Your Safety is Our Top Priority
Thank you for choosing Torrance Memorial for your health care needs. During
this time, we want to assure patients your health and safety is our top
priority. It is very important to us that our patients and staff feel
comfortable and safe while accessing the health services and care Torrance
Memorial provides.
With guidance from the infectious disease specialists, Los Angeles Department
of Public Health and the CDC, Torrance Memorial has implemented many protocols
and policies to ensure the safety of our patients and staff.
An Important Message from Emergency Physician, Dr. Gray
Don't Delay Your Care!
When you or someone you love is in need of acute emergency care, the
Torrance Memorial Melanie and Richard Lundquist Emergency Department stands ready. The people of the South Bay have come to trust Torrance
Memorial to be there in time of need-- especially during emergencies.
What We are Doing to Keep our Patients Safe
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Mandatory Daily Screening and Temperature Checks – Every person who enters our facility goes through a daily screening
and temperature check.
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Proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) - Each staff member on a patient’s care team has the proper PPE
to ensure patient and staff safety. We have adequate supply of all the
necessary PPE required for any medical or surgical need.
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Extensive Training -- Our physicians, nurses and ancillary care team members have clinical
training and experience in infectious disease prevention and follow strict
protocols for maintaining a safe patient environment.
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No Visitor Policy – In accordance with CDC guidelines to protect our patients and staff,
no visitors will be allowed in any area of the hospital (see below for
exceptions for pediatric, labor and delivery patients and compassionate care).
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Social Distancing – Implementation of many physical distancing measures throughout
the hospital and in our physician offices.
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Cleaning and Maintenance – Torrance Memorial follows CDC protocols for cleaning and disinfecting
all patient and treatment areas. Rooms are thoroughly cleaned and disinfected
between patients.
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Isolation of COVID Patients –Positive COVID patients are in specific isolation zones. Patients
with a negative COVID screening test will not be placed in these zones.
How to Obtain Services
When bringing someone to the medical center for emergency services, cars
may park in the Main Parking Structure directly in front of the Emergency
Department to drop the patient off and check in for service. Cars will
need to be parked in Visitor Parking after check-in. We also offer free
valet services in the Main Parking Structure for patients and visitors.
After checking in, most emergency patients will be brought in to the Emergency
Department immediately. However, if the Emergency Department is full,
some patients may need to wait a short time before they can be accommodated
in the department in order to give everyone the quality care they need.
One of the first people patients see in the Emergency Department is one
of our Board Certified Emergency Physicians, who will make an initial
evaluation to initiate care. Patients will also be visited at the bed
side by an Admissions representative who will take care of any needed
paperwork. Once care commences, patients may see a variety of healthcare
workers depending on the type of care needed.
Special Emergency Care Designations
Comprehensive Stroke Center
At the Torrance Memorial Certified Comprehensive Stroke Care Center, providing
the highest caliber of evidenced-based care takes an impressive team of
professionals.
Learn More
ED Approved for Pediatric Patients
Torrance Memorial is a designated Emergency Department Approved for Pediatrics
(EDAP) by L.A. County Department of Health Services. All our emergency
physicians are trained to meet the Emergency needs of children.
L.A. County Paramedic Base Station
Torrance Memorial's 24-hour Emergency Department serves as a paramedic
base station. Specially trained paramedics, emergency physicians, cardiologists
and nurses work together to ensure patients receive the emergency care
they need during critical times.
STEMI (Heart Attack) Receiving Center
STEMI-receiving hospital, such as Torrance Memorial, has the equipment,
expertise and facilities to administer percutaneous coronary intervention,
a mechanical means of treating heart attack patients.
Special Features
In 1998, our Emergency Department was completely renovated and expanded
to prepare us to meet the need for high quality emergency care into the
next millennium. This improves our ability to serve the nearly 7,500 patients
who visit the Emergency Department each month.
In the department, patients enjoy many improvements that contribute to
the quality of care, as well as patient convenience and comfort. Some
of our special features include:
- A two-bed trauma room that enhances quality of care and comfort for patients
who may have suffered multiple injuries or may be too sick to be moved
- A special decontamination unit, complete with a shower stall serviced with
hot water that drains into an underground collection tank
- Three pediatric rooms, one of which isolates from other patients children
who may have a communicable disease, such as chickenpox
- Private rooms are provided for women who need obstetrical and gynecological care
- A room is specially equipped for problems involving the eyes, ears, nose
and throat
- Our Fast Track service provides timely care for patients with less serious
conditions
- From chest pains to migraines, from fevers to fractures, Torrance Memorial
is equipped and staffed to provide state-of-the-art emergency caring
The physicians of Torrance Memorial Emergency Department are independent
contractors and are neither agents nor employees of Torrance Memorial
Medical Center