The Term Physician

[motoluver]

One thing that bothers me is the term "physician". I hear nurse practitioners 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 ridiculous. 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 physician 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 didn't find anything on the term physician.)

[pixiestudent2]

As a patient I would be terribly confused if my NP introduced themselve as a physician.

[JPINFV]

The term physician does not belong to MDs or DOs exclusively.[snip] acceptable... The argument about who can be called doctor, and physician I feel is rediculous.

What term would you suggest would be used specifically and solely to describe MDs and DOs if both "physician" and "doctor" are to be used as generic terms in the healthcare setting?

If we were to rewrite your post and replace references to MDs and DOs to "RNs and LVNs" and replace the term "physician" to "nurse" with a non-nurse trying to claim that they should be able to use the title of "nurse", how would you feel?

[motoluver]

Yes I agree. With the advancement of health care to include many types of providers that have authority to diagnose, treat, and prescribe medicines and treatments indeoendently, I feel that all types of providers need to be clear as to their credentials with each patient. Thanks for your input!

[Dranger]

I find this thread fitting after seeing the alphabet soup of titles you have after your name.

Obviously titles are really important to you.

I find provider as an appropriate title.

[motoluver]

In my state NPs are granted virtually the same peivliges as a GP depending of course on the NPs national certification. That being said, if an NP worked on cars as the profession and wanted to be lumped in with MDs, DOs as a physician then I would agree that is silly. The actual definition of physician exactly describes the practice of an NP. Prevously when the DO came about, MDs were unhappy with them being included in their recognition as doctor or physician but through time and due to the fact that they do the same thing it has now become acceptable for a DO to be Dr or physician and both MD and DO programs take a different approach to treating medicine as does the approach with NPs. Granted NPs don't have the extent of training of the other two but that is why you won't see an NP surgeon...

Prior to even MDs their were still physicians. A physician is an individual trained to practice medicine and this is exactly what NPs do.

I do believe that patients will get confused because NPs practicing independently is relatively new and thus I feel providers should be clear with each and every patient that they are indeed a nurse practitioner and then outside of making that clear, I think an NP meets the full definition of the term physician...

Aside from an NP meeting the definition of a physician does not mean that term will ever stick to NPs which is why I appreciate your feedback. It is good to understand everyone's feelings on this. Thanks!

[motoluver]

Lol thanks for your input. I just went to edit my profile since I haven't been on here in years and thought I was checking the boxes of education and training for those who wanted to look at my profile. I had no idea that was showing as my title lol. Yes that does look crazy. Title is important if its been earned. But title doesn't make you any better then any one other profession. Everyone is trained to be a professional in their field and level of training. Thanks for sharing!

PS now that you pointed that out I will update my profile to show just my current title lol

[JPINFV]

Prevously when the DO came about, MDs were unhappy with them being included in their recognition as doctor or physician but through time and due to the fact that they do the same thing it has now become acceptable for a DO to be Dr or physician and both MD and DO programs take a different approach to treating medicine as does the approach with NPs. Granted NPs don't have the extent of training of the other two but that is why you won't see an NP surgeon...

...and that last sentence is key. There's virtually no difference in both the licensing exam and course work between MDs and DOs, including a large percentage of DOs taking the MD licensing exam in order to be competitive for MD residencies. If we're comparing NPs to MDs and DOs and saying that they're this similar, then do you think you would be able to pass Step 1, 2, and 3, as well as the specialty board certification exam for the field you practice in?

[Dranger]

Thank you it made my eyes hurt. Looks much better now lol

[motoluver]

Lol thanks for pointing that out!

[motoluver]

There are different degrees of training between MDs even... A GP isn't qualified to be a surgeon... An NP is qualified to do what a GP does... That is my thought process on this.

I was just curious how others think about this so thank you for sharing your views!

[BostonFNP, APRN]

The term "physician" is a legally protected title.

NPs don't want to be "physicians", we have our own title.

It doesn't take a physician to provide quality care. Nurses have been demonstrated to do that as well. I am in favor of changing all the legal language to "health care provider" but that is not an easy issue.

As NPs absorb more and more of the primary care duties in this country it won't take the public long to understand that the title does not dictate the care.

Sent from my iPhone.