I was planning on shadowing a PA soon and was wondering about whether they are usually called Doctor or Mr? I don't think it's that big a deal to ask him but was hoping not to commit a faux pas.
Thanks.
Thanks.
Originally posted by rad_one
PA's do not go to medical school; therefore they are not addressed as "doctor". "Mr." or "Miss/Mrs./Ms." would be correct.
Originally posted by VentdependenT
No one is gonna care one way or the other. You will most likely address that person on a fist name basis.
Originally posted by The_Gas_Man
Someone who misrepresents himself/herself as a physician should be immediately reported to the local medical board.
Originally posted by timerick
Even if they have Ph.D.'s, in a clinical setting PA's are not to be called "doctor".
It's a tough call... I guess I'd like to know whether, when the care team is away from patient areas, PAs are still addressed as 'Doctor' by the other staff members.Originally posted by Paws
Hey this is a very good point and I have read other peoples' comments in other forums about this very issue; in the clinical setting where I work the pa's are referred to as 'Dr' just like other people have described. I have tried to correct people, but it seems that the pa's themselves are encourgaing this line of thinking. It bothers me and I am not sure about what I should do. It makes me feel very uncomfortable and like there's something not right here.
Anymore ideas? I don't want to get my butt in trouble, so I just look the other way, but it's hard to have respect for them when they seem to be trying to pass for something they're not.
Originally posted by Paws
These are helpful comments. I don't know what the deal is here where I work but I personally like the idea of a clear sign explaining the breakdown of who is doing what. Also the idea of a business card saying the same thing. I'm all for good professional boundaries.
Originally posted by DocWagner
First and foremost, to be called "doctor" you need a doctorate.
Secondly, in a clinical situation, it is understood that "doctor" is in reference to a MD/DO...not a PharmD, PhD, DPT, or JD.
Originally posted by imagin916
On a side note, most of the patients that I come across like being treated by a PA, they almost always spend more time with the patient, actually explain to them what is going on, and assist with care when needed. I often get requests from my patients to "see the PA that was just here" instead of the resident they just saw and spent all of 10 seconds with them. All of the PA's I work with from all different disciplines are all knowledgable professionals, and I really like working with them.
Originally posted by Serfes
What about a DDS, an OD, or a DPM?
Originally posted by ItsGavinC
There isn't anything tricky about those. In the clinical setting "doctor" is the appropriate term for each of those.
If a nurse or patient screamed "doctor", I would turn around and I am just an EMS worker - not because I have some sort of inflated self-worth, but because obviously something important is happening and either I need to help or get the heck out of the way...Originally posted by DocWagner
When a nurse or patient screamed "doctor" (the ultimate litmus test)...only the Physicians turned around.
This is not a scientific study.
Really...it isn't as confusing as one thinks. Professionals tend not to make this a problem.
Originally posted by DocWagner
Serfes,
In a clinical setting, Doctor is a term patients use when referencing the "Physician" 99 times out 100. When a patient says "MY doctor yadda yadda" they don't mean physical therapist or pharmacist. When doing rotations as a medical student, there was a PhD and medical student...he was NOT called "doctor" for obvious reasons. It only creates confusion in the hospital setting. I certainly do not own the copyright for the term "doctor", but I can tell you what is accepted practice.
When I was a PT, I worked with several PT,PhD's and NONE of them used the term "doctor" in the hospital or in the clinic. When a nurse or patient screamed "doctor" (the ultimate litmus test)...only the Physicians turned around.
This is not a scientific study.
Really...it isn't as confusing as one thinks. Professionals tend not to make this a problem.
Originally posted by DocWagner
Oh for crap sake!
If you want to cause utter confusion, go ahead call yourself professor for all I care.
Serfes, you asked me to justify my reason, I gave you the conventional thinking and practice...it stands for JD's as well. When was the last time you called your Lawyer "Doctor"?
Give me a break eh? I never say "I am Dr. Wagner, your Emergency Medicine Physician", rather just "Dr. Wagner".
As for turning around when someone calls "Doctor", MWilding...do what you want...I think you probably knew what I was saying.
i'm not sure if it was the movie "Fletch" or what, but this whole post reminds me of a scene in this movie where all these docs got together and instead of the formal introductions, they all just nodded to each other and said "doctor...doctor...doctor...doctor...doctor..." it was pretty funny. =)