January 19 was a typical Sunday afternoon in the emergency department at Tanner Medical Center/Villa Rica. The waiting room was lined with patients, exam rooms were occupied by people with a sundry of complaints, and ambulances came and went with the community’s most acute patients in tow.

One of the patients who arrived by ambulance was a little confused — and more than a little confrontational.

The nurses remember that part of the issue was miscommunication: the patient’s birthday was on the 13th, but he overheard the nurses say they were taking him to Room 14. The patient became agitated. They tried to assure him that his birthdate was correct, they had his identity and medical history, but the patient wasn’t having it.

Livid, the patient leapt up on the stretcher. Then, he dove at the nurses escorting him to his room.

A fraction of a second prior, Tressa Wilson, RN, a registered nurse, exited the room adjacent to the patient’s designated exam room. Jennifer Ford, RN, a charge nurse, was escorting the stretcher. Both recall their fright at seeing the patient leap to his feet on the stretcher and jump to attack.

Wilson said she could feel the rush of air as the patient just missed her.

Fortunately for the nurses, the paramedic from West Georgia Ambulance — William Golden — had seen worse. In a career that’s spanned almost 30 years, Golden has served in the U.S. Navy, worked with Grady EMS and served as a medic for an Atlanta Police Department SWAT team.

Golden briskly grabbed the patient, used his foot to sweep the patient’s legs out from beneath him and pinned the patient to the floor until Tanner Security could respond.

“He had some words for me, but I decided I would get hurt before anyone else did,” said Golden.

On Feb. 13, the nurses and team at Tanner Medical Center/Villa Rica presented Golden with a token of their appreciation for helping to keep them safe.

“Violence against healthcare professionals is, unfortunately, a risk we take in this profession,” said Jill Williams, RN, manager of the emergency department at Tanner Medical Center/Villa Rica. “It’s never OK, and it’s never something we tolerate, but when it happens we’re grateful that there’s always someone nearby to help. Paramedic Golden’s response kept our staff safe from harm and kept the patient from hurting himself. He knew just what to do, and we’re very grateful that he was willing to help.”

On the floor — securely pinned by Golden — the patient became a bit more compliant (if not exactly happy). The nurses and medic were able to calm him down and get him into a room for evaluation and treatment.

Thinking back over his storied career, Golden had to admit that it wasn’t the strangest patient encounter he’d ever experienced — “but it’s up there.”

“I’m just glad everyone stayed safe,” said Golden. “The nurses, the paramedics and the patient all came out of this OK. That’s always the outcome you want.”

The health system has a zero-tolerance policy for violence against staff, and Williams reminds visitors and patients that aggression won’t be suffered.

“We’re here to help,” she said. “We don’t want to see anyone get hurt. That’s the opposite of our mission. I’m grateful that we have a capable security team at all our hospitals, but I’m also grateful that others who know what to do are quick to step in when necessary. William’s help that day kept our staff safe, and I’m really glad he was there and knew exactly what to do.”

More information about the services available at Tanner Medical Center/Villa Rica — and the health system’s other four hospitals — is available online at tanner.org.