OnCenter

DAISY AWARDS

Honoring the extraordinary work of nurses

Transition, change, the marathon of the pandemic, a fierce flu season, RSV–elements we take in stride working in the health care industry. This year has been another once-in-a-lifetime experience filled with challenges. We have much to look forward to in 2023.

In this edition of OnCenter, you will discover the extraordinary efforts of our security team that keeps us safe, heartwarming stories of nurses who have received the national Daisy Award and the valiant work of our Nurse Navigators. In this issue we will also celebrate the five-year anniversary of our affiliation with Cedars-Sinai, which has helped evolve the hospital into one of the premier health organizations in Southern California. If you have any doubts, just look at pages 4–5 to celebrate our prestigious awards and accreditations.

I continue to have complete trust in a fantastic management team, and I am proud to announce the following promotions: Executive Vice President Keith Hobbs has been promoted to President of the medical center; Vice President Bernie Reid has been promoted to Senior Vice President of IT systems; and Vice President Heidi Assigal has been promoted to Senior Vice President of Torrance Memorial Physician Network. If you happen to see them on campus, please extend a warm congratulations.

It is my honor and privilege to serve you, and I am grateful to all of you.

Craig Leach CEO Torrance Memorial Medical Center

Editor

Julie Taylor

Director, Marketing Communications

Erin Fiorito

Publisher, Creative Director

Vincent Rios

Copy Editor

Laura Watts

Contributors

Danielle Boujikian

Lisa Buffington

John Ferrari

Nancy Sokoler Steiner

Melissa Bean Sterzick

Photographers

Mary Ford

Vincent Rios

©2023

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.

FROM THE PRESIDENT

Elaine Hume-Dawson, recipient of the Daisy Nurse Leader Award, in the Healing Garden next to the Healer’s Touch statue that symbolizes the

and families.

Graphic illustration by Vincent Rios

Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval for Spine

Torrance Memorial Medical Center earned the Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for Spine Surgery Certification by demonstrating continuous compliance with its performance standards. The Gold Seal is a symbol of quality that reflects a health care organization’s commitment to providing safe and quality patient care.

The certification recognizes health care organizations that provide clinical programs for spinal conditions across the continuum of care. The certification evaluates how organizations use clinical outcomes and performance measures to identify opportunities to improve care and educate and prepare patients and their caregivers for discharge. Through rigorous unannounced on-site visits, Joint Commission reviewers conducted observations and interviews to ensure Torrance Memorial met the standards and expertise to earn this prestigious certification.

Leading Laboratories recognition from ASCP and The Joint Commission

Torrance Memorial Medical Center is the first in the nation to receive Leading Laboratories recognition from the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) and The Joint Commission. This two-year designation demonstrates Torrance Memorial’s commitment to laboratory excellence and to help improve patient outcomes.

To receive the recognition, the hospital demonstrated excellence in four areas: elevating quality outcomes, supporting professional development, cultivating trusted leadership and promoting laboratory visibility. The Joint Commission said key initiatives leading to the hospital receiving the designation include implementing lab automation to reduce the outsourcing of certain tests and reduced turnaround time.

Los Angeles Times Best of the Southland Finalist Winner

Torrance Memorial Medical Center is honored to be voted the Best of the Southland finalist winner from the Los Angeles Times in the health and wellness hospital category. The Los Angeles Times created this multiple-phase voting award in 2021 to celebrate readers’ favorite businesses across 65 categories in five regional zones. We thank every physician, nurse, caregiver and volunteer for delivering on our promise to provide expert care. Your hard work and support continue to distinguish Torrance Memorial as a top regional medical center. Congratulations!

eHealthcare Leadership Award

Torrance Memorial’s newly redesigned website was awarded a Silver Winner for Best Site Design and Best Overall Internet for a Healthcare System by the eHealthcare Strategy & Trends Leaderships Awards 2022.

Steven J. Thompson Recognized as California’s 2022 Pharmacist of the Year

Awarded annually to one member who has made significant and sustained contributions to the pharmacy practice in California, Steven J. Thompson, PharmD, was selected for the California Society of Health-System Pharmacists most prestigious award: Pharmacist of the Year Award for 2022. Our congratulations to Steve on this award for his outstanding work establishing many programs to enhance the pharmacy profession.

Gold Level Beacon Award

Torrance Memorial’s 4 West Progressive Care Unit is proud to receive The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) gold-level Beacon Award for Excellence! This top-level designation is a three-year award to meet national criteria consistent with the American Nurses Credentialing Center Magnet Recognition Program®, the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award and the National Quality Healthcare Award. The award is a significant milestone on the path to exceptional patient care and healthy work environments by recognizing unit caregivers who successfully improve patient outcomes and align practices with AACN’s six Healthy Work Environment Standards.

Commission on Cancer Accredited Program

Torrance Memorial has received full accreditation as a Comprehensive Community Cancer Program from the American College of Surgeons. The recognition speaks to the high quality of care the Hunt Cancer Institute provides. The Commission on Cancer accreditation denotes quality—potentially attracting more patients and providing opportunities for patient engagement.

Press Ganey Patient Experience Award for Torrance Memorial Emergency Department

The Torrance Memorial emergency department (ED) received the Human Experience Guardian of Excellence Award, a patient experience recognition from Press Ganey for ED performance. Press Ganey is the global leader in health care experience solutions and services. As a winner of this award, Torrance Memorial’s ED ranks in the top 5% of health care providers in the U.S. delivering patient experience over the past year.

National Gold Certified Sleep Hospital

Torrance Memorial has received certification as a National Gold Sleep Safe Hospital from Cribs for Kids, making it the first and only L.A. County National Gold Certified Sleep Center. This program awards recognition to hospitals committed to reducing infant sleep-related deaths by promoting and educating on best safe-sleep practices.

Curated by Danielle Boujikian

Employee BBQ

NICU Wall

It’s a special day when our NICU patients get to go home with their parents, so we built a special photo wall to celebrate the occasion! Newborns Harmony and Taiba were among the first to snap their NICU graduation photos. #NICUBaby #NICU #neonatalcare

We celebrated the end of summer with our annual employee BBQ—fiesta style! Thanks to our HR, Employee Health and Nutrition & Food Services teams for hosting a fun day filled with delicious food, music, dancing and flu shots! #TeamTorranceMemorial

Walk for Obesity

We partnered with Cedars-Sinai and Marina del Rey Hospital to host the #SoCalWalkFromObesity The walk raised funds for the ASMBS Foundation to support obesity treatment research, education and access to care initiatives. Thank you to all who came out to make a difference!

Be Your Own Hero Event

YWCA

Since 1894, the YWCA Greater Los Angeles has been advocating to eliminate racism and empower women by providing essential resources such as housing, safe and sterile testing sites, child care support, meals for families, and housing for homeless and elderly individuals. In June 2022, the YWCA hosted the Phenomenal Woman Award Celebration honoring our “Unsung HEROES”—the women of Torrance Memorial and other essential workers throughout Los Angeles. Recently, CEO Faye Washington and team surprised us with a beautiful piece of art symbolizing women’s empowerment and the mission of the YWCA. Thank you for this gift, and we look forward to working together!

In October 2022, we partnered with Coreology – Palos Verdes to celebrate female wellness, strength and empowerment! Thank you to our guest speakers, Melanie Friedlander, MD, and Julie Sim, MD, and our grateful patient Rhonda Gil, for sharing the importance of early breast cancer detection, self-exams and screenings. To schedule your next annual mammogram at one of our four convenient South Bay locations, visit TorranceMemorial. org/breasthealth.

#BeYourOwnHero #GetScreened

The Great ShakeOut

Our staff participated in #TheGreatShakeOut and practiced how to Drop, Cover and Hold On in the event of an earthquake. Great job, team! Way to stay ready and prepared.

Drug Take Back Day

Thank you to everyone who participated in National Drug Take Back Day! We collected 18 boxes and 231 pounds of expired and unused medications for proper disposal. Thank you to Sgt. Craft with Torrance Police Department, the DEA and our community partner Erica with Behavioral Health Services, Inc. for helping us successfully conduct this annual event!

Pumpkin Contest

The annual Halloween Torrance Memorial pumpkin contest had some creative, spooky and wild pumpkins designed by our staff!

Hispanic Heritage Month

In honor of #HispanicHeritageMonth, we’d like to recognize our director of clinical nutrition, Dani Rodriguez-Brindicci, MS, RDN. Of Cuban heritage, Dani values hard work on and off the clock and takes great pride in celebrating her heritage.

Kindness Week

Torrance Memorial kicked off November with #KindnessWeek, a time to promote gratitude and the importance of being kind to each other, ourselves and our community. We celebrated kindness to ourselves with wellness events like guided journaling, vision boarding, meditation and rock painting, and we promoted kindness to each other with lemonade stands, ice cream pop-ups, baked goods, gifts, music and pet therapy, a community book library and so much more!

It’s important to remember that even the smallest act of kindness goes a long way. Take time to sprinkle kindness to your colleagues, family, neighbors and community all year long! #KindnessIsContagious

2023 New Year’s Baby

Say hello to Ian, the first baby born at Torrance Memorial in 2023. Congratulations to parents Renata and Marcel, and cheers to an amazing first year of life. #NewYearsBaby

Spiritual Care Cart

Over Thanksgiving weekend, Hospital Chaplain Rev. Doug Lee made rounds to employees with the Spiritual Care Cart. The cart was met with various experiences and interactions, from passing curiosity to deep and meaningful encounters. Thank you to our incredible team of chaplains for making this happen!

Auxiliary Check Donation

Torrance Memorial’s Volunteer Auxiliary presented a check for $182,707 to the Torrance Memorial Foundation at its 2023 Auxiliary annual meeting. This donation will support the Torrance Memorial emergency department expansion campaign. Thank you, volunteers, for providing nearly 96,773 hours of service last year and for this remarkable donation!

Redondo Beach Fire Department Toy Donation

Celebrating the holidays is the best time of the year! Redondo Beach Fire Department came to our emergency department to hand out presents to our pediatric patients, and wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season!

El Segundo CT Ribbon Cutting

We celebrated the official ribbon cutting for our new Philips Spectral CT 7500 scanner at Torrance Memorial Physician Network Imaging in El Segundo. This state-of-the-art technology provides high-quality imaging in a safe and comfortable environment.

Diversity Conversations

3rd Tuesdays

12:30 to 1:30 p.m.

Pismo & Robert

Say hello to Robert and Pismo! Robert likes car shows and BBQing and has always loved giving back through volunteering with his best pal, Pismo, who was raised in a barn and loves playing frisbee and volleyball. Robert and Pismo are passionate about volunteering for those who need them. Thank you for bringing smiles to our staff and patients!

MLK Jr Day

In partnership with Cedars-Sinai, Torrance Memorial staff and physicians joined in the 21st annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration. The virtual lecture and post-live event discussions were opportunites to reflect on the program, connect with our Cedars-Sinai colleagues and continue to honor King’s life and legacy and the historical impact of civil rights leaders.

All classes are held virtually

Speak So People Listen

April 12

10 a.m. to noon

How to Speak Up & How to Take Feedback

March 8

8:30 a.m. to noon

Lean Fundamentals Workshop

March 16

9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Professionalism in the Workplace

March 28

10 a.m. to noon

Managing the Generations

May 23

9 a.m. to noon

Creating an Affirming Space for Your LGBTQIA+ Patients

June 8

3 to 5 p.m.

Cultural Sensitvity

June 20

9 a.m. to noon

Health & Wellness Lecture Series for Torrance Memorial Staff

This lecture series was developed based on the need to help employees navigate life during and post-pandemic. Health care professionals provide meaningful, hour-long discussions to educate, provide compassion, and promote health and wellness. All lectures can be accessed by virtually attending live or visiting the TMU website for previous recordings.

Stay tuned for upcoming 2023 lectures.

MICROSOFT Training

Access Microsoft Trainings @ TMU website

Prerecorded and live classes available

For more information contact elaine.mcrae@tmmc.com or call extension 75704

Emergency Department Expansion Will Enhance Access To Care

A new two-story facility will incorporate advanced technology and double the number of beds while increasing safety and efficiency.

Written by Lisa Buffington | Photographed by Vincent Rios

For nearly 100 years, Torrance Memorial Medical Center’s Melanie and Richard Lundquist Emergency Department has provided award-winning, 24/7 care to South Bay residents—delivering critical health care services to more than 88,000 patients each year. In late 2023, Torrance Memorial will begin construction on a $40 million emergency department (ED) expansion project that will increase capacity, efficiency and access to emergency care.

“Our ED has set the standard for exceptional and compassionate care in our community, and as a result we’ve seen consistent growth in the number of patients we serve each year,” says Gretchen Lent, MD, director of the Torrance Memorial ED. “Our team has done a remarkable job of making the most of our current space. An expanded, state-of-the-art ED will allow our team to more efficiently and effectively provide lifesaving care.”

The expanded emergency care facility, which is expected to open in 2026, will feature:

• more than 80 treatment spaces including dedicated behavioral health rooms—doubling the department’s current capacity

• a modular, open-concept design, including multiple-purpose, modifiable spaces depending on staff and patient needs

• rooms with glass partitions for enhanced viewing, safety, security and privacy

• a pandemic-ready waiting room with two separate patient areas

• enhanced technology to improve efficiency and safety

Collaborative Planning and Design with Leading-Edge Technology

Torrance Memorial took a collaborative approach to designing the new ED. In addition to hiring Huddy HealthCare Solutions—a firm that has designed more than 300 emergency departments worldwide—the

Torrance Memorial planning team included physicians, nurses and support staff in the design process.

“We invited our ED team members to give us input and feedback from the very beginning, which was even better than putting ourselves in their shoes,” says Gina Sulmeyer, MD, executive director of clinical informatics at Torrance Memorial.

“Working with Huddy HealthCare Solutions and our team members ensures we get the most innovative, efficient space with maximized capacity,” says Dr. Lent. “Together we will not only build the department of our dreams but a space designed with future needs in mind.”

Torrance Memorial’s remodeled ED will feature a unique, two-story design—making it one of only a few double-decker EDs in the country. The Torrance Memorial team is visiting other double-decker EDs to learn best practices for managing various processes in a two-story environment.

New designs are underway to increase capacity, efficiency and access to emergency care.

Melanie and Richard Lundquist Emergency Department Recognitions

• Certified Comprehensive Stroke Center

• Designated as an Emergency Department

Approved for Pediatrics

• ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI)

Receiving Center

• Paramedic base station for Los Angeles County

• One of only three certified Burn Treatment Centers in Los Angeles County

• Recipient of the Lantern Award for extraordinary nursing care

The new ED will also be equipped with state-of-the-art technology designed to enhance efficiency and safety. “Our patient spaces will have wireless systems that can record conversations between doctors and patients, extract the relevant information, and automatically enter a note in the patient’s electronic medical record so physicians can talk with patients more freely,” says Dr. Sulmeyer. “Team member badges and patient identification bracelets will also be equipped with radio-frequency identification trackers so we know where they are in our facility, when they enter and leave specific areas, and how to call for help if needed.”

A State-of-the-Art Healing Space

The Torrance Memorial ED team is thrilled to have the opportunity to work in a thoughtfully designed, healing space that pairs beautifully with the existing Lundquist Tower. But most of all, the team is looking forward to providing members of the community with enhanced access to emergency care for conditions including strokes, heart attacks, sepsis, accidents and more.

“Our new ED will be a reflection of our mission statement, which is to provide high-quality, timely and comprehensive emergency care, one patient at a time,” says Dr. Sulmeyer.

“Overall, it has been incredibly exciting, humbling and rewarding to be involved in creating the distinguished ED our team and community deserve,” says Dr. Lent. •

“IT HAS BEEN INCREDIBLY EXCITING, HUMBLING AND REWARDING TO BE INVOLVED IN CREATING THE DISTINGUISHED ED OUR TEAM AND COMMUNITY DESERVE.”

- Gretchen Lent, MD

A Bouquet of Thanks

The Daisy Award recognizes nurses’ skills and compassion.

Written by Nancy Sokoler Steiner

Photographed by Mary Ford

When Elaine Hume-Dawson, RN, started to open the door of the OR education room, she caught a glimpse of a yellow and green banner. Then she ran out of the room.

“I bolted. I was shocked,” says the manager of the perianesthesia units. “I was completely speechless, which is not my norm.”

Hume-Dawson recognized the banner signifying the Daisy Award and was overcome with emotion. She regained her composure and re-entered the room, where she was presented with the Daisy Nurse Leader Award.

Now an international program, the Daisy Award for extraordinary nurses honors “the superhuman work nurses do for patients and families every day,” according to the program’s website. Torrance Memorial Medical Center is among the 5,400+ health care facilities participating in the Daisy Awards.

The family of J. Patrick Barnes founded the program in 1999. They wanted to express gratitude for the exceptional nursing care Barnes received over eight weeks of hospitalization before he passed away.

At Torrance Memorial, one nurse receives the Daisy Award each month. In addition, one nurse leader per

year receives the Daisy Nurse Leader Award for nurse leadership. Anyone within the medical center may submit a nomination, including patients, families, other nurses, physicians or staff.

The Nursing Professional Development Council collects the nominations and selects a winner and a runner-up. “We ask so much of our nurses,” says vice president of nursing Shanna Hall, RN. “The Daisy Award helps show them they are heard and valued.”

“We like to surprise the winners and present the award in their unit,” adds senior vice president of patient services and chief nursing officer Mary Wright, RN. “We read the nomination form aloud, and it really touches the recipients.”

Top: Lauren Ayres, 3E ICU, receives her lei.

Bottom: Maddy Benoit, mother/ baby RN, proudly recieves the Daisy Award along with sweet treats sponsored by Cinnabon.

Daisy Award honorees are presented with a daisy lei and Healer’s Touch statue. The moment is captured with colleagues and leadership.

Top to bottom, L to R: Elaine Hume-Dawson receives the highest honor–Daisy Nurse Leader Award.

Jimmy Tiano, Home Health; Celine Shin, PCU 5W; Juan Cruz, Hospice; Ednalyn Viesca, 4W PCU

Top: Rahel Ayelemanly, 4E CVICU, proudly recieves the Daisy Award and celebrates with colleagues and leadership.

Bottom: Rosie Del Rosario, Short Stay, is honored to be presented the Healer’s Touch statue symbolizing the relationship between nurses, patients and families.

Winners receive the Daisy Award banner, proudly displayed in their unit for a month. They take photos with their colleagues and hospital leadership and appear on hospital screen savers and social media. Daisy Award recipients also receive a statue called Healer’s Touch, a pin and other goodies from the Barnes Foundation. (A replica of the Healer’s Touch statue, symbolizing the relationship between nurses, patients and families, graces Torrance Memorial’s healing garden.) Hall also writes a personalized note to each winner.

An annual Daisy Breakfast in Hoffman Health Conference Center brings together the year’s award winners to celebrate with CEO Craig Leach, Wright, Hall and other hospital leaders. A representative from the Barnes Foundation presents the nurse leadership award.

At last year’s breakfast, Daisy Award cofounders Bonnie and Mark Barnes spoke to the more than 75 attendees. (For two years during COVID-19, nurses received care packages at home and participated in Zoom-based ceremonies.)

“Reading Daisy Award nominations makes you remember what nursing is all about—it’s caring for our patients and giving ourselves to them,” says Wright. “That art is alive and well at Torrance Memorial.”

“We have extraordinary nurses who practice the art of healing and compassion along with science. Altogether it makes the art of nursing,” says Hall. “This is one way we can recognize the art of nursing in a formalized way.”

Hume-Dawson affirms the award’s impact. “For me, it is the highest honor,” she says. “And as a nurse leader, it was extra special to me because [the nomination] came from my team. They recognize I try my best, and they validate what I do.”

“WHEN THE RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD, MEDICINE HAPPENS PERSONTO-PERSON AT THE INDIVIDUAL LEVEL, OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN. THE DAISY AWARD REALLY CAPTURES THAT.”

–Zachary Gray, MD

Torrance Memorial began participating in the Daisy Awards in 2010. Winners have come from nearly every department, including ICU, Home Health, Wound Care and Hospice. Nine recipients have won the Daisy Award twice, and 7 West nurse Suzanne Tatikian received the award three times. Collectively, over 144 recipients have been honored.

A sampling of recent nomination forms provides a window into the nature of the extraordinary care provided by Torrance Memorial nurses. 4W cardiology nurse Ednalyn Viesca’s patient felt sad and frustrated her hospitalization prevented her from celebrating her 11-year-old son’s birthday with him. She wished her son could at least have cake. Viesca purchased and delivered a birthday cake to the boy.

Home health nurse Hiromi Sako’s colleague nominated her for “embodying everything Torrance Memorial values in a leader,” noting, “I believe her to be the best nurse I have ever worked with. She has made me a stronger nurse and educator.”

A COVID-19 patient nominated Lauren Ayres of 3E ICU for providing extraordinary

care and daily updates to her family. “She came in to take care of me on her days off,” says the patient. “She set up nightly computer calls with my children all over the country when I was on the breathing machine. I know Lauren’s care was responsible for saving my life.”

As one of the emergency department’s medical directors and chief medical officer appointee, Zachary Gray, MD, works closely with nursing and nursing leadership. He considers the Daisy Award among the most important and meaningful types of recognition at Torrance Memorial.

“Nursing care is at the very core of how the hospital operates. Without nurses, the medical center would not function,” he says. “When the rubber meets the road, medicine happens person-to-person at the individual level, over and over again. The Daisy Award really captures that.”

That’s the case for Hume-Dawson. Seeing and hearing about the year’s winners at the Daisy Award breakfast, she says, “You feel the joy, gratitude, professionalism and camaraderie, and you think, ‘Let’s keep this flame going.’” •

The annual Daisy breakfast held in the Hoffman Health Conference Center brings together the years’s award winners to celebrate with CEO Craig Leach.

Members of the Daisy Council

L to R, front row: Elena Rodriguez, Shanna Hall, Brandy Van Zitter, Sana Hamedani, Hazel O’Connor Back row: Audrey Bejo-Huerto, Nancy Lean, Atefeh Eftekhari, Erin Mann, Eliza Oliveros, Craig Leach, Kharla Carino, Rina Alba, Lupe Quesada, Beth Marshall

“WE ASK SO MUCH OF OUR NURSES. THE DAISY AWARD HELPS SHOW THEM THEY ARE HEARD AND VALUED.”

– Shanna Hall, RN

Meet the Torrance Memorial Oncology Nurse Navigators

Providing cancer patients with a compassionate, knowledgeable advocate

Written by Melissa Bean Sterzick | Photographed by Vincent Rios

Compassionate care is at the heart of these Nurse Navigators.

L to R: Imee Uy, Anne Milliken, Evelyn Calip, Lauren Landefeld

Acancer diagnosis can be devastating, and the steps from diagnosis to treatment and recovery can be overwhelming for patients. The oncology nurse navigators at Torrance Memorial’s Hunt Cancer Institute, an affiliate of Cedars-Sinai Cancer, have comprehensive oncology expertise and knowledge to support cancer patients and their families through the journey. Every nurse navigator is nationally certificated in the oncology nursing practice through the Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation.

The goal of the nurse navigator is to promote positive patient outcomes by providing one-on-one

support to patients with individualized care throughout the cancer continuum. Nurse navigators perform nursing assessments, triage patient care needs, coordinate care (including necessary tests and procedures), schedule physician appointments and help provide access to patient education and community resources and support. The nurse navigator works collaboratively with the cancer care team of experts to help eliminate barriers to timely access to care, such as financial, psychosocial, social, logistics, insurance, language, transportation, lodging and support systems.

Most patients with a new cancer diagnosis are overwhelmed by their change in health and the many steps needed to plan and organize their treatment. Patients often don’t know where to begin to get support and guidance. Each patient deserves the highest level of cancer care where their medical, social and emotional needs are met. As a nurse navigator, Anne Milliken, RN, says, “I strive to listen to my patients’ wishes and compassionately help guide them with cancer knowledge, information and resources. I am there to help patients over the barriers and through their journey.”

Rudy Rueda, who was diagnosed with colon cancer in late 2022, says, “If I have any questions, Anne calls me right away. I’m not sure if she eats or sleeps or does anything else—it feels like I’m her only patient. It’s so comforting because there are times you need information right away. Without the support of a nurse navigator, you’d have to become an overnight expert on the condition—and depending on the severity of your condition, that could be impossible.”

Rudy’s mother passed away from the same illness 20 years ago. “There was no Anne Milliken in my mom’s day. She had to be her own coordinator on top of going through the cancer,” Rudy says. “I can only imagine whoever came up with this program must have had family experience with cancer.”

Nurse navigators serve as a communication link, helping ensure timely diagnostic workups and coordination of results. They help ensure needed patient information is available to the many oncology care team experts reviewing each patient’s medical record and collaboratively develop individualized treatment care plans. Nurse navigators also link cancer patients to needed specialty programs offered within the Hunt Cancer Institute and beyond to ensure all their needs are met.

“Having access to timely information and support is invaluable to patients,” says nurse navigator Evelyn Calip, RN, who is a breast cancer survivor. “Every patient I see is benefiting in three crucial areas: education, coordination of patient appointments and assessing barriers to care with a high-touch approach.”

Nurse navigators also provide individualized care to address each patient’s clinical and emotional needs during their cancer journey so they feel better prepared and supported. Nurse navigator Lauren Landefeld, RN, says, “I let patients know what to expect before, during and after surgery, and what to expect from the hospital experience. I want to empower my patients and help them push through their anxieties about surgery and treatments for best patient outcomes.”

Nurse navigators follow patients on an outpatient basis from their diagnosis, coordinating the many steps to cancer treatments and recovery. Imee Uy, RN, who served on the dedicated oncology unit for the past five years, recently transferred to the role of oncology nurse navigator. “I’m excited to bridge my inpatient oncology experience with the outpatient setting so I can advocate and support my patients from diagnosis through all phases of treatment,” she says.

Nurse navigators are valued and trusted advisors for newly diagnosed cancer patients. Coordinated cancer care enhances the timely care and outcomes for patients, their families and all cancer care team members involved.

“I am a cancer survivor myself and had no one to guide me as a young mom struggling to navigate the landscape of treatment options available for my diagnosis,” says Anne. “With no family living close by to guide me, I remember feeling helpless and lost.”

John Morse and his wife, Beverly, call Anne an angel. After his diagnosis, John struggled to manage all the paperwork and scheduling. Once his gastroenterologist connected him to a nurse navigator, the important aspects of his treatment were set up quickly.

“She’s been wonderful and so helpful dealing with all the referrals and insurance. She has been a godsend,” says Beverly.

Nancy Lean, RN, director of oncology services at Torrance Memorial, says, “Personalized compassionate care is at the heart of nurse navigation, and we are fortunate to have such a dedicated and caring team of clinical expert nurse navigators supporting our patients here at Torrance Memorial Hunt Cancer Institute.” •

Specialty Institute Focus

Lundquist Lurie Cardiovascular Institute (LLCVI)

Message from the Codirector:

When I started my career at Torrance Memorial Medical Center in 1979, I couldn’t have predicted how far the field of cardiology would evolve. And although cardiovascular care has changed, one thing has remained consistent: Torrance Memorial has remained at the forefront, delivering pioneering care to South Bay residents.

The expert, multidisciplinary team at the Lundquist Lurie Cardiovascular Institute offers a full range of treatment options delivered by subspecialists in interventional cardiology, structural heart, electrophysiology, cardiac surgery, heart failure, cardiac rehabilitation and more—making our program the most advanced and comprehensive in the South Bay.

Our institute is the only center in the South Bay to offer cardio-oncology and women’s heart programs led by fellowship-trained experts in the field, which allows us to provide even more personalized care for populations with unique cardiovascular presentations and concerns. As a result, members of our community rarely need to travel outside the area to access cardiac care, even for the most complex conditions.

Additionally, our program continues to receive national recognitions, including High-Performing Hospital designations from U.S. News & World Report, Newsweek and American Heart Association Get With The Guidelines Gold Plus awards.

I am extremely proud of the achievements of our highly trained and experienced doctors, nurses and medical technologists, whose dedication and diligence—combined with the support of hospital administrators and the Lundquist family—have contributed to our institute’s national reputation for excellence.

As the field of cardiology continues to evolve, the future is bright for our hospital, our institute and the patients in our community who depend on us.

Mark Lurie, MD, codirector of the Lundquist Lurie Cardiovascular Institute, medical director of the Congestive Heart Failure Program, medical director of the Acute Myocardial Infarction Program

THE LUNDQUIST LURIE CARDIOVASCULAR INSTITUTE IS THE SOUTH BAY’S LEADER IN EXCELLENT AND COMPREHENSIVE CARDIOVASCULAR CARE

Awards and Recognition

• Newsweek Top 100 Hospitals for 2022

• Newsweek World’s Best Specialized Hospital in Cardiology 2021/2022

• U.S. News and World Report High Performing Hospital 2022–2023

° Cardiology & Heart Surgery

• U.S. News and World Report High Performing Procedures 2022–2023

° Heart Failure

° Heart Attack

° Heart Bypass Surgery

° Aortic Valve Surgery

° Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair

• American Heart Association 2022 Get With The Guidelines Awards

° Gold Plus Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite

° Gold Plus Target: Heart Failure Honor Roll

° Gold: Resuscitation

• American Heart Association 2022 Mission Lifeline Awards

° Gold Plus: STEMI Receiving

° SILVER: NSTEMI

Experience Matters — 2022–2023 By the Numbers

• 3,600+ inpatient cardiac patients in 2021

• 1,000 heart failure patients treated with 17.4% decrease in readmission rates and 54.3% decrease in mortality rates since 2016

• Average 59 minutes door to balloon time—fastest in the South Bay and among the top 25% in the U.S.

• 750+ TAVR procedures since 2014—the most in the South Bay

• 35+ studies conducted and published in peerreviewed medical journals

• Progressively increased electrophysiology procedures year over year from 2018 to 2019

Expertise

Our cardiovascular team has the range and depth of experience to treat even the most complex cases, which means patients don’t need to leave the South Bay area for convenient care. Our expertise includes:

• The only hospital in the South Bay to use percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) to treat chronic total occlusion (CTO) and a national leader in CTO PCI procedures and research

• Expert cardiac surgery through our partnership with Cedars-Sinai

• High-volume expertise in catheter-based structural heart procedures including TAVR and MitraClip, which allow more people than ever to access minimally invasive treatment for valve disorders

• An advanced cardiogenic shock team that utilizes the latest Impella circulatory support devices

• Largest, most advanced electrophysiology program in the South Bay, offering all types of ablation and device implant procedures

• Fellowship-trained subspecialty cardiologists educated at Top 10 academic institutions across the country

• ies Technologies

The team at the Lundquist Lurie Cardiovascular Institute has access to leading-edge technology, including:

• A highly developed cardiac imaging program, including a well-respected, high-volume cardiac CT program that utilizes the latest technology

• The only extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) machine in the South Bay–which is used to support patients with extensive heart damage

• Remote monitoring electrophysiology technology that allows patients to transmit data from their cardiac device directly to their doctor for review

• 12-bed Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit delivers the highest-quality cardiovascular care for patients who have severe heart disease or who are recovering from a cardiovascular surgery or event

Specialties

The Lundquist Lurie Cardiovascular Institute is the South Bay’s leader in excellent and comprehensive cardiovascular care.

• Cardiac surgery

• Structural heart program

• Heart failure program

• PCI-STEMI

• Electrophysiology

• Cardio-oncology

• Women’s heart

• Cardiac imaging

• Research and clinical trials

For detailed information by specialty, please visit: TorranceMemorial.org/medical-services/cardiovascular

Celebrating Five Years of Success: Cedars-Sinai and Torrance Memorial Mark Partnership Anniversary

Since the affiliation began in 2018, the South Bay community has benefited from close-to-home access to leadingedge oncology, neurosciences and cardiology care.

Written by Lisa Buffington

In 2018 Torrance Memorial Medical Center and Cedars-Sinai announced a new partnership designed to enhance health care access, coordination and quality throughout the South Bay. Five years later, this affiliation has brought the resources and expertise of Cedars-Sinai’s academiclevel oncology, cardiac surgery and neuroscience clinical specialties to Torrance Memorial patients— providing convenient local access to leading-edge treatments and clinical trials for cancer, heart disease and brain disorders.

“Our affiliation with Cedars-Sinai has worked out remarkably well and exceeded our expectations,” says Torrance Memorial CEO Craig Leach. “The South Bay community has benefited greatly from these two institutions working together to coordinate world-class care while also continuing the unique relationships they both have within the communities they serve.”

Another sunrise at Torrance Memorial Medical Center as we celebrate our five-year affiliation with Cedars-Sinai.

“When you ask people in the South Bay where they want to get their health care, they say Torrance Memorial,” says Tom Priselac, president and CEO of Cedars-Sinai Health System. “Because Cedars-Sinai is also an institution with community roots, it was natural for us to seek partners for the health system with those similar community roots.”

Strategic Partnership to Enhance Community Health

The strategic partnership between Torrance Memorial and Cedars-Sinai has enhanced care throughout the South Bay in three key areas:

ONCOLOGY

Even before the formal partnership, Torrance Memorial and Cedars-Sinai have a long history of cancer care collaboration. Today Torrance Memorial patients have access to advanced clinical trials, multispecialty clinics and Cedars-Sinai subspecialists who provide advanced care for complex conditions, such as head and neck cancers.

Hugo Hool, MD, medical director of the Hunt Cancer Institute, says Torrance Memorial remains focused on building seamless interactions between the two partners and their physicians while offering more Cedars-Sinai clinical trials locally.

“We have always had a strong clinical research focus and we’re excited to now give our patients a direct pathway to evolving novel therapies like CAR-T cell and CAR-NK cell and CAR-NK cell therapies. We look forward to expanding the repertoire of clinical trials to a variety of new cancers,” Dr. Hool says.

NEUROSCIENCES

In the five years since Torrance Memorial affiliated with Cedars-Sinai, patients at Torrance Memorial’s Lundquist Neurosciences Institute have experienced expanded access to world-class treatment options, technology and clinical trials. Additionally, patients in the South Bay receive care from a multidisciplinary team of experts from both hospitals who collaborate on all aspects of neurological care.

“The hospitals began their collaboration on the stroke

side, but our South Bay patients’ neurological needs go beyond that. We now have the expertise of specialists in movement disorders, spine, aneurysm repair and brain tumor resection,” says Paula Eboli, MD, medical director of endovascular neurosurgery at Lundquist Neurosciences Institute. Dr. Eboli joined Torrance Memorial from Cedars-Sinai after the affiliation and has helped build the neurosurgery team.

CARDIOLOGY

Cedars-Sinai Smidt Heart Institute cardiothoracic surgeons practice alongside Torrance Memorial’s exceptional surgical team to provide the latest and best cardiac surgery options to South Bay patients. Due to the team’s expertise, the community also has access to innovative technology—including the only extracorporeal membrane oxygenation machine in the South Bay, which is used to support patients with extensive heart damage.

“Our goal is to merge our experience and expertise with Torrance Memorial, partnering with their physicians to make more of these services available to patients at the Torrance Memorial campus,” says Aziz Ghaly, MD, Cedars-Sinai cardiac surgeon and director of cardiac surgery at Torrance Memorial’s Lundquist Lurie Cardiovascular Institute.

Looking Toward a Bright Future

After celebrating the five-year anniversary of their partnership, Torrance Memorial and Cedars-Sinai are looking forward to continued expansion—enhancing access to resources, expertise and clinical trials at Torrance Memorial while enriching the care Torrance Memorial physicians and staff provide to patients, their families and the entire South Bay community.

“These collaborations have enhanced the scope of services we can provide to the people in the South Bay, and we’ve seen a very, very positive response from the community,” says Keith Hobbs, president of Torrance Memorial Medical Center. “Our patients appreciate they can continue to get the care they’ve always trusted close to home at Torrance Memorial and also have access to more resources and expertise of Cedars-Sinai.” •

“OUR AFFILIATION WITH CEDARS-SINAI HAS WORKED OUT REMARKABLY WELL AND EXCEEDED OUR EXPECTATIONS.”

CEO Craig Leach

George W. Graham

George W. Graham, Torrance Memorial Medical Center’s former chief executive officer, passed away on July 8, 2022. He served Torrance Memorial for three decades as administrator, president and CEO and president emeritus. His visionary leadership brought advanced care to the South Bay, and his legacy leaves a lasting imprint on the hospital he rebuilt from the brink of insolvency in 1975.

Over the course of his career, George nurtured the advancement of the medical center by recruiting skilled medical staff and health care professionals and acquiring the latest medical technologies to ensure Torrance Memorial remained at the forefront of medical care. He sought to meet the needs of a rapidly growing and changing community and set the trajectory of excellence, which has allowed Torrance Memorial to be the regional medical center it is today.

George will be greatly missed, and we extend our heartfelt condolences to his family.

1970s & 1980s

The late 1970s and 1980s ushered in many building projects and saw decisions that would forever change the face of the medical center. Significant projects completed during this time included the dedication of the new three-story East Wing opened in 1978. Just five years later, the five-story, 78-bed North Wing opened in 1983, increasing capacity to 325 beds.

1990s

Torrance Memorial continued to meet the community’s need for services by opening the Outpatient Center in 1991 to accommodate the burgeoning number of outpatient surgeries and offer advanced treatment for cancer care and heart disease. Diagnostic imaging continued to grow with the expansion and dedication of the Vasek and Anna Maria Polak Breast Diagnostic Center, named for several large donations by Vasek Polak in honor of his late wife.

2000s

George and his team planned for the growth of the medical center over the course of his three-decade career, and many of these ideas materialized in the years leading up to his retirement in 2005. With an eye on ensuring excellent care and advanced technology would be available to the community in state-of-the-art facilities, campus-wide expansion planning began. In 2000, an ambitious Growing for Our Community campus master plan was unveiled, and work began to make the West Tower and the Lundquist Tower a reality. •

Friends and Colleagues Remember George

“I don’t know the people who ran the hospital during its first 50 years, but I would venture to say George Graham has had more impact on Torrance Memorial Medical Center than anyone in the history of the hospital. He laid a fantastic foundation for the future. He was a great leader, a great man. We will all miss him.”

Craig Leach, CEO Torrance Memorial

“George Graham was a man with a mission and a vision. His mission was to stabilize a financially shaky community hospital. His vision was to set Torrance Memorial on a path to becoming an excellent medical center. This would not have been possible without his intelligence, tenacity and grace, and the support of our community and current leadership. He was an amazing leader. Thank you, George.”

Thomas Simko, MD

The five-story, 78-bed North Wing opened in 1983, increasing capacity to 325 beds.

An early 1977 Torrance Memorial Medical Center, prior to the campus’ explosive growth.

“When George came to Torrance Memorial, many hospitals had adversarial relationships between the hospital administration and the medical staff. George respected the doctors and established a trusting relationship that allowed a team approach to move the hospital forward. We were good friends with George and Marion and shared many adventures. We miss them very much!”

Edward Bold, MD, and Paula Bold

“George invited me to join the board of trustees and later asked me to serve as chair of the board. Thanks to his wisdom and the collective sound judgment of the magnificent leadership team he assembled, my association with Torrance Memorial Medical Center has never been cause for a single sleepless night. On the contrary, my association with George (both personal and professional) and the hospital has been a source of significant pride. Watching the growth and many accomplishments over the years, I only wish George were here today to see what his wisdom and vision shaped.”

William Collier Jr.,

“My late husband, Dick Hoffman, MD, considered George the ‘savior’ of Torrance Memorial. Dick was in that small group that brought in George as a ‘consultant’ and then hired him permanently as the essential leader needed to bring the hospital out of disorder and financial disaster.

George was far from an ordinary leader. He was gutsy, courageous, assertive, bold and he listened. He was a visionary way ahead of his time, making sound judgments and decisions quickly and taking calculated risks. He believed a first-rate radiology department was essential for the growth and reputation of the hospital and invested in advanced technology to attract the best-trained partners. The strength and respect the radiology department enjoys today is the flagship of the hospital and a reflection of the great pride and excellence George cultivated.”

Carole Hoffman

“I wasn’t here to see George’s righting of the then-listing Torrance Memorial ship. But I was around to see him bring it through the obstacle course of developing a first-rate medical center during his three decades at the helm. One word is often used to describe George: vision. He had the vision to build a solid system. He had the vision to expand the success he generated through the birth of managed care. And he had the vision to ensure his team would continue on the path to excellence. I’m grateful for the legacy he left us, and I’m proud to have personally worked with him.”

Mark Lurie, MD

In

Esq.

Patricia Sacks, MD, Robert Huber, MD, Sally Eberhard, senior vice president of planning and development, and George W. Graham bulldoze the way for the Polak Breast Diagnostic Center.

Digging in for the 2003 West Tower groundbreaking are William Averill, MD, chief of medical staff; Thomas Simko, MD, president of the Health Care Foundation board of directors; George W. Graham; Craig Leach; and William Collier, Jr., chairman of the board of trustees.

2005 George W. Graham stepped down as president and CEO—handing over this role to longtime CFO and COO Craig Leach. Here, the two stand on the future site of the seven-story Lundquist Tower, completed in 2014.

Leading the security efforts at Torrance Memorial: security manager Lawanda Carter, assistant director of security Tim Roetman, senior vice president and chief operating officer Derek Berz

“WE’RE ALWAYS WORKING TO EVALUATE AND IMPROVE OUR SECURITY.”

-Derek Berz, COO

Caring and Safety

Torrance Memorial security gives staff, patients and visitors peace of mind.

Written by John Ferrari | Photographed by Vincent Rios

Torrance Memorial Medical Center is a place of healing, and the hospital’s security team helps create the environment for that healing to continue. “We need Torrance Memorial to be a safe, secure place to work, visit and provide compassionate service,” says senior vice president and chief operating officer Derek Berz.

That’s the reasoning behind Torrance Memorial’s commitment to security for everyone—the hospital’s medical professionals, staff, patients and visitors. “We’re always working to evaluate and improve our security,” Berz says.

Like any business, hospitals may experience workplace disturbances or even violence. But at hospitals, the potential is compounded by patients and visitors experiencing stressful life situations.

The pandemic only exacerbated the problem. Changes in visitation restrictions and adhering to the evolving California Department of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines are examples fueling the frustration and the undercurrent of the unknown and uncertainty.

“Those types of changes and variability can cause confusion with our public,” Berz notes. “It’s already a stressful situation, coming in with a health care crisis. In the past, patients and family members had an understanding we were partners in caring for them and their loved ones. In the last five years, the climate and attitudes have shifted, and people coming in are less tolerant. Our staff must deal with their desire to help while defusing the anger of the people they’re trying to help.”

Berz suggests the interrelated mental health, opioid and homeless crises play a big role. “These societal issues can make the whole community and families more unstable, and those pressures play out in health care. These factors affect how we adapt, shift and partner with our patients and their families to better serve and mitigate escalated situations.”

To resolve potentially dangerous situations, Torrance Memorial has adopted the Handle With Care program, which offers training to all clinicians and staff members on interacting with patients and family members. “That’s the biggest change I’ve seen since I started here in May 2018,” says assistant director of security Tim Roetman. “We’ve revamped our training system and teach everything from recognizing the symptoms of a potentially violent situation and verbal de-escalation to basic physical methods for defense and restraint until help arrives.”

The hospital also provides additional training, including active aggressor/ shooter response. In 2019 we conducted a large-scale drill with the Torrance Police Department. In 2022 we followed up with additional departmental simulations training. In November 2022 we involved 13 departments over three days.

“We present a scenario where an individual escalates from calm to a shooting event, and we train employees on the basics—run, hide or fight. We want to give them practice so they can respond if something like this ever happens,” Roetman says.

Torrance Memorial’s security training doesn’t end at the campus’ boundaries.

Bottom, L to R: Kamerin Atkins, Destiny Carter, Melinda Murphy, Wanda Gregg, Sheila Garner, Damond Alexander

Top, L to R: Darrell Dixson, Glen Lightfoot, Tony Lee, Duane Kaline, Darrell Abney, Lafayette Winbush

Security Team Staff

Darrell Abney Officer II

Damond Alexander Officer II

Kamerin Atkins Officer I

Angelica Bedolla Officer I

Destiny Carter Officer II

Lawanda Carter Manager

Jorge Castillo Supervisor

Richard Chambers Officer I

Richard Clancy .................... Officer I

Michael Denny ..................... Officer I

Darrell Dixson ....................... Officer I

Reginald English Officer II

Rodney Ford Supervisor

Shelia Garner Lead

Wanda Gregg Officer I

Christopher Greve Officer I

Marcus Hicks Officer I

Michael Johnson Officer I

Tony Johnson Officer I

Duane Kaline Lead

Mahendra Kumar Officer I

Tony Lee Officer I

Matthew Lesa Officer I

Glen Lightfoot Officer II

Sylvia Lopez ......................... Dispatch

Jeremy Magana.................. Officer I

Fernanda Magdaleno ........ Officer I

Jose Menjivar Dispatch

Johnniemae Metoyer Officer I

Dorsey Mitchell Officer II

Brennan Mungia Officer I

Melinda Murphy Officer I

Weston Powell Officer I

Luis Ramirez Officer I

Michael Reese Officer I

Benjamin Saole Lead

Steven Simms Jr Officer I

Dominic Smith Officer I

Ronnie Tucker Officer I

Kevin Villegas Officer I

Lafayette Winbush Officer I

The hospital has a robust partnership with law enforcement agencies. Torrance police officers train at the hospital every month, and the hospital has close relationships with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and the Los Angeles Port Police, among others.

“We had active shooter training with law enforcement from eight different agencies and our staff in 2019,” Roetman says. “We needed to pause this training during COVID-19, but we hope to do it again.”

The hospital’s security team has added emergency department (ED) specialists, so a security member is always present in the ED lobby and clinical areas. “We made it a priority to get the position created,” Roetman says. “And we participate in EDIE (Emergency Department Info Exchange), a regional system that identifies individuals who have been violent, exhibited drug-seeking behavior or shown other disruptive behaviors at other hospitals.”

The hospital also has implemented a visitor ID badge system and checks visitors against various law enforcement databases. Physical security enhancements include improved lockdown capabilities and remote monitoring of areas inside and outside the facilities.

Security takes everyone’s help and participation. Torrance Memorial fosters a workplace culture of shared responsibility for security.

“We’re a small city unto ourselves,” Berz notes, “so everyone needs to be aware of what’s happening around them. Every staff member needs to be thinking about security—to have situational awareness. Report issues and let security investigate them. That’s a force multiplier.”

Roetman and the security team conducted an annual risk assessment, and this past November contracted with an independent security service to complete an outside audit. “We’ll use those results to help us determine if we need added staffing or additional physical security equipment,” Roetman says.

“We’re working through what those recommendations are,” Berz adds. “It was validating to see the actions we are taking are seen across the industry as best practices. We’re constantly enhancing our security tools, capabilities and training— being proactive.”

“We want our employees and staff to feel safe when they come to work, and we want our patients and visitors to feel safe when they come for care,” Roetman says. “Our constant evolution and commitment help people feel that way.” •

Derek Berz, Tim Roetman and Lawanda Carter with the trusted security SUV often seen making rounds at Torrance Memorial

Lifesaving Awareness

Tim Roetman, Torrance Memorial’s assistant director of security, knows firsthand the importance of being aware of your surroundings and yourself.

Last May, Roetman suffered a stroke, but his self-awareness and a few simple proactive actions saved his life. It was a sleepy Sunday, and Roetman felt very tired. This was a little unusual but not concerning on a weekend afternoon.

After he lay down for a nap, he noticed his left arm and leg weren’t responding. That set off alarm bells in his head, and he managed to get up to look in the mirror. Immediately he thought of his experience working at Torrance Memorial and the signs and symptoms of a stroke.

After calling a nurse at Torrance Memorial to back

up his self-diagnosis, he told his family to call 911 and unlock the front door. That, he says, saved his life. “I credit being told all the time what to look for as stroke symptoms,” he explains.

Roetman wasn’t wrong. He’d had a stroke but made it to the nearest emergency room within 45 minutes of the onset of his symptoms. He was given tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), a “clot-buster” that can quickly dissolve the blood clots that cause many strokes but which should be administered within 90 minutes of the onset of symptoms.

Roetman remained in the ICU for five days before being transferred to acute rehab, where he spent the next five weeks. Soon after his release, he experienced a spike in his blood pressure and was admitted to Torrance Memorial for four days. It was, he says, an outstanding experience.

“I thought, ‘Wow, I can see why patients like to come here,’” he recalls. “If you have to be in a hospital, it’s really the place to be. It’s about as positive an experience as you could have in a hospital.”

He hasn’t had any incidents since, but his recovery journey was just beginning. Several times each week he was visited by Torrance Memorial home health medical providers, including a physical therapist, occupational therapist and a registered nurse. He started outpatient physical therapy in August and returned to work in October.

He walks without a cane and estimates he has regained 70% of function in his leg and 50% in his arm and hand. The prognosis, he says, is for 90% to 95% recovery.

Roetman’s stroke resulted in Type 2 diabetes, and he has learned to manage that too, with the guidance of a Torrance Memorial nutritionist. His biggest supporters, though, are his family.

“If it weren’t for my family—my amazing wife, Shanon, especially—I wouldn’t be as far along on this journey,” he says. “I’m on a journey to manage my health. I know it’s a long road, and I’m OK with that.” •

“IF IT WEREN’T FOR MY FAMILY— MY AMAZING WIFE, SHANON, ESPECIALLY—I WOULDN’T BE AS FAR ALONG ON THIS JOURNEY.”

Tim and Shanon Roetman are grateful for a meaningful recovery.

3330 Lomita Blvd.

Torrance, CA 90505

310-325-9110

www.TorranceMemorial.org

OUR EXPERT TEAM HAS ONCE AGAIN RANKED FIRST AMONG SOUTH BAY HOSPITALS BY U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT.

To every physician, nurse, caregiver and volunteer for delivering on our promise of expert care, we are grateful. All your hard work and support continues to distinguish Torrance Memorial as the number one hospital in the South Bay and among the best in the nation. TorranceMemorial.org

Recognized First Among South Bay Hospitals