Healthcare is moving toward a system where hospitals and doctors take greater responsibility for improving the overall health of the community. To achieve this goal, Torrance Memorial Medical Center’s mission includes responsibility for assessing the health needs of those we serve.
Last year, Torrance Memorial Medical Center provided over $40 million in unreimbursed services through our Community Benefits programs.
The programs assist special needs populations, provide education and research to improve community health and provide medical services that might otherwise not be available because they are not profitable.
Under this umbrella are programs that target prevention of chronic health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, obesity and lung cancer. One example is the Torrance School District “Healthy Ever After,” funded by Torrance Memorial’s Lundquist Cardiovascular Institute. According to Cynthia Williams, M.D., Torrance Memorial Medical Center endocrinologist, the pediatric obesity epidemic, caused in part by the consumption of processed foods and decreased physical activity, has triggered an increase in metabolic syndrome at younger ages. Metabolic syndrome is a precursor to Type 2 diabetes.
Through “Healthy Ever After,” our pediatric nutritionists created a curriculum for parent docents to teach in the classroom. Lessons include proper food portioning, appropriate exercise, and the development of a campus garden/farmer’s market, from which the school cafeteria makes purchases. The idea is to help children make a connection from the earth to the table that will influence their nutritional choices, and lower the rate of diabetes, obesity and heart disease.
Another example is the “Breathe Freely” program. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States and cigarette smoking is the number one cause of lung cancer. Through a Tobacco Use Prevention Education Funding (TUPE) grant, the Torrance Memorial Thelma McMillen Center for Alcohol and Drug Treatment developed a tailored version of “Breathe Freely” for the students. This spring the program will be offered at Redondo Union High School and the district’s continuation school, Redondo Shores High School, to help teens break the tobacco habit.
People age 65 and older are the fastest growing segment of the population across the United States. The Centers for Disease Control estimates that each year one in every three adults age 65 and older falls. Torrance Memorial has introduced several programs facilitated by licensed physical therapists to minimize fall risks. These include “Fall Prevention,” a comprehensive class that addresses home safety, medicine management, body mechanics and strengthening exercises; “Balance Check,” designed to help seniors recognize changes in balance that can lead to falls and injuries; and “Balance, Endurance and Strength Training” (BEST), a targeted eight-week physical conditioning class designed for smaller groups.
These are just a few examples of how the Torrance Memorial Community Benefit program improves the health of our community. To learn more about Torrance Memorial’s Community Benefit offerings, visit torrancememorial.org/community.
Craig Leach is the President/CEO of Torrance Memorial Medical Center.
