Amy Savage is a deaf phlebotomist working in Texas. She states there are many advantages to being deaf and working in a hospital, such as, being able to give a patient her 100% undivided attention, being much more alert, and is not being distracted by beeping or other noises that occur in a hospital. Savage also has an increased sense of situational awareness.

There were many contributing factors throughout her life that piqued her interest in the medical field. Very early on as a child, with two younger sisters, they loved playing “Doctor,” where her sisters were her patients. To this day her mother knows the poison control center’s telephone number by heart because I literally took my “Doctor” role seriously and gave her sisters real medicine. “You can let your imagination run wild on our childhood experience, we did it all,” said Savage.

Deafness has impacted Savage’s life in a positive way. She explained deafness has been a source of inspiration to many people in her life. She has shown many people that she is able to do anything other people can do, except hear. “When there’s a will, there’s a way,” explained Savage. On the other hand, deafness has hindered many job opportunities purely based on lack of employer knowledge about deafness or experience with deafness. Savage has endured many years fighting for her place in the medical field.

To overcome communication barriers, Savage can read lips like a champ, but with the masks that are currently in effect during the pandemic, she has been using the Communicator™ masks. She explains the Communicator™ mask makes her job much easier as a profoundly deaf nurse. She also uses a tablet which utilizes a live transcribe app that transcribes everything my non-clear masked patients are saying to me.

Savage loves the work she does and her patients have taken notice. “I have received many compliments and many requests to see me again as their blood nurse, they say because of my gentle touch and attentiveness to their needs, especially if they’re feeling anxious,” said Savage. Her patients have also mentioned what a inspiration it is to see Savage doing this line of work, and it gives them hope that they too, can achieve their dreams. Savage explained that her patients may have a friend or a family member who is deaf, and may not feel encouraged, the patients plan to go and tell them about Savage.

Savage encourages anyone who wants to go into the medical field, “to whom this may concern, you can do it. Do not let anyone stand in your way. Once you put your mind to it, there’s no stopping you.”