PA Builds Connection in Pediatric Care
When Torria Slagle, MSPAS, PA-C, met a young deaf patient during her time practicing in pediatric surgery, she didn’t let a communication barrier stand in the way of trust.
The child had been hospitalized for an extended stay, so Slagle learned a simple but essential question in sign language: “Are you having pain?”
She used the sign daily during her preround assessments. It was a simple gesture, but it ensured the patient’s voice was heard, even without words.
“I wanted [the patient] to know I was asking, that I cared, and that I was listening,” Slagle said.