide fiscal efficiencies for physicians by reducing overhead, sharing costs and increasing their ability to negotiate as a collective. HMO and Medicare Advantage plan administrators delegate to the IPA responsibility for patient administration such as payment and care management and coordination.
“We take care of those things here in TMIPA. It’s a model that benefits the managed care plans, the physicians and the patients through more efficient care. Through this delegation we have a financial interest in providing the best, most efficient care to the patient,” explains Rogers. “Administratively, we deliver better care to the patient. The IPA allows us to deliver the right care, leading to better outcomes at a better price, more efficiently. Through our network of 877 providers, we coordinate care for more than 82,000 members across medical specialties and out into the community too. For example, we can track a patient’s need for transportation and other support services by coordinating with social workers. We stitch together what is otherwise a very fragmented health care delivery system.”
Created to improve health care efficiencies and outcomes under managed care, Torrance Memorial’s IPA includes independent physicians together under an umbrella organization, while allowing them to retain their own practices. The Torrance Memorial Physician Network, established in 2012, responds to a different trend in health care.
Torrance Memorial senior vice president Heidi Assigal explains: “The key driver to form the network was some of our more senior
community physicians weren’t seeing younger doctors come into the community to practice family medicine. Newer doctors often would like to focus on medicine, not administration. As the complexity of office management has increased, there’s been less appetite among young doctors to open their own practices. Insurance and billing administration, regulation compliance and the staff needed to run an office—they’ve all increased.”
TMPN responds to that shift by giving physicians a place to practice medicine without having to also manage their practice. TMPN member physicians are all TMIPA member physicians too, but their practices are managed by Torrance Memorial. TMIPA physicians who aren’t TMPN members manage their own practices. “Some physicians still have that entrepreneurial spirit,” notes Rogers.
TMPN also gives Torrance Memorial a tool for the future. “Our initial focus was primary care,” says Assigal, “but over the years we have added many specialties. We’re also constantly assessing where we’ll need more specialists. Neurology is one growth area, as is obstetrics. We recruit a mix of new doctors, mid-career doctors and very experienced doctors.”
“TMPN helps us plan for and manage our growth and development,” adds Torrance Memorial president and CEO Keith Hobbs. “This ongoing recruitment effort allows us to adapt to retirements, replacements, practice acquisitions and new patient growth, while strategically filling in the gaps in essential specialties and optimizing care. The expansion of the physician network also opens doors for new primary care and expanded specialty clinics, addressing the ever-growing patient demand and ensuring we meet the needs of our community.”
Growing from two offices and seven clinicians in 2012, TMPN now has about 45 clinics and office locations with about 650 staff supporting approximately 185 clinicians.
“TMPN is intended to serve Torrance Memorial’s service area— from El Segundo to San Pedro, and Gardena and Lawndale in the east,” says Assigal. “As we grow in the community, we’re growing the patient base that has the Torrance Memorial experience, and that helps make Torrance Memorial Medical Center the hospital of choice. We keep enhancing the services our physicians bring to their patients right here in the South Bay. That’s a positive experience for our patients, and Torrance Memorial rises to the top among their health care choices. That doesn’t stop with our clinicians—all of our staff are aligned with our core values, and that creates a collective pride and commitment to service excellence. Clinicians and staff bring the heart of Torrance Memorial into the community.” •
A Decade of Healing
Since the Torrance Memorial Lundquist Tower opened in 2014, it has evolved to meet the South Bay’s health care needs—providing a healing space dedicated to patient comfort and advanced, compassionate care.
Written by Lisa Buffington
The success of the Lundquist Tower is due to the power of its people, including (from left) Jaleesa Amezaga, RN; chief medical officer Zachary Gray, MD; president and CEO Keith
In November 2014, Torrance Memorial Medical Center opened the Lundquist Tower—a seven-story, 390,000-square-foot, $480 million tower designed to meet the community’s health care needs for years to come. As the hospital prepares to celebrate the Lundquist Tower’s 10th anniversary, the facility continues to provide a healing environment where members of the South Bay community can receive advanced, compassionate care.
“From design to occupancy, the Lundquist Tower project was seven years in the making,” says Connie Senner, who has served as director of construction at Torrance Memorial Medical Center for 23 years. “We knew we needed a new building that met state requirements for earthquake safety, but we also wanted to create a space that would allow Torrance Memorial to raise the bar on patient experience and stateof-the-art clinical care.”
According to Senner, one of the first priorities was upgrading from double-occupancy to all-private patient rooms. “From a clinical standpoint, private rooms addressed our needs for infection prevention and privacy. But from a patient experience perspective, it allowed us to create a more comfortable, private and restful environment for patients and their families.”
Hobbs; director of construction Connie Senner; volunteer Lori Haig; and Tracy Bercu, MD.
A Team Effort From Start to Finish
After deciding on the best location for the new tower—at the site of a former medical office building on the hospital campus—the team began making plans to acquire the building, increase parking, develop a budget and decide on the project’s guiding principles.
“We knew our clinical team members needed to be involved in the project design from the beginning,” says Senner. “Every other week for a year, we held design meetings that included members of our medical/ surgical, progressive care, ICU, imaging, nursing and surgical teams— so everyone could give their input to ensure clinical and workflow needs were being addressed.”
“We really focused on creating workflows and spaces that supported the kind of care we wanted to deliver—especially for our nurses,” says Zachary Gray, MD, chief medical officer at Torrance Memorial.
After the building design was finalized, documents were submitted to the state for approval. In the meantime, Senner and her team took the building plans and created a 3D model of the tower’s mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems. Throughout the process they worked to keep staff, physicians, volunteers and the community updated on the tower’s progress.
“We went out in the community and talked about the project,” says Senner. “We also sent weekly emails to the Torrance Memorial team and created a series of 32 construction update videos.”
In 2013, Melanie and Richard Lundquist donated $50 million to the project—demonstrating their
commitment to supporting enhanced access to advanced health care in the South Bay.
A Seamless Transition
When the Lundquist Tower opened—at a remarkable $10 million under budget and six months ahead of schedule—the staff, patients and community were ready. “We spent a year planning for our transition to the new facility,” says Senner. “After our transition plan was approved by the California Department of Public Health, we conducted three months of staff education to test workflows and ensure the process went smoothly.”
On November 16, 2014, Torrance Memorial team members moved more than 150 patients to the Lundquist Tower, and they haven’t looked back since. “The Lundquist Tower is representative of how Torrance Memorial has evolved and adapted to new technology and patient needs to create an environment where patients and team members can thrive,” says Senner.
“Torrance Memorial has always been able to punch above its weight class in terms of patient experience and comfort,” says Dr. Gray. “The Lundquist Tower represents one more way the hospital can outperform on these levels.”
Leaping Into the Future
Building from scratch made accommodating the newest imaging and operating room technology easier, allowing Torrance Memorial to leap ahead and still have room for future expansion.
“The Lundquist Tower is a dynamic addition to our regional
medical center. And as a result, our patients can receive all the care they need right here without traveling outside the South Bay,” says Keith Hobbs, Torrance Memorial president and CEO. “During COVID-19, we were able to scale up to meet patient demand, and we recently opened a new interventional radiology suite to provide increased access to specialized care. But best of all, we still have the capacity for growth as the needs of our community evolve.”
“When you make this type of investment in a health care facility and revisit it over the years, there are sometimes things you might wish you would have done differently,” says Senner. “But thanks to the efforts of our entire team, the Lundquist Tower still feels timeless. It’s hard to believe it’s been 10 years.” •
Lundquist Tower Features
The Lundquist Tower is a state-of-the-art health care facility that includes:
• 256 private patient rooms
• Ceiling-mounted lifts in 70+ patient rooms
• 18 surgical and interventional treatment rooms, including the South Bay’s first hybrid operating room
• An outdoor, centrally located Healing Garden
• 16.5 acres of convenient on-campus parking
• Staff lounge areas with access to natural light
Butterflies encompass a spiritual meaning of transformation, rebirth, love and the human soul. Befittingly, the blue butterfly symbolizes the mission of the Caring Companions program.
Caring Companions
Providing a compassionate witness for patients who are alone during their final hours
Written by Melissa Bean Sterzick
In early 2024, Torrance Memorial quietly implemented a specialized program to help a rare type of patient.
For its many awards and accreditations—including a CMS 5-star rating for overall hospital quality—one important service had been missing.
While most people have friends or family stay with them during their final hours of life, some patients do not have those connections. For others, their closest relatives are unable to visit them or live too far away to arrive in time.
Caring Companions: A No One Dies Alone (NODA) program takes an important place in the hospital’s continuum of care. It unites staff and volunteers to activate and carry out a plan that ensures no patient will die alone.
During his rounds and through interactions and study with other hospital chaplaincies, Rev. Jan Arthur Lee, a chaplain in the Torrance Memorial spiritual care office, saw the need to provide a human presence for patients who are alone during their final days.
“It is our privilege to sit with them as they die, to be a gentle presence and offer a gesture of hospitality to the very end,” he says. “There is something sacred and beautiful about it.”
Rev. Lee and the hospital’s bioethics director, Andy Shen, MD, initiated the research and development of the program, networking with other hospitals that have NODA programs and creating an interdisciplinary team that includes the spiritual care office, palliative care, clinical education, marketing and communications and volunteer services.
The mission of Caring Companions is to ensure dignity, compassion and support for dying patients by offering bedside companionship to anyone who is alone at the end of life. Dr. Shen says Caring Companions is uplifting to the entire medical center—patients, physicians, nurses and staff members.
“Rev. Jan has said that the program is ‘good for the soul of the institution,’ and that’s a powerful statement,” he says. “After experiencing a few of the vigils myself, I felt that play out in real life.”
The program is designated for individuals who are expected to die within 48 to 72 hours and are without family or friends to stay with them until the end. It is set in motion when a registered nurse, palliative care provider, case management provider, physician, social worker or spiritual care provider identifies a patient in need.
Then, nursing or medical staff activate Caring Companions with a phone call to the Volunteer Services office, which notifies its volunteer pool and creates a schedule of three-hour shifts. The scheduler will also share the schedule with the charge nurse of the patient’s unit. During nights and weekends, the on-call bioethics doctor will organize vigils.
“It’s very reassuring and comforting for the hospital staff, especially the nurses, when they have a dying patient—knowing if they can’t spend time at the bedside, someone else can stay with the patient,” says Dr. Shen. “And it gives the doctor comfort knowing their patient is being well loved and cared for, and not just medically. A doctor can’t be there, but they want to know someone is there for the patients when they are dying.”
The first group of volunteer companions received training in February, and four patient vigils have taken place at the hospital since. Another training is planned for late summer. Rev. Lee says nurses and hospital staff involved in these vigils have shared their gratitude and relief.
“The nurses absorb a lot. This alleviates the caseload of a nurse to reserve their strength for other patients,” he says. “We can pick up that emotional, spiritual, existential weight.”
Mary Matson, director of service excellence, patient experience and volunteer services, says Caring Companions is evolving and growing. Each vigil has taught participants more about the needs of dying patients and the program’s potential to meet those needs.
Caring Companions volunteers are instructed on the use of personal protective equipment, isolation protocols, safety and confidentiality. They are also trained about the dying process, ways they can comfort the patient and how to care for their own feelings throughout the experience.
The mission of Caring Companions is to ensure dignity, compassion and support for dying patients by offering bedside companionship to anyone who is alone at the end of life.
Any information available about the patient’s preferences or beliefs is shared with the volunteers, with related resources included in a binder for companions. “With the information we have, we are respectful of what the patient would and wouldn’t want. This is not a religious program, but we know health and healing involve all aspects of the individual,” Matson says.
Caring Companions volunteers and team members debrief after a patient’s vigil. They share what they learned, what improvements could be made to the process and how their involvement affected them.
“At first, volunteers are worried about what they should do. The beautiful thing is everyone brings their own special humanity to how they spend time with the patient,” says Dr. Shen. “Those who’ve experienced the process have universally talked about how emotionally powerful it felt to be part of these vigils.”
At present, Caring Companions are selected from Torrance Memorial’s current volunteers. “We started with our volunteers because they are known to us and can add this periodic assignment to their current weekly schedule. We’ve reached out to inform and encourage inpatient care teams to use this resource,” Matson says. “And we’ve received wonderful feedback from staff, who have always done their best to tend to patients in these circumstances before Caring Companions. They are proud and grateful we have this program.” •
Taking Place at Torrance Memorial
Written by Julie Taylor
At Torrance Memorial, exciting advancements in technology are revolutionizing patient care, making health care more personalized and proactive. We are also enhancing campus safety and security to keep pace with these innovations—ensuring every patient receives the highest quality of care.
But we would be remiss if we did not mention the recent CrowdStrike global software outage that affected more than 4,000 devices and servers at Torrance Memorial. The worldwide outage for Microsoft Windows users was not a cyber incident, but it did render our Windows workstations inoperable. The disruption was felt by not only hospital systems but also other enterprise industries like airlines, banking and telecommunications. Our outstanding IT department quickly deployed a task force with strategies to remediate the situation and reduce patient and staff impact on elective procedures, outpatient testing and other services.
Campus Safety and Security
Torrance Memorial is committed to keeping our staff, patients and visitors safe on our medical center campus. Last year we engaged an outside security consultant to assess the need for additional security measures to improve safety across our health system. Based on their findings and recommendations, we made several changes to further enhance security. With a significant investment in facility infrastructure and security personnel, the Torrance Memorial main campus now includes:
• E911 system – With just a click of a button, our staff can deploy a house-wide panic software alarm program and emergency intercoms to announce emergency codes and initiate an immediate response from the security team. The software identifies the user’s location, letting security personnel know where assistance is needed. Once activated, the system immediately sends real-time notifications to security, managers and relevant authorities. The software also ensures confidentiality by only sharing information with authorized personnel. The initial rollout began in June starting with Tag and Go devices. Non-Tag and Go devices will follow.
• CrowdStrike to monitor and detect ransomware attacks.
• Improved camera systems, including nearly 500 cameras strategically located around the medical center campus.
• A new weapons detection system as part of the emergency department expansion project.
• More security personnel posted around the main campus.
The safety of our environment is built on many approaches—and that includes you. We ask for your support by always staying vigilant and aware of your surroundings. If you see something, please contact security and your manager immediately. All reports of workplace violence will be taken seriously and investigated promptly and thoroughly.
We suggest adding the security number 310-784-3732 to your cell phone to report any suspicious activity while leaving or entering the medical center campus.
Everbridge
Everbridge is a mass notification system that can send emergency notifications and important updates to all Torrance Memorial employees during a disaster or emergency incident. During a critical event, when every second counts, we will use Everbridge technology to send out real-time alerts with instructions to every Torrance Memorial employee enrolled in the notification system.
The goal is to have 100% of employees enrolled. At the time of the CrowdStrike outage we had a 30% adoption rate of employees who had updated their cell phone numbers to be reached during an emergency. The CrowdStrike outage brings an opportunity to reevaluate the elective enrollment process of this emergency platform at Torrance Memorial. If we don’t have your contact information you will not receive important emergency communications.
It takes just a few minutes, and employees are highly encouraged to participate.
TMI>Business App> Lawson>Employee> Everbridge
Go to TMI. Under the Business App tab select Lawson and sign in with your credentials. If prompted for double verification, hit the “send code” button. Enter the received verification code to sign in.
Under the Employment dropdown menu select Everbridge. Enter contact details: disaster cell phone, work phone extension, work email, personal email. Press the Update button.
Introducing TONIC: a New Check-in Process
Our ambulatory patients can now streamline their visit with Torrance Memorial’s new seamless, contactless check-in process, known as Tonic. We recently invested in this fully HIPAA-compliant, real-time mobile patient intake and contactless check-in platform to provide an easy and engaging way for patients to complete intake consent forms when it’s most convenient for them.
This process is currently available in select Torrance Memorial Physician Network offices, the breast diagnostic and imaging centers, as well as rehab, offering pre-visit online check-in. More offices will provide this service in the coming months. With our secure online patient intake platform, patients will now do less paperwork and save time before appointments by being able to check-in online from home.
How does it work?
• Once an appointment is confirmed, a text message containing a link to our online check-in platform is sent. Click the link to begin.
• Verify your demographic details, review or upload identification and insurance cards—all before your scheduled appointment.
• Upon reaching the physician’s office, patients confirm their arrival by scanning the provided QR code at the entrance or utilizing one of the office iPads.
If they didn’t have the opportunity to check-in online beforehand, they can utilize the online pre-registration platform in the patient waiting area. They simply scan the QR code using their own device or utilize one of our clinic’s iPads. Patients then relax and await their provider.
For over 10 years, we have been using AI in medicine at Torrance Memorial ... like Rapid AI, da Vinci robotic surgical system, Ion, Nuance lung cancer screening, Dragon Medical One voice-to-text dictation.
AI
Artificial intelligence, commonly known as AI, is becoming more widely used in health care. Gina Sulmeyer, MD, executive director of medical informatics, refers to AI as “augmented intelligence” because it isn’t replacing the physician’s role in health care. It’s just adding to it and helping it.
AI is the capacity of machines to memorize and learn from experience, “think” and create, assist and augment decisions that influence the health of our patients. It is the use of machine and deep learning, natural language processing and other AI-enabled tools to improve patient care. This intelligence can help doctors and other medical professionals make more accurate diagnoses, develop treatment plans and, importantly, make health care more proactive and predictive, giving us a brighter future in patient care.
For over 10 years, we have been using AI in medicine at Torrance Memorial. AI technologies, like Rapid AI, collaborate with Cedars-Sinai neurosurgeons to provide a clinical workflow solution for our Telestroke program. The da Vinci robotic surgical system has been in use, creating more precise and better surgical outcomes, and the newer Ion technology is a robotic-assisted system for minimally invasive biopsies.
Torrance Memorial uses Nuance Lung Cancer Screening to extract data from imaging reports and clinical history to identify patients requiring early screening/intervention. Riverrain Technologies uses AI to enhance imaging detection of lung nodules. Dragon Medical One AI technology uses a voice-to-text dictation system to learn accents, spelling and pronunciation techniques as it listens.
This summer we are piloting a program through Oracle Clinical Digital Assistant in our Torrance
Memorial Physician Network primary care offices. The AI-powered voice recognition technology automatically records key elements of the physician-patient encounter to interpret the information and generate a clinical note. The goal is to assist physicians with taking actions such as placing orders or adding diagnoses from the information in the conversation.
By installing the application on either an iPhone or Android, the physicians can record a private patient conversation. The AI technology processes the human conversation and connects the patient’s prior clinical history with notes from the physical exam and a plan of care—creating a draft note. This note enables a physician to quickly review and approve the clinical documentation produced. Both the original conversation and the edited note are stored side by side in the chart so you can look at both.
Dr. Sulmeyer explains, “This has been in beta testing for over a year, and the people using it are finding it invaluable. It gets you away from the computer and back to caring for the patient and providing a better experience.”
Because these various AI platforms are delivered from third-party vendors, we learned during the CrowdStrike outage that some of our vendors were also offline (Dragon Medical One) so physicians had to pivot and use scribes during the downtime of the system. While AI technology has improved efficiency dramatically, the recent outage reminded us that not everything is 100% infallible. •
Inaugural Medical Teaching Hospital Program
Hospitalist services and ambulatory primary care medicine are areas of excellence, strength and quality of care for Torrance Memorial Medical Center. We are excited to announce the recent launch of our inaugural medical teaching hospital program. The goal is to provide access to our health system by offering this opportunity to internal medicine residents from Cedars-Sinai.
Supervised by Torrance Memorial physicians, residents will work two-week rotations that include inpatient hospitalist services, ambulatory primary care at the El Segundo location, and
specialty and urgent care training. This prestigious program, aligned with the Cedars-Sinai Health System, will promote the adoption of new diagnostic practices and therapeutics.
The long-term vision is to grow the program to offer CedarsSinai residents rotations in other service areas. We are also evaluating the potential to develop a fellowship rotation after residency. The program could create a future pipeline for physician recruitment down the line. By offering this opportunity, Torrance Memorial builds on its reputation for advancing high-quality health care in our community. •
Torrance Memorial Women’s Heart
For Physicians and Healthcare Professionals Only
To Support the Vision of the Lundquist Lurie Cardiovascular Institute
F R I DAY, S E P T E M B E R 6
Breakfast/Registration: 7 am to 7:45 am Conference: 8 am to 12:30 pm
Torrance Memorial Hoffman Health Conference Center 3315 Medical Center Drive, Torrance, CA 90505 Conference will also be available virtually Zoom details provided in registration confirmation
S TAT E M E N T O F N E E D : Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in women in the United States One in three women will die from cardiovascular diseases each year and in some racial or ethnic minorities the death rate is even higher The Torrance Memorial Women’s Heart Symposium will be a half-day professional conference focused on promoting comprehensive understanding of heart disease i n women Topics will include risk factors, prevention, clinical presentation, treatments and outcomes of cardiovascular disease in women
TARGET AUDIENCE: Cardiologists, internists, family practitioners, endocrinologists, cardiac surgeons, OB/GYN, electrophysiologists, emergency physicians, nurses and other healthcare professionals
D U C AT I O N A L O B J EC T I V E S: Upon completion of this program participants should be able to:
n Educate health care providers on gender-approaches in prevention, diagnosis and treatment
SPEAKERS
8:05-8:35:
Torrance Memorial - Hormones & Cardiovascular Disease
8:40-9:05: C
Torrance Memorial - Diabetes & Cardiovascular Disease
9:10-9:35:
Torrance Memorial - Introduction to the Cardiogenic Shock Program
9:40-10:05: JA
Cedars-Sinai - Evaluation of INOCA/MINOCA
10:30-10:55:
-
Torrance Memorial - Risk Factor Evaluation: Beyond the Lipid Panel
11:00-11:25:
- CVD Prevention
11:30-11:55:
-
Torrance Memorial - Palpitations and the Utility of At-Home Rhythm Monitors
12-12:30:
,
Cedars-Sinai - Updates in HFpEF
n Increase awareness of cultural disparities associated with cardiovascular disease risk, including ethnicity, age and gender
n Educate healthcare providers on the latest diagnostic tools and therapeutic options
E E S:
Torrance Memorial, Cedars-Sinai, Huntington Health Physicians, Nurses and Employees - $50
Non- Torrance Memorial and Cedars-Sinai Health System Physicians, Nurses and Employees - $75
Fees include lectures, continental breakfast, snacks and syllabus Pre-registration is required
A full refund will be given if this activity is cancelled. No refund will be given if participant cancels within 48 hours of the activity.
To register visit our website at http://TorranceMemorial.org/womensheartsymposium or call 310-891-6726. For more details please visit our website.
Torrance Memorial’s 53rd Annual Employee Service Award Luncheon
Tribute
Celebrating years of dedicated service
Torrance Memorial employees gathered to celebrate their years of dedicated service at the Employee Service luncheon and ceremony held at the Torrance Marriott on June 14. The annual Employee Service Awards honor those celebrating five or more years of service, and in memoriam we honored members of our Torrance Memorial family who are no longer among us. This year Torrance Memorial proudly celebrates the remarkable service of four employees who have dedicated 45 years to our medical center. We also honor the exceptional commitment of five employees who each have served for 40 years. Your loyalty and service are deeply appreciated, and we congratulate you on reaching these milestones and look forward to many more. Congratulations to all of this year’s honorees.
In Memoriam
Oliva Arcala 16 years
Alberto Formica 32 years
Susan Seinura 29 years
Gerald (Mike) Geib 45 years
Viviane Mirville Powell 17 years
Linda Lillington 14 years
Patricia Reed 20 years
Gary Day 25 years
Employee Service Awards 2024
Photographed by Philicia Endelman
Michael Chavez, Candace Millek, Dennis Kikuno, Darleen Logan-Wyatt, Latoya Johnson, Jeremiah Chua, Linda Dobie, Chris Bacon, Desiree Chacon
Korrina Banzon, Mark Banzon, Francis Alaan
Beth Lowerison, Liz Ferris
Tim Roetman, Nick Cox, Melissa O’Malley
Gary Pettit, Tiffani Zanelli, Julie Krueger, Dawn Linko, Jamie Whipp
Brett Parsons, Bernie Reid, Raymond Rubio
Melany Merryman, Deadra Doctolero, Rosa Zamora
Youngran Brennan, Keith Hobbs, Herna Joy Gonzalez
Erlinda Valerio, Loella Alcomendas, Alicia Ramos, Mina Abrahim, Grace Lesa, Althea Oliveros, Natalie Thorpe, Casey Wang, Mary Wright, Elena Bautista, Beatris Martinez, Beth Lowerison, Liz Ferris
Seated: Luz Cartera, May Santos, Thelma Estrada; Standing: Sabrina Nichols, Michael Hanson, Jenny Patten, Maria Artega, Shanin Pinter, Darleen Logan-Wyatt, Tammy Castellano
