Operational Medicine
The George Washington University Department of Emergency Medicine Division of Operational Medicine has been involved in special events in the DC area for over four years. We provide medical coverage for mass-gathering events such as the AT&T National Golf Tournament, The National Marathon, and The Nation’s Triathlon. We have worked closely with the surrounding Emergency Medical Service systems, including the District of Columbia and Montgomery County in Maryland.
The AT&T National Tournament was the inaugural event hosted by Tiger Woods. The event was held at Congressional Country Club with almost 150,000 people attending. This tournament replaced the Booz Allen Classic Golf Tournament which had been an annual stop on the PGA Tour. Doctor Reed Smith is the current medical director for the event. He created this relationship while volunteering several years ago with the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service. By working with prehospital providers, Emergency Physicians from The George Washington University have continually improved care with on-scene medical evaluation and treatment, thus reducing unnecessary emergency services needs.
The National Marathon and The Nation’s Triathlon are two premier events for Washington, DC’s professional athletes as well as weekend warriors. Doctor Smith and Doctor DelPorto have been involved in both of these events for the past two years. The National Marathon replaced the former DC Marathon and has now grown into an event with almost 5,000 competitors. With a scenic run through the heart of DC, medical coverage is provided at several locations throughout the city. In 2006, the inaugural Nation’s Triathlon was held. This year almost 1,100 people will compete in a swim through the Potomac River as well as a bicycle and run course through downtown. Medical providers are stationed throughout the course and are involved with evaluation and treatment of competitors.
This experience with large-scale events has given us an unmatched breadth of experience in Event Medicine in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. Our comprehensive planning and available resources gives us the ability to provide superior medical coverage for any size event. With a full complement of physicians, physician assistants, nurses, paramedics, and emergency medical technicians, The George Washington University is a leader in special event coverage throughout the metropolitan area.