Borderland News -
[Cached Version]
Published on: 3/22/2002
Last Visited: 3/23/2002
"We all feel honored to have been chosen" as the treatment center, said Lois Blough, director of trauma and nurse surgery services for Thomason Hospital."But after the joy, that somberness sets in when we think of what could happen. (Wednesday) we all went home and lit candles and prayed.We're happy we didn't see him today."
Thomason Hospital has been the designated treatment center at least twice before -- during President Clinton's visit in 1996 and during Vice President Al Gore's visit in 2000.
Two advance Secret Service teams -- from the medical and nonmedical teams -- surveyed Thomason's emergency, operating, surgery and intensive care units last Friday and Saturday, Blough said.Secure rooms, with limited access, were prepared and reserved in case they were needed for the president.
One Secret Service agent was on site until the president was safely aboard Air Force One.
Air Force One is equipped with medical supplies, including the president's blood type and his private physician, but providing trauma services would have been the responsibility of Thomason staff.