The White House Medical Unit ( WHMU ) is a unit of the White House Military Office and is responsible for the medical needs of White House staff and visitors. The unit also provides medical care to the President, Vice President, their families, and international officials visiting the White House.
Video White House Medical Unit
Roles
WHMU is led by a Director, who usually also serves as a Doctor to the President. The doctor for President is elected privately by the President, while the Director is officially elected by the Director of the White House Military Office. Since March 2018, the Doctor for President has been commander of the Navy Sean Conley.
The medical unit includes an active duty military doctor as well as several physician assistants, registered nurses, and medical personnel, and support staff including medical information technology administrators and managers. Under the guidelines of the implementation of the Twenty-fifth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, the WHMU Director is the principal official responsible for advising the President's Cabinet on the ability of the President of the United States to relinquish office power and duties. The final decision, however, is on the Cabinet as a political decision, not a medical decision. WHMU provides free health care to the President, Vice President, and their immediate family, who are eligible for medical treatment at American military hospitals anywhere in the world. Inpatient medical care at American military hospitals is usually covered by personal health insurance of the President or Vice President.
In addition to the direct maintenance tasks described above, WHMU is responsible for all contingency medical plans for the White House and its key personnel. This includes preparing for each presidential or vice president trip by developing a contingency medical plan, including identification of hospitals and other facilities where medical care may be provided. The goal is to ensure that the president is never more than 20 minutes from a hospital with a Level 1 trauma center. If this is not possible, WHMU ensures that military helicopters are nearby, stored in an instant readiness to evacuate the president to the appropriate hospital.
Maps White House Medical Unit
Staff
The number of staff assigned to the White House Health Unit varies from time to time. In 2001, there were 22 total staff, although in 2010 the number of staff increased to 24 people. Although the number of physician assistants is unclear, in 2012 there are five doctors and three medical officers assigned to the unit. In 2001, there were six registered nurses assigned to WHMU, each serving a period of two years and being trained and certified in providing emergency care, resuscitation and trauma care.
WHMU staff certified board in the field of emergency medicine, family medicine, or internal medicine. All staff are also certified in trauma care and providing life support. According to a 2009 news report, doctors received for duty to WHMU underwent a full year of trauma-care training prior to joining the staff.
At least one doctor is on duty at the Executive Residence at any time.
Staff almost always wear street clothing and medical civilians, because military uniforms will make snipers and prevent WHMU staff from doing their work in emergencies.
Facilities
The White House Hospital Unit includes medical and emergency trauma capabilities at the White House and the residence of the US Vice President at the United States Naval Observatory. One of the former Doctors to the President described the White House unit as an urgent care center with a falling train. Medical examination rooms are also maintained at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building.
Between 1993 and 2001, Rear Admiral Eleanor Mariano changed the WHMU's orientation more towards providing emergency medical services. The unit also began providing 24-hour care at the White House, and added medical space to the vice president's residence to provide the Vice President with the same level of care given to the President. A doctor is now staff of the Vice President's medical suite at any time. Because long jet lag and working hours are common among WHMU staff, staffing restrictions for 24-hour duty periods are also implemented, and shift rotation is made to allow medical team staff to take over the travel staff to limit fatigue.
Between 2002 and 2009, WHMU implemented a program to provide specialized localized international medical training that may be visited by the President or Vice President. This training helps prepare medical staff for special or unusual medical situations that are needed in every place visited by the President or Vice President.
WHMU also oversees mobile medical devices at Air Force One and Air Force Two. Air Force One contains a fully equipped surgical suite with operating table, double bed, resuscitation equipment, medical monitors, and a complete pharmacy. Air Force Two contains first-aid units as well as automatic external defibrillators, oxygen tanks, and limited drugs. WHMU also established temporary medical emergency facilities needed to support the presidency or vice presidential journey. This usually consists of intensive care and an eight-member surgical team, and a temporary operating room at each stop. WHMU staff can also carry operating room equipment in a backpack to provide emergency medical care as needed on-site when the operating room is temporarily too far away. When the President traveled abroad, the medical team continued to travel in front of Air Force One to prepare his medical facility a few days earlier. In this way, a fully rested medical team is available to assist the President on arrival and take over from the team that travels on the presidential plane.
A doctor and nurse also traveled with a presidential motorcade. They are strategically positioned so close enough to respond to emergencies but far enough to minimize the chances of being caught in the event.
A WHMU doctor and nurse also usually accompany the First Lady of the United States when she travels, but full medical staff and mobile operation suites are not assigned to her.
Footnote
- Notes
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External links
- The official White House Medical Unit website
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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