Issue link: https://blog.providence.org/i/1482621
2 | Health Matters: Providence Little Company of Mary San Pedro and Torrance Garry Olney, Chief Executive Providence Little Company of Mary San Pedro and Torrance Letter to the Community A t Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Centers San Pedro and Torrance, we are honored to provide dignified, compassionate and world-class care to our community. This commitment to clinical excellence is evident in this year's "Best Hospitals" rankings by U.S. News & World Report. Of approximately 415 hospitals across California, Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center Torrance ranked 15th in the L.A. metro area and 26th in the state, receiving "High Performing" accolades (among the top 10% nationwide) for two specialties. In addition, Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center San Pedro earned a national ranking of 47th for acute rehabilitation. Part of our commitment to excellence involves a sustained investment in skilled professionals, protocols and comprehensive safety at our medical centers. And while we have placed a great deal of effort in securing our facilities to create a healing environment for our patients and caregivers, we realize that being nimble and adapting to the ever- changing world around us is a never-ending journey. Just like our foundresses before us, we are called to serve and meet the needs of our community, especially in the face of adversity. Tragically, active shooter incidents and violence at health care facilities continue to increase. As a result, we have taken a proactive approach to patient, visitor and caregiver safety. Our goal is to ensure that we are doing everything we can to protect those within our medical centers, while sending a clear message to those who may seek to do harm. In June 2022, we created a comprehensive Active Shooter Master Plan, with partnership and support from external agencies including the Torrance Police Department, the Department of Homeland Security and the Joint Regional Intelligence Center. We have trained our caregivers in active shooter measures, completed vulnerability assessments, limited the entry points to our medical centers and made changes to our facilities — including the installation of bulletproof glass in both our Torrance and San Pedro emergency department lobbies. Our goal is to ensure your safety while you are getting the care you need. The necessary balance between safety and freedom of access is nothing new. We have navigated this balance in a number of ways since the 9/11 terrorist attacks and throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. As the world we live in evolves, we will continue to respond in proactive ways that anticipate and meet the needs of our communities. While we understand some safety measures may feel a bit inconvenient, we ask that you be kind and understanding with our front-line employees who work diligently to cultivate a safe and healing environment for you, our patients and visitors. Take care and stay well, The security and safety teams at Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Centers Torrance (left) and San Pedro (right) .