One thing that bothers me is the term "physician". I hear nurse pratitioners referred to as non-physician providers or mid-level providers. Granted NPs don't have the level of education as an MD/DO but the care they have been trained to provide legally is just as high quality. Mid level sounds inferior to who would be considered a high level provider... If an NP was providing medical treatment outside of his/her scope illegally then yes I would consider that mid-level because they aren't trained to provide that care.
First I don't think anyone should ever try to hide their credentials (NP, PA, MD, DO, etc). Patients have the right to always know the level of education of the provider that is treating them. With that said, it bothers me to read " non-physician" providers. The actual definition of the word physician is an individual that practices medicine. In WA State as an NP I can legally practice medicine under my own license without supervision... Many other states are the same. And in states requiring supervision it should be considered supervision by a medical doctor, etc, not supervision by a physician... The term physician does not belong to MDs or DOs exclusively. Don't get me wrong EVERY patient should not be miss led about your credentials but if I see a patient and state "I'm a nurse practitioner and will be the physician treating you", etc that should be acceptable... The argument about who can be called doctor, and physician I feel is rediculous. The only importance I see is the fact that every provider clearly states his credentials to every patient. After that if I have a DNP I should be free to be called doctor or physician and as an MSN-NP, called a physician. The term pbysician and doctor were around well before the creation of medical school so to think they have the only right to that term is preposterous... I do understand the goal of not miss leading patients but if credentials are offered to every patient, beyond that I feel the term doctor to those educated appropriately or physician to anyone who practices medicine and healing is free game to all no matter your credentials.
Am I off on my thinking of this? Would love to hear your thoughts on this. Any MDs or DOs want to offer their personal feelings on this? Not trying to start an argument but would love to hear how others feel on this topic of who has the right to the term doctor or physician.
(I know there are other threads on the term "doctor" but can't find anything on the term physician. That is why I started a new thread)
Thanks!
