New Name Suggestions

kurt rambis said:

I have a good friend named Merideth, which in my opinion is a somewhat unusual name for a guy. When he first introduces himself to the ladies he usually gets a response like "your name is what?" or "did I hear you right?" or "what kind of name is that for a guy?" Not long after though he usually charms them with a funny story or a witty comeback and usually he walks away with a phone number.

Moral of the story: If you got skills, it doesn't matter what your name is.

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Kurt,
That's great for your boy, but we're talking about giving our entire profession a name the public can more easily understand. Of course we're not gonna get anywhere with this, but it's good to talk it out. Other healthcare professions have completely "weird" names that the public has eventually caught on to. They understand what an anesthesiologist and ophthalmologist is and does (even if they can't spell it). Even a chiropractic has a very understandable and recognizable name.

The bottom line is that we (as a profession) aren't out there in the public eye using the name "physiatry/physiatrist" enough. Once that happens though, we'll see this all turn around. I still dislike our "physical medicine and rehabilitation" name...it sounds WAY too much like a physical therapist. I'll stick with "I'm a physiatrist. We're a medical specialty that are experts in nerve, muscle, and joint conditions"...and pain conditions for some.

But of course I'll probably change that view along the way as well...it's good to be "fluid"

Still, a "neuromuscular orthopedist" is a more intuitive name than "physical medicine rehabilitation".

Neuro - nerves
Muscular - muscle
Orthopod - musculoskeletal/joint

When you say PM&R you get:

physical - what? physical therapist?
rehabilitation - is that what celebrities do after overdosing on drugs?

I think that a name is the first form of advertisement for a profession. Just because those who are already exposed to the profession are able to embrace a name does not extend to those outside. People don't have any ability to understand pm&r because the name has little to do with the field. No one would think to link PM&R with EMGs, unless they looked it up. This has always been a cause for confusion, and it would be a great relief if there was a name change because there would be less of a fight to explain what it is.

It's the boy named sue of the medical world.

So the end of last week, I was volunteered to man our practice's booth at a medical seminar in town, so I used it to educate people about PM&R as much as possible. There were mostly PCP's, nurses, some med students and a few specialists.

When I asked if people were familiar with PM&R or Physiatry, I got about 80 % "No." After explaining it, many thought I was a PT, a few asked if I was a PA. One (a nurse) still thought I was saying Podiatrist and started telling me about her foot problems.

Some got it, others nodded their heads. All the docs eventually seemed to get it. When I used the term "Neuromuscular Orthopedics", I started to see some lightbulbs turning on over their heads. It seriously helped to explain what we do. Many more people got it with that term than did by trying to explain PM&R other ways. I am going to continue to use the term to explain what I do.

Then over the weekend, I was at a party, met a fair number of new people, all I would presume non-medical. Everytime someone asked what I did, leading to "What kind of doctor are you?" , I used PM&R and then explained by "Neuromuscular Orthopedics." I got a lot farther a lot faster than most times before.

BTW, I used to play darts with a guy/boy named Soo. When they drew names for partners, and I heard "Sue" called out, I looked for a girl. When I saw a chinese guy walking up to me, Johnny Cash started running through my head.

I definitely like the sound of "neuromuscular orthopedics" and maybe I'll try using that.

But I wonder, did you get the sense that they actually now UNDERSTOOD what we did or that they simply were too overwhelmed by the complicated term "neuromuscular orthopedics" that they decided not to question you further?

PMR 4 MSK said:

When I asked if people were familiar with PM&R or Physiatry, I got about 80 % "No." After explaining it, many thought I was a PT, a few asked if I was a PA. One (a nurse) still thought I was saying Podiatrist and started telling me about her foot problems.

Some got it, others nodded their heads. All the docs eventually seemed to get it. When I used the term "Neuromuscular Orthopedics", I started to see some lightbulbs turning on over their heads. It seriously helped to explain what we do. Many more people got it with that term than did by trying to explain PM&R other ways. I am going to continue to use the term to explain what I do.

Then over the weekend, I was at a party, met a fair number of new people, all I would presume non-medical. Everytime someone asked what I did, leading to "What kind of doctor are you?" , I used PM&R and then explained by "Neuromuscular Orthopedics." I got a lot farther a lot faster than most times before.

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That's been my experience as well.

As much as I like the philosophies of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, we need to be practical here.

At least those of us in community settings.

topwise said:

I definitely like the sound of "neuromuscular orthopedics" and maybe I'll try using that.

But I wonder, did you get the sense that they actually now UNDERSTOOD what we did or that they simply were too overwhelmed by the complicated term "neuromuscular orthopedics" that they decided not to question you further?

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I think most beyond nursing got it.

If you crave that respect that comes from being a doctor, it'll be a lifelong struggle in PM&R given that most people think you're a glorified physical therapist. I got a lot of physicians in my family so I have no particular hang ups about that stuff. As long as I get enough work I don't care what people think I do.

So long as I get paid a little better than PT.

Llenroc said:

If you crave that respect that comes from being a doctor, it'll be a lifelong struggle in PM&R given that most people think you're a glorified physical therapist. I got a lot of physicians in my family so I have no particular hang ups about that stuff. As long as I get enough work I don't care what people think I do.

So long as I get paid a little better than PT.

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I don't necessarily think it's respect, just a request for a name that is descriptive of the field is and is easy to place into colloquial language. It would be a respect issue if the complaint was that people understood the field, and then chose to overlook it. The issue discussed here, is that people overlook the field because of an ambiguous name choice, and that can be corrected.

Even a field like radiology, if that floats your personal respect boat, can be given an ambiguous and long name. Maybe "imaging diagnostics and intervention" or I, D and I. Descriptive, perhaps moreso than "radiology" itself. But tough to sling the entire thing around in a sentence, and I, D and I is not something that laypeople would understand without asking. Yet, that doesn't mean that physicians or non physicians won't respect the field as much when they understand what it is, because nothing within the field has changed except for the name.

I guess you could make the case for "physiatry" being equivalent to "radiology". But that analogy doesn't work so well. Radiology has some history behind its word root in that people automatically recognize the radiation linkage to x-rays. It doesn't tell the whole story behind the field, and doesn't include everything in the field, but the word bridges the gap well enough for most. I don't think the same holds for "physiatry". You'd have to ask, or look up the name to figure it out.

So I think the Majority here like "Neuromuscular Orthopedics". Even if it's a futile effort, lets get our word across. I would even volunteer to draft a quick letter (sort of a primer) and send it to some of the top names to get their opinion (even joel press himself). Once again, it may be a futile effort, but it's an effort nonetheless.

Does anyone here oppose the name Neuromuscular Orthopedics? Why?

What would be some potential drawbacks to a name change?

Before I start rambling, gotta give props to the Boy named Sue analogy. Best I’ve heard yet about the field.

MSKmonky said:

So I think the Majority here like "Neuromuscular Orthopedics". Even if it's a futile effort, lets get our word across. I would even volunteer to draft a quick letter (sort of a primer) and send it to some of the top names to get their opinion (even joel press himself). Once again, it may be a futile effort, but it's an effort nonetheless.

Does anyone here oppose the name Neuromuscular Orthopedics? Why?

What would be some potential drawbacks to a name change?

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What’s in a name? That which we call a rose...

With your proposed name change, people may start thinking we are a subspecialty of neurology or orthopedic surgery. We’re not, we’re not, we’re not. While there is obvious overlap and collaboration in the conditions we diagnose and treat, I believe we can stand alone and are our own distinct specialty.

Keep in mind that PASSOR rejected this term along with the others when they first did their name brand analysis. Does “neuromuscular orthopedics” indicate to the public that we as a field also take care of patients with strokes or traumatic brain injuries? Amputees? Cancer rehab and lymphedema? Cardiopulmonary rehab? Pain management? Burn injuries? Sexual dysfunction related to spinal cord injury? Doesn’t the term orthopedics suggest that we do surgery?

Some people confuse physiatry with physical therapy. These same people probably confuse radiologists with radiation oncologists with radiation technicians. Ophthalmologists with optometrists. Anesthesiologists with anesthetists. Residents with med students. Anyone w/ a white coat must be a doctor… except if they’re a female, then they must be a nurse. And so on. There will always be confusion. Whatever. You know what you are.

But hey, if using that NOM term along with physiatry helps your patients better understand what it is you do as an individual (as in, “I’m a physiatrist – I practice neuromuscular orthopedic medicine”), by all means use it. How you honestly portray yourself out in practice is up to you. It might catch on. Let it go viral.

As an aside – my kids and their friends all know what a physiatrist is. I gave a talk to my kids’ elementary school on awareness/sensitivity of people with disabilities a while back. I introduced myself as a physiatrist:

Me: Can everyone here say “physiatrist”?

25 snot-nosed first graders in unison: fizz-EYE-uh-trist. (edit: sorry to any fizz-ee-AT-trists out there)

Me: Good! As a physiatrist, I’m a doctor who helps people who are in pain or have trouble moving.

Now admittedly, a lot of my patients are not as smart as my boys , but you can’t help everyone…

Basically for those of you who are attendings affiliated with medical schools, this is what I'd recommend:

1) Volunteer to teach med 2's during the Orthopedics block. It can be, and is done. Our lectures were significantly done by a PM&R guy, who for some reason never mentioned his specialty, let alone pushed it like everyone else does when they do lectures. What a wasted opportunity.

2) Push hard to get PM&R as an option for a *required* Med 3 clerkship. Have some big PT guys gang up on the Dean if you have to. In San Antonio, PM&R was an option for med 3's there during their surgery clerkship, which I think is brilliant. What's it got to do with surgery? Hell if I know. But if it's acceptable to do Anesthesia at many institutions for one of your Surgery months, then why not PM&R? If not Surgery, then get it listed as a Neurology option.

3) Don't be one of those ******* that says, "Whoa, two medical students?! That's too many!" Everyone knows medical students write notes and H&P's. My job is certainly easier when we have them around. So get your institution staffed with lots of medical students, especially Med 3's before they've committed to something.

Ludicolo said:

As an aside – my kids and their friends all know what a physiatrist is. I gave a talk to my kids’ elementary school on awareness/sensitivity of people with disabilities a while back. I introduced myself as a physiatrist:

Me: Can everyone here say “physiatrist”?

25 snot-nosed first graders in unison: fizz-EYE-uh-trist. (edit: sorry to any fizz-ee-AT-trists out there)

Me: Good! As a physiatrist, I’m a doctor who helps people who are in pain or have trouble moving.

Now admittedly, a lot of my patients are not as smart as my boys , but you can’t help everyone…

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I love the idea of getting to the kids early! Don't schools have a parents day or something like that where you can come explain to the children what you do? We should all make an effort to do that.

I would have really liked to hear a talk like that from a physiatrist when I was a kid.... I had never even heard of PM&R till I was an MS3.

All in all, I think changing the name of the field would be a mistake at this point. It's too late and it would just serve to confuse people.

Ludicolo said:

Keep in mind that PASSOR rejected this term along with the others when they first did their name brand analysis. Does "neuromuscular orthopedics" indicate to the public that we as a field also take care of patients with strokes or traumatic brain injuries? Amputees? Cancer rehab and lymphedema? Cardiopulmonary rehab? Pain management? Burn injuries? Sexual dysfunction related to spinal cord injury? Doesn't the term orthopedics suggest that we do surgery?

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Ortho = straight. Pedic = children. Orthopedics is the field that corrects pediatric scoliosis, right? Is that ALL they do? of course not.

No field's name is all encompassing.

Ludicolo said:

Keep in mind that PASSOR rejected this term along with the others when they first did their name brand analysis. Does “neuromuscular orthopedics” indicate to the public that we as a field also take care of patients with strokes or traumatic brain injuries? Amputees? Cancer rehab and lymphedema? Cardiopulmonary rehab? Pain management? Burn injuries? Sexual dysfunction related to spinal cord injury? Doesn’t the term orthopedics suggest that we do surgery?

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Orthopedics does not suggest we do surgery. Hence the reason they had to add "surgery" at the end of Orthopedic Surgery

Sure Neuromuscular Orthopedics doesn't indicate pain management or lymphedema care, but does Anesthesiology indicate they do Critical Care Medicine?

There is no perfect name. Just thought there are names that are more "marketable" or rather shed some light on the field to a lay person besides having to go forth with a long explanation (which would scare them away).

As it is right now, if you have pain, musculoskeletal complaints like low back pain, nerve injury, multiple sclerosis, a stroke, parkinsons, etc...etc... you will most likely go to an orthopedic surgeon, neurologist, or anesthesiologist. Same goes for many uninformed practioners who will refer patients to these services. NOM just sheds some light on certain aspects of the field that will help patients and general-pracs know at least something of what we're about.

Agree.

I tell people I'm a Physiatrist.

Then tell them that what I do is non-surgical Orthopedic care.


Be practical. Get patients in the door.

Let patients and referring physicians know what you do as succinctly and in as concise a manner as possible.


After you establish rapport with someone, you can do the 15-20 minute description about everything that PM&R is at your convenience.

This may seem like a silly thread to some, but I've been giving this topic much thought as of late.

Name recognition is key. People can't access what they can't request by name, and this problem presents a huge loss for PM&R. Case in point, my own mother-in-law presented to her primary's office complaining of neck and back pain that caused significant impairment. She asked if she should be considered for 'rehab,' but her doctor associated that word with post-stroke patients and TBIs. Imagine my annoyance when she called to tell me she was referred to a chiropractor instead.

Now if only we could market ourselves better than chiropractors. From a sheer money-making standpoint they are quite impressive. This generation of baby-boomers is looking for a doctor who will listen to their physical complaints, take them seriously, lay hands on them, and prescribe something more than a little pill. Unfortunately for us, that description conjures up 'chiropractor' much more than 'physiatrist' in the minds of patients.

So how do we get name recognition? I agree that we should embrace the title physiatrist and move forward from there as a cohesive unit. If otolaryngologists can do it, so can we. But as for how we describe ourselves after that. . . I think we should offer an ENT equivalent such as 'NMJ' (suggested above) or 'Rehab' PLUS a one-liner explanation of what we have to offer and stick to it.

Since all the various sub-divisions of PM&R (or NMJ ) focus on getting the person to a higher level of functioning, I believe the one-liner should use either "rehabilitation" or "restore function" as the buzz words. Also, let's show a little pride about our strengths the way other specialties do, e.g. 'masters of the airway.'

Here's my vision, for what it's worth:

Patient: What kind of doc are you?
Doctor: I'm a physiatrist.
Patient:
Doctor: We're sometimes referred to as Rehab/NMJ Doctors.
Patient: Oh, what do you do exactly?
Doctor: As masters of the physical exam we diagnose and treat nerve, muscle, and joint problems to maxmize function.
Patient: You are everything I've ever longed for in a physician. Where have you been all my life?

Wouldn't that be great?

When I do "pain stuff" I tell people that I'm a pain doctor...no problems.

When I do "rehab stuff" I tell people that I'm a rehab doctor...no problems.

Now, if I could only explain to people what the hell a D.O. is...

I like Llenroc's ideas and I big decision for me for residency was to go somewhere that I would have access to med students with required PM&R rotations so I could help spread word about the field and help attract good applicants.

A third year requirement would be great as long as it exposes students to the entire breadth of the specialty - we had a required fourth year "pain" rotation with our PM&R department which was a great rotation but many left thinking all PM&R does is write for pain meds.

I rotated at Jeff for an elective where they exposed us to Brain, SCI, general inpatient, outpatient MSK, EMG, amputee, stroke, spasticity, etc at Magee/TJUH/Rothman. We saw what PT/OT/Speech did and interacted with all disciplines. I thought this was a great model for what a first rotation should encompass.

MSKmonky said:

Orthopedics does not suggest we do surgery. Hence the reason they had to add "surgery" at the end of Orthopedic Surgery

Sure Neuromuscular Orthopedics doesn't indicate pain management or lymphedema care, but does Anesthesiology indicate they do Critical Care Medicine?

There is no perfect name. Just thought there are names that are more "marketable" or rather shed some light on the field to a lay person besides having to go forth with a long explanation (which would scare them away).

As it is right now, if you have pain, musculoskeletal complaints like low back pain, nerve injury, multiple sclerosis, a stroke, parkinsons, etc...etc... you will most likely go to an orthopedic surgeon, neurologist, or anesthesiologist. Same goes for many uninformed practioners who will refer patients to these services. NOM just sheds some light on certain aspects of the field that will help patients and general-pracs know at least something of what we're about.

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I would still argue that if you use the term “orthopedics” to a layperson, or even a medical student, they’ll initially think surgery. And I can’t help but wonder, if you present the term "neuromuscular orthopedics" to your ortho colleagues, how would they react?

I appreciate your arguments though. My beef was using “neuromuscular orthopedist” (or any similar term) as a substitute for “physiatrist”. I’m comfortable with the term “physiatry”. I just don’t want to be considered a specialized orthopod or neurologist. ‘Cause I’m not. But using “NOM” as a descriptor, in the context of explaining what it is physiatrists do, I think is reasonable and perfectly acceptable. I very much like Disciple’s method, which is what I use: I’m a physiatrist. I’m a doctor who does _______. (I do emphasize the doctor part so as not to be confused w/ physical therapy.)

I don’t think taking the time to explain to a patient what it is physiatry brings to the table will scare them away. Actually, I find that patients like it when we talk to and educate them.

I will agree that no new name for our field would be perfect and all encompassing. Because our field emphasizes the broad, nebulous entity known as “function”, we overlap with everybody and everything.


BTW ampaphb – when I googled “pedic” all I got was a bunch of mattress ads . Eventually found the Wikipedia reference though.

I hear ya. We should embrace the name physiatry.

Saddens me though because I never really liked the name. Was hoping we were all itching for some change.

Quoted from another thread by a well respected SDN user

"Any time a doc says "Hmmm, what should I do next?" with regards to a MSK pt, referall to PM&R should be considered. Otherwise, as you indicated, they send everything to ortho or neuro.
Sell PM&R to them as a hybrid of ortho and neuro. "

Hence! Neuromuscular Orthopedics!!!

I LOVE where this thread has gone.

I agree! this was an entertaining thread. I'll keep trying to push NOM until I am convinced otherwise that it is not a good move.

Just think, residents 20 years from now would read in the history books that a band of courageous young doctors influenced a rebirth in the field by supplanting PMR with NOM which led to a chain of events that increased marketability, utility amongst peers, and awareness in a comunity. This in turn encouraged many to revamp the traditional thought of the "R.O.A.D." to happiness to now be changed to the "N.O.R.A.D." of happiness (NOM, Ophtho, Rads, Anesth, Derm).

And who will be the historical figures that took part in this miraculous renaissance? why, none other than PMR4MSK, drusso, disciple, jockdoc dc2md, lovelsteve, ludicollo, mskmonky, wateravatar, and the rest of all of you!!!

MSKmonky said:

I agree! this was an entertaining thread. I'll keep trying to push NOM until I am convinced otherwise that it is not a good move.

Just think, residents 20 years from now would read in the history books that a band of courageous young doctors influenced a rebirth in the field by supplanting PMR with NOM which led to a chain of events that increased marketability, utility amongst peers, and awareness in a comunity. This in turn encouraged many to revamp the traditional thought of the "R.O.A.D." to happiness to now be changed to the "N.O.R.A.D." of happiness (NOM, Ophtho, Rads, Anesth, Derm).

And who will be the historical figures that took part in this miraculous renaissance? why, none other than PMR4MSK, drusso, disciple, jockdoc dc2md, lovelsteve, ludicollo, mskmonky, wateravatar, and the rest of all of you!!!

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NORAD - that absolutely made my day!! Super-LOL!

had so much fun reading/contributing to this thread that I didn't want to see it die out...

love the name! Great idea.

(NORAD still lives on...)

Hey, all. I've been lurking around these boards for awhile but never got around to making an account. But, seeing as I've decided on physiatry, I thought why not!

This thread caught my attention for the reasons people have already mentioned. I say PM&R, and people look at me strangely. Once explained, they think I am going to work in drug rehab, and when I specify physical medicine, they think physical therapist. And it's not like "physiatry" gives any hints as to what we do like cardiology or endocrinology. Hell, even as I type this, spell check is telling me it doesn't recognize "physiatry."

Neuromuscular Orthopedics isn't a bad option. I don't jump to a surgical interpretation with it, but I can't say the lay person won't. I do agree that it does seem to exclude TBI, SCI, etc., things that orthopedists don't handle. No name is perfect and all encompassing.

Ultimately, I think you can explain/name yourself anything you want as long as it accurately reflects what you do. Cardiologists can say they practice "Heart Medicine" and write that on their business cards and signs. I wouldn't, but if that's what he/she likes then go for it.

I don't think any name change will happen officially for a very long time, if it even needs to change. Who knows, hopefully people will become more familiar with physiatry in the future. If a change does happen, I think it will occur passively as a consensus is somehow reached and physiatrists just start calling themselves something else.

I explain myself now as going into "neuromuscular medicine" and people seem to be fairly receptive to that. I think it's a good alternative if you are worried about the possible surgical focus that using "orthopedics" can give.
Using medicine eliminates the perception that I'll be a therapist or even a chiropractor as someone once interpreted physiatry as. It covers pain, TBI, SCI, msk complaints, dystrophies, palsies, EMGs, etc. Somewhat lacking is any reference to rehab, but then again, no name is perfect!

Dr. _________________
Neuromuscular Medicine

Wow, that was a long post! Sorry, haha.

Wanted to Revive this thread.

Neuromuscular Orthopedics!! or Neuromuscular Rehabilitation ... Neuromuscular Medicine... Something other than "physical Medicine"!!!

I am currently doing my intern year in internal medicine. I have noticed that many people have no idea what internal medicine entails. But if one of my staff or myself introduces ourselves as Internists people have a general idea of what that is. I say I am doing Physiatry. I say I will be an expert in neuromuscular diseases/medicine. I plan on doing Pain Medicine or Sports Medicine. When that happens I will introduce myself as a Pain Doc or a Sports Doc. Cardiologists do not say they are internists that do heart medicine...they say that they are Heart Doctors. If you are a Brain Rehab guy say you are a TBI doc or Brain Injury Doc. If you do Cord Injuries say you are a Spinal Cord Injury Doc. I think you have to keep it simple for patients. I like telling people my speciality and then what I plan to do with it. The fact is that many PM&R residents are going on to fellowship. I like the idea of Neuromuscular Medicine frankly but Physiatrist is nice too. I like being different. I am proud of what I do. I think if you are good at what you do, patients will see that, and they frankly do not give a damn what you are called...as long as they trust you and see you as "their doctor." In the end it is not about me...its about the patient.

That is why I chose this specialty in the first place.

Mayo PM&R Rules. Shout out to DoctorJay. See you in a few weeks Brother!

I read this entire thread and it created lots of thoughts

Like many of you I don't like being confused with psychiatry, podiatrists, or physical therapists.

I don't like the idea of changing to a name that has similarities to other names thus I don't particularly like N.O.M.

I do like the idea of physiatry in that it is one term that its a single somewhat descriptive term.

So a for my 2 cents on a possible name:

Enablist, or Enabler ---
---- what do you do doc?
I enable you to be your best

Or I help you to be more active thus I'm an Activist

Or I help you live (longer or better) I'm a Livarian, or a Longevitist

But best of all:
Neuro,Ortho,Rehab,Musc,Analgesia,Longevitist
--- I'm a NORMALogist
-------what do you do?
---- I help you return to normal!

I think the last one would be great simply because you could get people to ask for a NORMAL consult

drusso said:

When I do "pain stuff" I tell people that I'm a pain doctor...no problems.

When I do "rehab stuff" I tell people that I'm a rehab doctor...no problems.

Now, if I could only explain to people what the hell a D.O. is...

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Drrusso : when they ask what a DO is I usually say i DO stuff! it works and is a great icebreaker. for MD's as my current fellowship director said ' We're MD's so we Make Decisions"... then he turned to me ( his first DO fellow) and goes... and I guess you... DO stuff?
hehe

swampdonkey said:

I read this entire thread and it created lots of thoughts

Like many of you I don't like being confused with psychiatry, podiatrists, or physical therapists.

I don't like the idea of changing to a name that has similarities to other names thus I don't particularly like N.O.M.

I do like the idea of physiatry in that it is one term that its a single somewhat descriptive term.

So a for my 2 cents on a possible name:

Enablist, or Enabler ---
---- what do you do doc?
I enable you to be your best

Or I help you to be more active thus I'm an Activist

Or I help you live (longer or better) I'm a Livarian, or a Longevitist

But best of all:
Neuro,Ortho,Rehab,Musc,Analgesia,Longevitist
--- I'm a NORMALogist
-------what do you do?
---- I help you return to normal!

I think the last one would be great simply because you could get people to ask for a NORMAL consult

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I'm pretty sure enabler is pretty much cornered by AA.

From the starry eyes of a med student, I too think PM&R needs a name change (if only to remove that #!@% ampersand). Though it seems more of my friends become aware of it each year, the top responses I get when I tell them I am applying for PM&R is "I heard the lifestyle is good but I don't want to do rehab" or "Oh so you are like a super PT,right?"

A name change could definitely help with that, as well as make the specialty more accessible to the public, as discussed above.

swampdonkey said:

So a for my 2 cents on a possible name:

Enablist, or Enabler ---

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I can assure you, I am NOT an enabler. No good physiatrists are.

SpineBound said:

How about this one (which I saw written as a consult order): PT&R

made me cringe

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LOL!!! Epic!!

I think simplicity is the key.

A lay person understands what an orthopedic surgeon does, and has a basic understanding of the difference between a neurologist and neurosurgeon.

Seeing as PM&R has significant overlap between these specialties, why not simplify things by coining the term Orthopedic Medicine. If someone asks what that is, you can explain: similar to orthopedic surgery only without the surgery. "NOM" in my opinion is a little too confusing for the lay person.

Clinicians often want to find a name that encompasses everything it is that they do, but it is impossible to do so with PM&R because the field is so broad. I think it is important to drill things down to the most common denominator which is restoring function to those who suffer from a disability (most often a physical disability) secondary to orthopedic or neurological conditions.