Burn Center

Access to Burn Care
Within a Full-Service Hospital

General Information

The Burn Center of Torrance Memorial Medical Center is distinguished by the expertise and compassion of our professionals. An integrated team of experienced burn personnel is dedicated to providing the highest quality, most easily accessed burn care possible.

We are:

A complement of burn and reconstructive surgeons, emergency physicians and a network of physicians in every medical specialty are available
Noted for a multidisciplinary team of physicians, nurses, occupational, physical, recreational and respiratory therapists, dieticians, pharmacists, interfaith clergy, social workers and volunteers who have worked together for many years, assuring continuity of care for every patient
Located adjacent to Zamperini Field, Torrance Municipal Airport, easily accessed by air ambulance, helicopter and fixed-wing transport as well as other emergency vehicles
In close proximity to Los Angeles and Long Beach Harbors
A participant in over 200 health plans and managed care contracts
The only Burn Center in the southern region of Los Angeles County

Transforming Lives

From the moment a burn victim arrives at the Burn Center of Torrance Memorial Medical Center, our emphasis is on returning that patient to the highest possible level of functioning. Immediately, our team addresses the complete physical, emotional and psychological impact of the burn injury on the individual. We are able to address each patient's comprehensive needs because we are part of a 377-bed medical center on a 24-acre medical campus. Our staff consists of inspired and dedicated professionals who believe in the importance of their work for the benefit of the individual and also a legacy for generations to come.

Founded in 1972 by Dr. William Dean Davies, our Burn Center is:

led by specially trained physicians whose careers and training are focused on burn treatment
an integral part of a full-service, not-for-profit medical center with all medical specialties under one roof, and a staff of 1,000 physicians, 2,000 employees and 900 volunteers
a comprehensive center with high standards of care for victims of residential and industrial fires and accidents, with specialties in reconstructive, microvascular and complex wound management
equipped and staffed to treat adults, children and infants whose wounds require sophisticated or complex capabilities and on-site advanced technology and equipment.

In addition, our medical center is:

a fully accredited facility with a Level II Emergency Department which is approved for emergency care for pediatric patients (EDAP certified), and is a paramedic base station
specially prepared for decontamination and management of a patient after hazardous materials exposure.

Full-Service Medical Center

Immediate response and depth of experience are of paramount importance to those who use our services. Torrance Memorial Medical Center is a referral center of choice because our impressive technologies and features include a full spectrum of patient interventions, from acute care to outpatient services, and rehabilitation facilities.

Responsive Professionals

The many complex aspects of a burn injury require the professional collaboration of specially trained personnel. At Torrance Memorial Burn Center, our burn team provides an uncommonly high caliber of care. This can be attributed to a completely integrated multidiciplinary team approach to individualized care.

The physician burn specialists coordinate a burn team which may include the following:

Physicians:

Burn Surgeons
Anesthesiologists
Cardiologists
Emergency Medicine Specialists
Gastroenterologists
Infectious Disease Specialists
Nephrologists
Neurologists
Ophthalmologists
Orthopedists
Pediatricians and Neonatologists
Psychiatrists
Pulmonologists
Reconstructive and Microvascular Surgeons

Nursing & Ancillary Support:

Burn Nurses
Dieticians
Infection Control Practitioner
Occupational, Physical, and Recreational Therapists
Respiratory Therapists
Pharmacists

Psycho-social Support:

Child Life Specialist
Clergy
Social Workers

Quality of care is ensured through:

Staff longevity which results in exceptional team building and precision teamwork
Interdisciplinary team conferences on all patients
Utilization of excellent resources, consultants and protocols
A program of Performance Improvement to assure clinical and service quality.

Continuous Care

Because recovery from burn injuries can be a long and demanding process - both emotionally and physically - Torrance Memorial Burn Center provides comprehensive care for patients after their hospital stay through the following services:

The Outpatient Burn Clinic
- provides daily outpatient services to support acute and reconstructive burn patients
- provides multidisciplinary team evaluations of all burn patients' needs
Rehabilitation Department
- provides a full complement of rehabilitation professionals who are available to collaborate on each patient's therapy
- features an on-site gym
- work hardening programs
Continued Reconstructive Services
- provides functional and aesthetic interventions
Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation and Children's Burn Foundation
- the Torrance Memorial Medical Center burn team works cooperatively with the Foundations which provide a full spectrum of services for the burn survivor and his/her family after leaving the hospital.

Community Outreach

The Torrance Memorial Burn Center supports burn prevention and education programs that include identifying potential hazards in residential, industrial and commercial settings. Through community involvement and affiliations, the Burn Center promotes fire safety, education and prevention. Furthermore, our staff is available to train medical and public safety professionals in assessing and aiding the burn victim.

Activities include:

Burn Center Hotline - 1-800-500-BURN
- a toll-free number for professionals, providing immediate response to emergencies and answers to burn care questions
Hazardous Materials Training
- seminars and off-site training for firefighters, emergency personnel and companies concerned about employee safety
Community Outreach
- a liaison available to professionals to provide information and access to the Burn Center
- also supports community education efforts, such as health and safety fairs held both at the medical center and in the community
"Champ Camp"
- an Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation summer program that helps young survivors build self esteem and confidence while having fun with other burn survivors.

For information about these services, call (310) 517-4605