What do your patients address you as?

[lincoln24]

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Just curious, since we have shifted to a Doctorate in PT, do you have your patients address you as Dr. or your first name?

From experience in the clinics I have seen a lot of patients refer to their PTs by their first name, and I wonder why this is. If we want others to see the value in our degree, shouldn't we be called by our professional title?

Would love to hear peoples opinions on this!

 

[Jacquejam1234]

Just curious, since we have shifted to a Doctorate in PT, do you have your patients address you as Dr. or your first name?

From experience in the clinics I have seen a lot of patients refer to their PTs by their first name, and I wonder why this is. If we want others to see the value in our degree, shouldn't we be called by our professional title?

Would love to hear peoples opinions on this!

Is this a serious question? If you want to be a Doctor go to Medical school. Why don’t you start wearing a white coat and carrying a stethoscope as well.

 

[ya1]

I introduce myself as Dr FIRST NAME, Physical therapist. And then patients call me by my 1st name.
I think it's a good idea to put our DPT title on our name tags. Some facilities do that, mine just puts PT.
So far I saw only 1 PT who called himself Dr LAST NAME (so his patients called him Dr LAST NAME as well). Which is technically against the rules... Legally, you can call yourself a Dr but must always specify that you are Dr PT, not just Dr.
Also many people for some reason assume you are a Dr if you are wearing a white lab coat although anyone can buy one for $20 and wear it lol.

 

[gyngyn]

I introduce myself as Dr FIRST NAME, Physical therapist. And then patients call me by my 1st name.
I think it's a good idea to put our DPT title on our name tags. Some facilities do that, mine just puts PT.
So far I saw only 1 PT who called himself Dr LAST NAME (so his patients called him Dr LAST NAME as well). Which is technically against the rules... Legally, you can call yourself a Dr but must always specify that you are Dr PT, not just Dr.
Also many people for some reason assume you are a Dr if you are wearing a white lab coat although anyone can buy one for $20 and wear it lol.

In our hospital, it is strictly against policy for anyone to introduce themselves as Doctor X except MD's and DO's.
Same for the lab coat.

 

[Dochopeful13]

In our hospital, it is strictly against policy for anyone to introduce themselves as Doctor X except MD's and DO's.
Same for the lab coat.

Even Oral Surgeons or Podiatrists??

 

[lincoln24]

I introduce myself as Dr FIRST NAME, Physical therapist. And then patients call me by my 1st name.
I think it's a good idea to put our DPT title on our name tags. Some facilities do that, mine just puts PT.
So far I saw only 1 PT who called himself Dr LAST NAME (so his patients called him Dr LAST NAME as well). Which is technically against the rules... Legally, you can call yourself a Dr but must always specify that you are Dr PT, not just Dr.
Also many people for some reason assume you are a Dr if you are wearing a white lab coat although anyone can buy one for $20 and wear it lol.

In our hospital, it is strictly against policy for anyone to introduce themselves as Doctor X except MD's and DO's.
Same for the lab coat.

Is this a serious question? If you want to be a Doctor go to Medical school. Why don’t you start wearing a white coat and carrying a stethoscope as well.

That is not at all what I meant...
I was just curious because it's a doctorate degree

Is this a serious question? If you want to be a Doctor go to Medical school. Why don’t you start wearing a white coat and carrying a stethoscope as well.

That is not at all what I was insinuating...
Just curious because we have a DPT if any PTs introduced themselves with that title

 

[Azimuthal]

Use the search bar. This has been discussed.

 

[PTGalPaL]

I was also curious about this so I'm glad you asked.

 

[truthseeker]

Tom

 

[Podstar]

In our hospital, it is strictly against policy for anyone to introduce themselves as Doctor X except MD's and DO's.
Same for the lab coat.

Not even podiatrists? Or does your hospital not have any? If it does, how do they address themselves?

Sorry, not trying to derail the thread this just made me curious.

 

[gyngyn]

Not even podiatrists? Or does your hospital not have any? If it does, how do they address themselves?

Sorry, not trying to derail the thread this just made me curious.

We don't have podiatrists so our policy does not specify.

 

[theheartyroots]

Certain states allow PT's to be addressed as Dr., but you must verbally say Physical Therapist and physically write PT, DPT. I do not want to be misconstrued as a medical Dr because we are not at that level scope and academic-wise. Dr's write Rx's... we create plan of cares.

That's just how I am. Instead of calling me Dr, I usually say call me by my first name and then explain how we have a clinical doctorate.

Hope this helped!

 

[truthseeker]

Impress people with your knowledge and skills, not your degree.

"You know more than my doctor, you should have gone to medical school"

 

[MilkExpirationDate]

If you call yourself Dr. xyz, you have to specify that you are a physical therapist and not an MD/DO. At this point, the patient is usually thoroughly confused as to how you can call yourself Dr. when you aren't a MD. So to spare time and confusion, most DPTs introduce themselves by their first names. Additionally, the first name basis can really help develop rapport with some patients.

The value of the DPT lies in the knowledge you gain, not the superficial title of Dr.

 

[NewTestament]

First name. I lack the pretense of 'doctor.'

 

[KeikoTanaka]

Impress people with your knowledge and skills, not your degree.

"You know more than my doctor, you should have gone to medical school"

This quote is silly lol... Of course a PT should know more than a Doctor about PT...

"compare a goldfish by its ability to climb a tree and you'll deem that goldfish inept" (Or however the quote goes)

 

[truthseeker]

it is silly, Patients still think the medical doctor decides what is best, tells us what to do, and we do it as technicians. People still (less often than 15 years ago, but still) ask if I had to go to college for this.

IMO the APTA has not spent my 28 years of dues very efficiently to explain what PTs do.

 

[Azimuthal]

it is silly, Patients still think the medical doctor decides what is best, tells us what to do, and we do it as technicians. People still (less often than 15 years ago, but still) ask if I had to go to college for this.

IMO the APTA has not spent my 28 years of dues very efficiently to explain what PTs do.

I agree. When I have to cover the acute side, some of my patients have asked, “How long was your PT *certificate* program after your RN? You need a few years experience before they will accept you guys, huh? You guys seem to have a lot more experience with helping us move more comfortably.” ‍♂️