1971
In April, Torrance Memorial opened at 3330 Lomita Blvd., following the
merger of the old Torrance Memorial Hospital with Riviera Community Hospital.
1972
Miracle of Living, a community health education series was launched with the first lecture
titled "Personal Ecology—Are You Poisoning Yourself?"
1973
Torrance Memorial recognized the importance of new technology:
A laminar airflow room was created. Providing the highest level of surgical
sterility. The hospital's first hip replacement, open-heart surgery,
and burn and neurosurgical procedures were performed in this surgical suite.
Torrance Memorial patients were offered ultrasounds, a new diagnostic technique
that was previously unavailable to the South Bay. Dr. Mitchell Parver
and Dr. Richard Hoffman were featured in a medical journal for demonstrating
a real-time ultrasound machine in the United States.
1975
Torrance Memorial celebrated its 50
th anniversary with an open house.
Mr. George Graham was newly appointed as Chief Executive Officer.
Torrance Memorial's first dedicated heart Catheterization Laboratory
featured new high-quality Siemens X-ray camera that assisted physicians
in determining whether patients needed heart surgery.
1976
The Auxiliary made a new $250,000 pledge to the hospital and completed
its final payment of $117,000 in 1981.
1977
Cardiac Rehabilitation program was launched featuring state-of-the-art exercise equipment, patient education
and rehabilitation services.
Torrance Memorial's
Blood Donor Center opened, the first of its kind in the South Bay.
A new EMI full-body CT Scanner was purchased; it was used to take advance
radiological images of the human body making exploratory surgery a thing
of the past.
The oncology department acquired a linear accelerator, a machine to boost
the effectiveness of radiation therapy to cancer patients
The Torrance City Council approved a proposed emergency helicopter landing
area at Torrance Airport to air lift patients from and to Torrance Memorial.
1978
Torrance Memorial Burn Center was recognized as one of three regional burn centers in LA County, handling
patients whose burn
s were cause by accidents in the home or in the workplace.
The three-story East Wing opened, the new home to Radiation Therapy and
Oncology departments, a hospital auditorium and education area, a remodeled
nursery, new labor and delivery area, and a new Critical Care Wing.
1979
Torrance Memorial received permission from state authorities to increase
its bed capacity to 325, an addition of 78 beds.
1980
Las Amigas was formed by a group of women dedicated to the promotion of
quality, cost-effective health care.
Torrance Memorial Healthcare Foundation was established.
1982
Torrance Memorial expanded into broadcasting business with the introduction
of an in-house television station.
The first
Holiday Festival of Trees was held. Becoming an annual fundraising event for the Las Amigas volunteer group.
Torrance Memorial began operations as a paramedic base station for Los
Angeles County.
1983
Balloon angioplasty procedure became more common for cardiac patients,
replacing bypass surgery in appropriate cases.
The CT 9800 scanner was acquired. It enabled physicians to perform studies
of head and body tissues with unprecedented detail and accuracy. The CT
9800 was one of the fastest and most advance scanning machines available.
1985
A five story, 78-bed North Wing opened. The new wing housed a new entrance,
lobby and gift shop on the first floor and office space on the second
floor. Upper levels each had 32 single-occupancy rooms, increasing postpartum,
orthopedic and medical-surgical units.
1986
Torrance Memorial became the first South Bay hospital to install an in-house
MRI machine. The diagnostic accuracy of neurological and muscular-skeletal
disorder took a quantum leap forward.
The Intensive Care Newborn Nursery was completed, replacing the Special
Care Nursery. The newly refurbished unit consisted of 12 licensed beds
for newborn infants who required special nursing and medical care.
ADVANTAGE, a free network of services for people 55 years of age and older, was
introduce.
1987
Torrance Memorial was fully equipped with the latest in laser equipment
for all current applications, surpassing all other hospitals in the South Bay.
1988
Torrance Memorial had 1,500 employees, 800 physicians on medical staff,
and 500 volunteers assisted with numerous aspects of hospital operations.
1989
The second Cardiac Catheterization Lab opened. It was the first of its
kind in the South Bay to feature such advanced radiologic equipment, allowing
staff to not only diagnose heart attacks, but treat them as well.
Torrance Memorial became one of the regional leaders in the use of computer
s to manage care. A state-of-the-art computer named SIDNe enable
d staff to track medications and treatments for individual patients.
The Auxiliary, consisting of all hospital volunteers, made a new, $1 million
dollar pledge to the hospital that would be fulfilled through two specials
projects: the sales of the Gift Shop and new baby picture.
1990
The Luminaries, Palos Verdes became Torrance Memorial's newest volunteer
fundraising group.
The 400-plus-seat Health Conference Center was dedicated. The opening of
this facility with its new meeting and even
t space, enhanced and expanded Torrance Memorial programs for the community, such as
Miracle of Living Lectures.
The Pet Visitation Program began with four dogs and their handler who provided
friendly visits to many patients in the Medical Center.
1991
The Outpatient Center opened in August to accommodate the various outpatient
surgeries, a new state-of-the-art
Radiation Therapy Service, a Cancer Resource Center, Cardiac Rehabilitation and
Blood Donor Center.
The Radiation Oncology department housed a new liner accelerator that provided
radiation treatment for malignancies ranging from skin lesions to tumors
located within the body.
1992
An outpatient
Chemical Dependency program was established under the auspices of the Psychiatric Services Department,
offering several levels of treatment for substance abusers and support
for spouses and children.
The Cancer Resources Center opened. The Center was designed to link people
with services and program of Torrance Memorial, to work cooperatively
with the American Cancer Society and to assist patients in learning about
community resources
.
1993
Torrance Memorial Medical Center was selected as a "Top 100 Hospital"
for the first time. During the '90s, the medical Center received numerous
performance awards.
1996
The Torrance Memorial handbook was published, culminating a seven-year
effort of a large task force of Torrance Memorial employees to define
the Medical Center's values and behaviors.
Torrance Memorial Board of Trustees reaffirmed the Mission Statement incorporating
the five Medical Center values into a statement of Our Beliefs.
1997
The Torrance Memorial Vasek and Anna Maria Polak Breast Diagnostic Center
acquired the new, single-insertion Mammotome Biopsy System for suspicious
areas in the breast. Its features included improved accuracy of diagnosis
and the ability to obtain larger tissue samples from a suspicious area
more rapidly without sacrificing patient comfort.
1998
The Diagnostic Imaging Center open to meet the needs of rapidly increasing
demand for outpatient radiology services, a second spiral CT scanner and
additional ultrasound and radiologic capabilities were added in a convenient
and private outpatient setting.
The new state-of-the-art Emergency Department expanded the capacity from
14 to 20 beds and incorporated a number of new technologies to improve
patient care. Following its opening, the department physicians and employees
implemented innovative methods of processing patients which resulted in
shorter patient waiting times.
HealthBeat, a one-half hour medical information television show, went into
regular production. Created and produced by the Torrance Memorial's
Media Service Department, and aired on local cable channels.
1999
The former Gastrointestinal (G.I.) Lab was transformed into a new state-of-the-art
Endoscopy Center featuring five treatment rooms, two of which have X-ray
capabilities, and a 10-bed holding area. The Center enabled medical personnel
to perform diagnostic procedures and to provide advance treatment modalities,
some of which were available at only a few facilities throughout the area.
2000
The Medical Center presented plans for its new eight-year Master Campus
Plan. Initial plans of construction include an outpatient and administrative
services tower, parking structure and numerous internal renovation projects
to upgrade and expand the bed capacity and outpatient clinical departments.
Torrance Memorial leads the South Bay into molecular imaging with the addition
of a Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scanner. Scans are able to map
the extent and spread of cancer and various heart conditions.
Next Chapter: Torrance Memorial Health System, Present