Stroke Center

Torrance Memorial provides comprehensive stroke care from the onset of stroke symptoms through stroke rehabilitation. Torrance Memorial emergency care staff are trained to identify the signs of stroke and deliver early intervention care that limits damaging effects. Our stroke program offers patients premiere treatment, education and support to help restore functionality and quality of life.

TeleStroke Program

Patients are assessed, diagnosed and treated faster and more effectively than ever before at Torrance Memorial. Through TeleStroke, a video-conferencing technology enable specialists at Cedars-Sinai to communicate with Torrance Memorial’s ER team to examine the patient, interpret brain images, confirm the diagnosis and provide recommendations just as if they were at the bedside.

The evaluating physician will recommend in the case of ischemic stroke (which occurs as a result of an obstruction within a blood vessel supplying blood to the brain) whether tissue plasminogen activator (TPA), a clot-busting medication, is needed. According to the American Heart Association, each 15-minute span between the onset of ischemic stroke (the cause of nine out of 10 strokes) and the delivery of TPA is an average of one month of disability-free life lost for that patient. Immediate intervention in the case of hemorrhage stroke is just as critical.

Highly-Specialized and Comprehensive Stroke Center

Torrance Memorial became the first hospital in Torrance to receive the Joint Commission’s Certificate of Distinction as a Primary Stroke Center. This designation recognizes centers that make exceptional efforts to foster better outcomes for stroke care. Torrance Memorial has also received certification from DNV GL Healthcare as a Comprehensive Stroke Center, affirming the hospital’s readiness to handle a full range of stroke-related medical problems and reflecting the highest level of competence for treatment of serious stroke events.

Torrance Memorial has also received the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get with the Guidelines® Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award. The award honors the hospital’s commitment and success to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines.

This award is awarded by meeting specific quality achievement measures for the diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients at a set level for a designated period. These measures include evaluation of the proper use of medications and other stroke treatments aligned with the most up-to-date, evidence-based guidelines with the goal of speeding recovery and reducing death and disability for stroke patients. Before discharge, patients should also receive education on managing their health, get a follow-up visit scheduled, as well as other care transition interventions.

Expert Stroke Care

Our physicians, nurses and other medical staff are specially trained to recognize the signs of stroke and deliver immediate, expert care. Emergency room physicians quickly determine the nature of the stroke and provide proper treatment. A multidisciplinary stroke rehabilitation team provides personalized care to help stroke patients return to independent living and activities.

Stroke Team