Michael Rhodes is concerned about his family history of heart disease. Rhonda Wood is recovering from breast cancer surgery. Joanne White is eight months pregnant and needs information on breastfeeding. Howard Tam needs help caring for his wife. Julie Newhope needs to reduce the stress in her life. They can all find what they need at HealthLinks, a unique resource for information, products and services available at Torrance Memorial Medical Center.

From the moment you enter, you'll notice the welcoming environment of HealthLinks, with its warm design accents, comfortable chairs and inviting displays of books and products. Although it's physically located on the first floor of the West Tower, HealthLinks really reaches out into the community, across the country, around the world and into cyberspace. There is a wealth of information at your fingertips, including books and magazines on a vast variety of healthcare topics, and computer stations for Internet research. Knowledgeable staff members are on hand to assist you at every turn.

HealthLinks is located on the first floor of the
West Tower on Medical Center Drive. For more
information, call (310) 517-4711.

From the moment you enter, you'll notice the welcoming environment of HealthLinks, with its warm design accents, comfortable chairs and inviting displays of books and products. Although it's physically located on the first floor of the West Tower, HealthLinks really reaches out into the community, across the country, around the world and into cyberspace. There is a wealth of information at your fingertips, including books and magazines on a vast variety of healthcare topics, and computer stations for Internet research. Knowledgeable staff members are on hand to assist you at every turn.

Although it provides information on medical conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer, as well as services such as the Cancer Resource Center and health education classes, HealthLinks is especially unique because it also offers products for sale such as breastfeeding supplies, books , fitness accessories, videos and much more.

"HealthLinks is truly a one-stop shop for health-related information, products and services. We serve as a conduit to a continuum of health-care," says Torrance Memorial Director of Community Health Education Carole Suddaby, R.N. "Our name is no coincidence. We provide a valuable link to the resources our community members need for every stage of life, from conception through aging. HealthLinks is an important component to helping people live longer, better."

Overview of HealthLinks Services
Cancer Care Information: When Rhonda Wood was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 60, her physician prescribed a treatment plan that included a partial mastectomy and chemotherapy. He also recommended she contact the Cancer Resource Center at Torrance Memorial. Located adjacent to HealthLinks, the Cancer Resource Center joins HealthLinks in providing a full complement of cancer information and education to patients, their families and the community.

Through the Cancer Resource Center and HealthLinks, people can find up-to-date information and referrals about a wide variety of cancer-related subjects,including cancer prevention, early detection and diagnosis, treatment and support services. Visitors can pick the medium they're most comfortable with — there are free pamphlets, assisted Internet searches and books and tapes for sale. In addition, the Cancer Resource Center offers Woman to Woman and Look Good, Feel Better, two programs designed to help female cancer patients feel better about themselves.

"It may be a cliché, but when it comes to cancer, knowledge truly is power," says Cancer Resource Center Manager Paula Bauer, R.N., MSN. "Together, the Cancer Resource Center and HealthLinks are in the business of empowering cancer patients to help them conquer their fears and make informed decisions."

Heart Health Resources: When his brother suffered a heart attack, it was a wake-up call for Michael Rhodes. A 52-year-old businessman, Rhodes knew that prevention was one of the most important weapons against heart disease, so he vowed to begin a healthy lifestyle that would reduce his chances of heart attack or stroke. That's where HealthLinks came in.

Rhodes visited HealthLinks, where he scheduled a cardiac risk assessment, a simple test that figures risk factors for heart attack or stroke. HealthLinks staff members helped Rhodes use the onsite computers to visit informative Web sites, including Torrance Memorial's own online health library. HealthLinks also provides a wealth of books on heart health. To begin pursuing a healthier lifestyle, Rhodes was also able to enroll in a series of exercise classes.

"Everything I needed was right there in HealthLinks," Rhodes says. "The staff really know their stuff — they helped me locate information, suggested reading materials and signed me up for classes. They even suggested a heart patient support group for my brother."

Maternity Services: Close to delivering her first child, Joanne White wanted to know more about breastfeeding. With one visit to HealthLinks, she was able to sign up for a breastfeeding class and purchase books and supplies. Like hundreds of women, she discovered that when it comes to maternity services, HealthLinks has it covered — from inception through pregnancy, delivery and child rearing. There are dozens of books about nearly every aspect of having and raising children, breastfeeding supplies, and fun things like blankets, toys, lotions and shampoos. Parents to-be can sign up for Baby Steps, walking tours of Torrance Memorial's Family Birth Center, or register for a wide variety of informational classes, including Prepared Childbirth, Breastfeeding, Infant/Child CPR and Sibling Preparation.

"Childbirth is a whole new experience for me," White says. "There's so much to learn; I was feeling a little overwhelmed. It was great to have the information I needed in one place and a supportive group of people to talk to. I'm feeling much more confident now!"

Aging Well: Howard Tam's wife, Marie, was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease several years ago. Although he had been caring for her at home since then, her condition recently deteriorated,and Tam realized he needed help. A visit to HealthLinks provided him with up-to-date information on services such as adult home care, day care, assisted living and skilled-nursing facilities. A staff person helped him go online on the HealthLinks computers, where he researched general information and local and national organizations devoted to Alzheimer's disease.

As a member of ADVANTAGE, Torrance Memorial's membership program for adults ages 50 and older (see below), Tam was able to sign up for an Aging Well consultation, a fee-based service that assists people faced with the challenges of caring for an aging loved one. Aging Well provided him with an individualized consultation to address age-related concerns; resource information for health, financial, social and legal needs; cognitive and depression screenings; and home-safety assessments.

What You'll Find at HealthLinks Consumer resource library - Unique specialty store - Knowledgeable staff
Information on... Hospital services Heart health Cancer services Family Safety Wellness and lifestyle choices Community resources Caregiving support groups Women's/men's health issues Nutrition and exercise resources	Products like... Breastfeeding supplies Fitness accessories Diabetes cookbooks Stress management CDs Health education videos Aromatherapy products Journals,eye pillows, candles Selected rehabilitation aids Earthquake preparedness kits	Services such as... Lactation education Aging Well consultation (fee) Massage and ref lexology (fee) Image Enhancement Center Class registration Physician referral Insurance counseling Health information research Cardiac risk assessment (fee)

Finally, Tam learned of a caregiver support group offered by Torrance Memorial that meets weekly to share information and companionship with people caring for another. Although he still faces many challenges in caring for his wife, Howard Tam now feels strengthened by the information and support he found at HealthLinks.

Mind, Body and Spirit: There is, of course, much more to healing and living well than medical procedures. For a truly healthy lifestyle, the mind, body and spirit must all be renewed. In addition to a wealth of information and resources, HealthLinks offers a wide variety of complementary health services. There is an inviting selection of inspirational books and music, as well as soothing aromatherapy oils and candles. Through HealthLinks, you can participate in classes on yoga, reflexology, guided imagery, qi gong, tai chi and more — all designed to reduce stress and promote healthy living. Plus, HealthLinks offers a full range of health and healing services such as massage, reiki and acupressure. As Julie Newhope discovered, there are great benefits to these "stress beaters."

"My friend gave me a gift certificate for a massage at HealthLinks. It was the best gift ever," Newhope says." I felt so relaxed afterward, I made an appointment for another one in a month. In fact, I liked the feeling so much, I signed up for a yoga class. I already feel less stressed!"