Good Partners

In 2019, Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Centers San Pedro and Torrance entered a partnership with Keck Medicine of USC to provide expert cardiovascular surgical care to Providence patients in the South Bay. The partnership has resulted in a win-win situation for everyone, says Rishi Kaushal, MD, a Providence cardiologist. USC can extend its brand of high-quality medicine and innovative treatments to the South Bay, while South Bay patients who love Providence Little Company of Mary and want to receive care close to home are able to do just that. 

“This has brought Providence Little Company of Mary academic-level expertise that we can now apply to the everyday care that we offer patients,” he says. This ranges from cardiac bypass surgery to more sophisticated procedures, such as complex valve repair using minimally invasive techniques. The partnership also allows Providence patients who need a higher level of cardiac care to be easily transferred to USC. 

The success of the partnership reflects the increasing need for complex cardiovascular care, says Craig J. Baker, MD, division chief of cardiac surgery at the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine. 

“The landscape of cardiac surgery is changing in the community with a shift from straight- forward operations to more complex procedures,” he says. 

In addition to recruiting talented surgeons capable of performing these complex procedures, achieving excellent patient outcomes means we also continue to advance the entire postoperative journey. 

“Just as these procedures are becoming more complex, the amount of postoperative care and expertise required to care for these patients is also becoming more complex,” says Dr. Baker. “We recently embarked on an initiative that will align the already strong critical care program at Providence Little Company of Mary with their colleagues at USC and ensure the highest quality of patient care can be delivered in the South Bay. 

“The Providence Little Company of Mary critical care physicians, as well as their nursing partners, are undergoing hands-on training at Keck Medicine of USC learning how to utilize the latest technologies and techniques that will enable us to perform even more complex cardiovascular surgeries,” he adds. “This will ensure residents of the South Bay don’t have to leave the community to receive this care.” 

This relationship will also include the use of telehealth platforms to ensure constant collaboration between the USC and Providence Little Company of Mary cardiovascular surgery and critical care teams. 

Patients have benefited from this partnership, Dr. Kaushal adds. “It’s convenient for them. But more than that, it’s important to be able to be treated close to family and close to home,” he says. “That’s where your support system is. Seeing those familiar faces makes a difference and optimizes and expedites recovery.” 

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

• TAVR: We are experts in transcatheter aortic value replacement (TAVR), a procedure used to replace a disease aortic valve with a new valve during a minimally invasive procedure.
• Heart screening: Our screening program assesses your risk of having a heart attack or stroke. Our services range from basic screening to advanced screening using the latest technology.
• Vascular services: A state-of-the-art endovascular suite with the latest technology allows us to perform noninvasive diagnostic testing and interventions for treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms and deep vein thrombosis.
• Cardiac rehabilitation: Patients in need of rehabilitation services can stay within the Providence system. We offer inpatient rehabilitation, monitored outpatient rehabilitation program and a maintenance program. Our rehab staff includes nurses, exercise physiologists and registered dietitians.

For more information on cardiovascular care and cardiac surgery, call 844-925-0942.