Being a social worker at a hospital might be a bit more physical than the public might expect, to which Andrew W. Carter can attest.

Mr. Carter, 50, has had exchanges that resulted in arrests of patients at Samaritan Medical Center. In January 1999, he was punched in the face, and in November 2009, he was on the receiving end of a head butt which gave him a bloody nose at the hospital. The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department in January 2005 saluted him for his assisting role in the apprehension of a patient-prisoner who attempted to escape.

Mr. Carter’s latest experience came on the afternoon of June 17, when city police say a patient being treated in a mental health section of the emergency room spat in his face. He wasn’t the only victim in that episode. Police said Dr. David L. Keyes, 40, responded to the unit to assist with the patient, and got punched in the face.

The patient, Michael P. Collins, 59, of 221 Central St., Apt. A, was arrested Thursday by city police on warrants charging him with two counts of second-degree harassment. He was due to be arraigned Friday in City Court.

Mr. Carter in 1999 was listed by the hospital at a member of its crisis response team, and in 2008, he was a panel member of an underage drinking forum.

He was unavailable Friday morning for comment.

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