Butler Memorial Hospital’s president was at a bridal shower when President Donald Trump was shot at a loal campaign rally.

Karen Allen left the shower and rushed to Butler Memorial. Her colleagues were treating Trump. The hospital was locked down

“Nobody was allowed to come in — nobody was allowed to leave,” she said.

Trump was treated by emergency department staff, and Allen declined to reveal much more.

“They are assigned to different bays, and then depending on the acuity of the patient, sometimes (other) people will help,” she said. “But, I don’t know the exact number of people who were involved in his care.”

No one who was brought in specifically to treat Trump, according to Allen, who is also president of Clarion Hospital.

“We were fortunate to have multiple excellent physicians here — they were here already,” she said.

Of Trump, she said, “We heard that he was very personable, very appreciative, thanking the staff for the great care that he received.”

Allen said she learned Trump had been shot from the hospital’s chief medical officer, who was on vacation at the beach. Trump’s rally had been held at the Butler Farm Show complex in Butler Township.

“As soon as I heard that around 6:30 (p.m.), I just got in the car and headed (to the hospital) just in case he was coming in,” she said.

When Allen arrived, she said she saw Butler County police, Butler city police, Pittsburgh police, FBI, Secret Service and Homeland Security officers “all around the building” and 15-20 black SUVs. All entrances inside the hospital were locked down electronically as well, she said.

“Nobody was allowed into the emergency department — no matter what your position was,” she said.

Dr. Dave Rottinghaus, president of the Butler provider network and an emergency medicine physician, arrived at the hospital after learning of the shooting while at a graduation party.

Typically, when a patient arrives at Butler Memorial Hospital’s emergency department, they are triaged to see what level of injury or illness they have, he said.

Trump received care immediately, according to Rottinghaus. The top priority, according to Allen, was to give Trump “good patient care,” as well as security and privacy.

“Obviously, the former president is a very high priority,” he said. “In this particular case, obviously we allocated resources, physicians, nurses, techs within our emergency department, and we were given advanced notification that he was coming in, so that helped us prepare.”

Operating on lockdown

Butler Memorial Hospital also had to continue to provide care to the rest of its patients — while communicating with its staff, Allen said.

“It was cool because everybody came together to do whatever needed to be done to make sure that everybody was OK and cared for,” she said.

Trump’s arrival happened to coincide with a shift change at the hospital, according to Allen, so staff members trying to come in for their shift were lined up outside the hospital’s Tower Entrance — which ended up working as a positive for the hospital.

A couple of patients arrived during the lockdown, Allen said, and were taken care of outside by some of the ER staff, including Rottinghaus.

“He treated them right out there outside and was able to treat them and discharge them,” she said.

“Everybody received the care that they needed,” Rottinghaus said. “We didn’t have to suddenly transfer anybody out of here because we couldn’t provide that resource to that particular case.”

International recognition

Though Butler Memorial Hospital has taken care of critical patients of all ages, Rottinghaus said having an internationally recognized name come into the hospital was unique, and he doesn’t even remember the last time ambulances had to be diverted from the hospital.

“Ambulance crew gets advance notice; they know not to come here,” Rottinghaus said, which is “exceptionally rare.”

He said he was proud of the hospital staff.

“Something like this isn’t gonna necessarily happen where you are — you prepare for it, you drill for it, you create policies and procedures for it,” Rottinghaus said.

The attempted assassination was “surreal” for Allen, she said.

“This stands out for us,” she said. “I don’t recall a person of this magnitude coming here before.”

“I think it underscores our need to constantly stay vigilant and stay prepared,” Rottinghaus said. “I think our political leaders are in somewhat of an unfortunate but also sort of fortunate position to change some of the tone moving forward.”

“It’s not who we are in Butler,” Allen said of the shooting. “I just feel really sad about it happening at all — let alone in our backyard.”

Related:

• Some call for unity, political civility after Trump assassination attempt.

• New footage shows suspect on roof before shooting

• Changes made to Trump's security detail after assassination attempt

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