UPMC Altoona nurse flown to Pittsburgh for emergency surgery after being attacked by patient
By Caitlyn Scott
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PITTSBURGH (WTAE) — A UPMC Altoona nurse was flown to a Pittsburgh hospital for emergency surgery after being attacked by a patient on Saturday.
According to a criminal complaint, UPMC police were requested to the emergency room just before 10 a.m. following reports of a violent patient.
The complaint said officials then found a male nurse unconscious and on the floor with multiple injuries to the head and face. Additional nurses were also administering aid to the victim while waiting for police to arrive.
Bradley Lloyd, 40, of Tyrone, was allegedly trying to escape as the male nurse was attempting to administer aid, the complaint continued.
Police said Lloyd resisted police, who later pointed a Taser at him. He then surrendered before being restrained on a bed and sedated.
The victim was found to have a fractured skull, brain bleed, a broken tooth, nasal obstruction, hematomas, and multiple lacerations. They were later flown to Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh and rushed into surgery.
The nurse’s current condition remains unknown.
Following the incident, UPMC issued the following statement:
Our co-worker in the Emergency Department was the victim of a horrific attack by a patient on Saturday at UPMC Altoona.
While we must respect our colleagues’ and their families’ privacy and cannot share medical details, we are encouraged by the positive updates we’ve received and remain closely connected with them and their loved ones.
We are incredibly grateful for the swift, courageous response of our UPMC Police and Emergency Department teams, whose actions prevented further harm and ensured our colleague received immediate care. We are grateful for their quick action and bravery.
We are saddened by this tragic event. We will support and care for our injured colleague and their family throughout recovery. We also recognize that this incident can affect many others. Our leadership team, CISM-ASAP, LifeSolutions, and our Spiritual Care team have been present and are a resource for anyone impacted by these events.
We remain committed to working toward addressing violence against our workforce and helping to create a safe environment in which to work and for our patients to heal.“
Lloyd is facing multiple charges, including aggravated assault, simple assault, and disorderly conduct.
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