Trump's Walter Reed 3,000 sq ft presidential suite has offices, conference room, secure comms and dining area
After the recent presidential debate, President Donald Trump tested positive for COVID-19, along with his wife, the First Lady Melania Trump. As of Friday, news broke that the president, who earlier was said to be having "mild" symptoms, was taken to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Friday night to be treated for the novel coronavirus.
It seems that Trump, 74, is in great hands, as Walter Reed located in Bethesda, Maryland, is the U.S.'s biggest military medical center and according to The Sun houses approximately 7,000 staff workers. The same day the president was taken to the hospital, according to reports, the White House said that the president was transferring power to Vice President Mike Pence and was "still in charge." The suite that the president is admitted in is called Ward 71 and is "equipped" for POTUS to keep up with his work according to the publication.
USA Today further reported that the suite “is one of six special patient rooms reserved for high-ranking military officers and members of the White House cabinet.” Pictures of the "President Suite" are available here. According to the publications, the suite not only includes "living room-type areas" and "bedroom-type areas" but also consists of a doctor's office, a conference room, additional office space, and a dining room. For the obvious safety of the President, it was reported by WRC-TV that the administrators at the military hospital do not have "unrestricted access" and that the White House "controls the entire presidential suite." The rest of the hospital is overlooked by the Defense Department.
As for the president, he is in good and capable hands. It was also reported that should the doctor provided by the White House be unable to treat a situation, the hospital has staff called "prescreened specialists" to help. Again, with safety in mind, the background checks of these specialists have already been conducted. Trump isn't alone in his suite, as the president's chief of staff reportedly has an office space, and the White House doctor is provided with "sleeping quarters" as well.
When it comes to the treatment of the high profile patients in the suites, Connecting Vets revealed that the suite is also equipped with "specially outfitted with protective devices and communications gear." Rear Admiral Connie Mariano, had apparently written about this in his memoir 'The White House Doctor'. The publication further revealed that the Admiral had explained that the patients such as presidents and vice presidents are treated at the METU (Medical Evaluation and Treatment Unit) at the hospital in a "separate, private METU suite specially equipped for their use.”
According to the Admiral, the room is 3,000 square feet and was built in a way where the presidents that are being housed there could continue their work. Furthermore, the medical facility has 244 beds, 50 ICU beds, and 165 "smart suites" that are equipped with “two-way communication devices, audiovisual and wireless capabilities as well as bedside entertainment, all of which can be controlled via a wall-mounted, removable keyboard that the patient has access to at all times.”