rank disparity

[chicoborja]

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Is it awkward for a new physician (commission of Captain (Army)) to work with a nurse practitioner or other allied health professional that holds a higher ranking (i.e. Lt. Col.) due to prev. length of service. Grant it the allied health professional has earned the rank; however, it also seems strange for a superior officer to take orders from a subordinate. But then again who else would be in a position to except the physician. Is this ever awkward or is working in the medical corps more similar to working in the civilian arena where this would be a non-issue?

 

[Homunculus]

Is it awkward for a new physician (commission of Captain (Army)) to work with a nurse practitioner or other allied health professional that holds a higher ranking (i.e. Lt. Col.) due to prev. length of service. Grant it the allied health professional has earned the rank; however, it also seems strange for a superior officer to take orders from a subordinate. But then again who else would be in a position to except the physician. Is this ever awkward or is working in the medical corps more similar to working in the civilian arena where this would be a non-issue?

in my experience it has never been an issue. most of the physicians, especially new ones, haven't been exposed to the rank structure as much as a combat arms enlisted soldier has-- and subsequently doesn't have the "awe factor" when a colonel walks by. we speak with colonels, lt colonels, majors, etc daily. while a captain in the "regular" army has had 4 years of experience and is in charge of a company, in the medical world it's a first year newbie intern.

-- your friendly neighborhood captain caveman

 

[edmadison]

in my experience it has never been an issue. most of the physicians, especially new ones, haven't been exposed to the rank structure as much as a combat arms enlisted soldier has-- and subsequently doesn't have the "awe factor" when a colonel walks by. we speak with colonels, lt colonels, majors, etc daily. while a captain in the "regular" army has had 4 years of experience and is in charge of a company, in the medical world it's a first year newbie intern.

-- your friendly neighborhood captain caveman

Virtually no one calls me captain, they all call be dumb ass, no just kidding. They call me doctor or doc. Thtat doesn't bother me. What gets me is when the command sergent major with 25 years in calls me sir (happened first day of OBC - funny).

At our hospital we have a funny situation. We have a father son combo. Dad is a navy captain, son is an army captain. So how do you tell them apart? Dr Smith?, uh no. Captain Smith?, uh no. I'm trying to get the rest of the resident class to call them Big Dr. Smith and Little Dr. Smith.


Ed

 

[Richard_Hom]

I believe that the Army, like other services, requires a superior officer to "rate" a junior officer. A superior officer may have the same rank, but may have a more earlier date of rank.

In a practical work situation, though, physicians will 'supervise' other officers. This supervision, though, does not constitute 'rating' someone.

In most Army hospitals, each 'corps' will have a separate command structure. For instance, Medical Corps officers (including PAs) report to the senior ranking Medical Corps officer (always a physician). Individual physicians may have their own 'chain of command' such as department chief or head.

All officers have a command structure. Take the case of the optometrist. The rater for the senior ranking optometrist will be rated usually by the chief of optometry and he by the chief of ophthlamology or if not senior, by the Chief of Surgery (who is probably a very senior colonel).

The endorser reviews at least two levels below and tries to ensure fairness in the rating. In the case of a Medical Corps officer rating a Medical Service Corps officer, the endorser would normally be the same branch as the ratee.

In the services, all medical personnel regardless of their specialization or craft or skill are "officers first" and health professionals second. Even though medical personnel may never see the "real Army" because they practice only in a hospital or in a research lab, this structure still controls all officers.

Richard

 

[militarymd]

Read the post "Life in the Military".

It is quite long, but in it, I describe how the rank situation in the military completely distorts the proper relationships between members of a healthcare team, and how the healthcare team delivers care to healthcare recipients.

As residents/medical students, the lack of rank doesn't really affect how you interact with everyone.....everyone knows residents/medicals are the scum sucking bottom feeders that they are , so their lowly rank of O-3 is appropriate.