Progress report by Connie Senner

On September 24, 2024, Torrance Memorial Medical Center officially broke ground for its new two-story emergency department. Major donors, hospital leadership and physicians gathered to celebrate the groundbreaking—and wall-smashing—of the Lundquist Leach Emergency Department expansion project.

This expansion will enable the hospital to better serve the community's health care needs. It will increase patient capacity, reduce wait times and improve the overall patient experience by integrating the latest medical technologies and creating additional private treatment rooms. The expansion aims to ensure the hospital's emergency department remains a state-of-the-art facility capable of delivering critical care efficiently, especially as patient volumes grow.

After months of dedicated work, Phase I of the emergency department expansion project is almost complete. This phase has focused on laying the groundwork for a more modern, efficient space designed to enhance patient care and staff workflow.

Key Accomplishments in Phase I:

A designated materials staging area for construction crews has been established east of the ED entrance, near the recently installed MRI trailer.

A new temporary triage space is underway, ensuring uninterrupted patient care while the existing triage area is transformed into a more efficient and comfortable space. Although it is hard to predict the exact timing of the opening, the California Department of Public Health has 100 days to perform its survey and issue licenses for the space.

The second-floor demolition is nearly complete, and utility rerouting will begin in June. As a result of the cooperation and assistance from staff with communication to the public, we have been able to maintain the construction schedule so far.

Upcoming Work: The hard demolition phase of the second floor is complete and the build out will begin when we have a building permit issued from the state. Construction is currently targeted to start in June.

We deeply appreciate the commitment of our staff in delivering exceptional patient care throughout this construction process. We are also grateful for the generosity of our community, whose support has made this extraordinary project possible. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work toward a stronger, more advanced emergency department.