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Hi gang,
It was explained to me in another thread that using the the term PMR rather than PM&R is offensive and disrespectful to your field.
Is this a universally held opinion? Why do you feel that way? I have written PMR many times and never meant it in a derogatory manor in the slightest. I see the term PMR used interchangeably throughout this subforum so am a bit confused.
Some of this posters comments:
It was explained to me in another thread that using the the term PMR rather than PM&R is offensive and disrespectful to your field.
Is this a universally held opinion? Why do you feel that way? I have written PMR many times and never meant it in a derogatory manor in the slightest. I see the term PMR used interchangeably throughout this subforum so am a bit confused.
Some of this posters comments:
It's PM&R, not PMR. It's just a pet peeve of mine, but a number of people have made this mistake here. Our specialty is a small one, and isn't that well known or understood. We're like the small little brother no one remembers. Particularly on our consult rotations, one of our biggest duties is to educate people on what PM&R does. Often that means explaining what PM&R even means (physical medicine & rehabilitation).
Whether all three of you were too lazy or some didn't know the true spelling, our specialty is often ignored/overlooked/misunderstood. When others write our initials (which is a vast abbreviation!) to PMR or PMNR, it suggests a lack of respect. You may not mean it that way, but that's how it is often viewed in our specialty.
I know it may seem silly and arbitrary to you, but it shows respect for your physician colleagues in PM&R.
Many people in my field do interpret it as a slight when you leave out the "&" or write "PMNR." It's just a little thing, but little things are easy to change.