what is it with everyone caring whos a doctor and whos not?

[Doctor M]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I've been reading posts in nursing, Physician forums, etc about other degrees calling themselves doctors and i just wanted to ask, how many of you really give a rats ass who is called what? I mean, if some nurse wants to call herself a doctor, who cares? Or some pharmacist must be called doctor (my screen name is just a screen name btw). I have never been addressed as doctor and do not ever introduce myself as such, but i dont really give a rats ass if some over zealous nurse, pharmacist or PT wishes to be called as such. I just laugh at the posts of those who are outraged. One would believe those individuals were robbed of their diginity. This is just a rant and needed to vent to somebody 🙂

 

[psychoandy]

i feel your pain man. i recently graduated and i know it's cool for about 30 seconds for people to call you Dr right after you graduate, but that got old so quick. and to think of actual professionals outside of a strict academic setting who demand that "respect"...please, i have real work and patient care issues to deal with.

i think more of the issue is MDs not necessarily losing prestige, but cheapening the "doctor" title...i doubt JDs professionally call themselves Dr although they technically could. but when you have anyone and their mother completing a professional doctorate and adding Dr to their name seriously, it seems like kind of a buzzkill.

i challenge any of these people to go up to a surgeon and be like i'm dr so and so of ancillary department, and see what happens. would love to see reaction on youtube.

 

[Doctor M]

i feel your pain man. i recently graduated and i know it's cool for about 30 seconds for people to call you Dr right after you graduate, but that got old so quick. and to think of actual professionals outside of a strict academic setting who demand that "respect"...please, i have real work and patient care issues to deal with.

i think more of the issue is MDs not necessarily losing prestige, but cheapening the "doctor" title...i doubt JDs professionally call themselves Dr although they technically could. but when you have anyone and their mother completing a professional doctorate and adding Dr to their name seriously, it seems like kind of a buzzkill.

i challenge any of these people to go up to a surgeon and be like i'm dr so and so of ancillary department, and see what happens. would love to see reaction on youtube.

Actually, I could care less if a physician felt as if they were losing prestige. My point is who gives a crap what they call themselves. Obviously I am not a doctor; i do not even practice pharmacy that much anymore. All I do all day is look at numbers. But I hardly give a crap if some physician is gonna throw a hissy fit because some nurse, Pharmacists, PT wants to be called a doctor.

 

[benjee]

I've been reading posts in nursing, Physician forums, etc about other degrees calling themselves doctors and i just wanted to ask, how many of you really give a rats ass who is called what? I mean, if some nurse wants to call herself a doctor, who cares? Or some pharmacist must be called doctor (my screen name is just a screen name btw). I have never been addressed as doctor and do not ever introduce myself as such, but i dont really give a rats ass if some over zealous nurse, pharmacist or PT wishes to be called as such. I just laugh at the posts of those who are outraged. One would believe those individuals were robbed of their diginity. This is just a rant and needed to vent to somebody 🙂

Actually, it does has legal implications. eg when sombody putting up false ads on newspaper or public place, he or she will be sued for providing misleading information to public.

 

[PharmDstudent]

i challenge any of these people to go up to a surgeon and be like i'm dr so and so of ancillary department, and see what happens. would love to see reaction on youtube.

This just adds to the problem. So now only a surgeon is a real "doctor"?

 

[Phlame217]

The core of the argument boils down to informed consent of patient

Studies show that Joe Blow believes when someone introduces themselves as "Doctor" the patient immediately thinks "MD." This can lead to patient misconceptions when it comes to the scope of practice that the practitioner is capable of providing and in many cases, practitioners go beyond their scope much to the harm of the patient.

My belief is in the medical setting of an hospital, etc is that everyone should clarify their titles when providing information to a patient in order to avoid such issues.

One of the fore front cases of this that comes to mind is a patient that died from malpractice due to a CRNA introducing herself as a doctor misleading the patient when the patient had explicitly requested a MD/DO level anesthetist. The CRNA was under equipped for the case and ultimately killed the patient.

As far as the prestige and all, I correlate that purely to the butt hurt many people feel since "Doctor" is becoming a more generic term.

 

[PharmDstudent]

A Doctorate of Pharmacy is NOT a master's degree!!!!!!!! *******!

 

[R2pharmD2]

Studies show that Joe Blow believes when someone introduces themselves as "Doctor" the patient immediately thinks "MD." This can lead to patient misconceptions when it comes to the scope of practice that the practitioner is capable of providing and in many cases, practitioners go beyond their scope much to the harm of the patient.

I think the scope of practice issue is the real concern here. It's up to the practitioner to work within their scope of practice. The patient generally isn't going to have any idea what is or isn't appropriate for a given provider to do/order/recommend anyway, even if the provider made it clear exactly what level of education they had. The title of the practitioner in question or how she introduced herself doesn't seem relevant here.

The whole issue is silly. If practitioners are working within their scope of practice, it doesn't matter what they call themselves. Yeah, it's misleading to the public for a pharmacist/nurse practitioner/etc. to introduce themselves as "doctor", but risk to the patient doesn't increase as long as they're not overstepping the boundaries of their training.

tl;dr: I don't see why some people insist on being addressed as doctor and I don't see why other people care.

 

[PharmaTope]

i feel your pain man. i recently graduated and i know it's cool for about 30 seconds for people to call you Dr right after you graduate, but that got old so quick. and to think of actual professionals outside of a strict academic setting who demand that "respect"...please, i have real work and patient care issues to deal with.

i think more of the issue is MDs not necessarily losing prestige, but cheapening the "doctor" title...i doubt JDs professionally call themselves Dr although they technically could. but when you have anyone and their mother completing a professional doctorate and adding Dr to their name seriously, it seems like kind of a buzzkill.

i challenge any of these people to go up to a surgeon and be like i'm dr so and so of ancillary department, and see what happens. would love to see reaction on youtube.

JD are the only ones that can use ESQ with their name legally though.

ya the prob is education is a joke these days with too many people getting into subpar doctoral programs so schools can make money.

 

[psychoandy]

This just adds to the problem. So now only a surgeon is a real "doctor"?

no but they are the biggest *******s i know who lay a valid claim to the title of "doctor"

 

[Socrates25]

Rightly or wrongly, when the public uses the term "doctor" they are implying a physician. We can debate all day whether thats correct terminology or not, but the bottom line is thats how the language/society is set up currently.

So the real question is this. Would you be OK with a pharm tech calling themselves a "pharmacist" to patients? If not, why not?

The answer is because they are being PURPOSEFULLY misleading to misrepresent themselves. A PhD in a science lab referring to himself as "doctor" is not misleading. An RN calling herself a "doctor" in a patient room is. The intent of the person using the title is everything.

 

[PharmDstudent]

Rightly or wrongly, when the public uses the term "doctor" they are implying a physician. We can debate all day whether thats correct terminology or not, but the bottom line is thats how the language/society is set up currently.

I think that's incorrect. It's totally acceptable, and correct for that matter, for dentists and professors to use the title "Dr. So and So".

 

[delano2000]

Rightly or wrongly, when the public uses the term "doctor" they are implying a physician. We can debate all day whether thats correct terminology or not, but the bottom line is thats how the language/society is set up currently.

So the real question is this. Would you be OK with a pharm tech calling themselves a "pharmacist" to patients? If not, why not?

The answer is because they are being PURPOSEFULLY misleading to misrepresent themselves. A PhD in a science lab referring to himself as "doctor" is not misleading. An RN calling herself a "doctor" in a patient room is. The intent of the person using the title is everything.

That makes absolutely no sense. That would constitute misrepresentation because a pharm tech cannot introduce themself as a pharmacist and it's actually illegal to do that. Your argument would have had some validity to it if you said a pharmacist introducing themself as a physician (which is illegal). Physicians don't have a monopoly over the term "doctor" and IMO, anyone with a doctorate level degree is entitled to use it if they so desire.

Would I use that term once I'm done with school? Absolutely not. My ego doesn't need stroking and as long as I am taking care of my patients, I could care less about using that term.

 

[eagleface]

Pharmacist should become a title in itself and the distinctions between pharmacy and medicine need to be reemphasized both ways. That is, pharmacists should rightly claim that physicians have encroached on the practice of pharmacy, especially in clinical trials.

 

[AbbyNormal]

When giving 'the last lecture' Randy Pausch said that his mother was very proud of him when he got his doctorate in computer science and she would tell people that he is a doctor but not the kind that helps people.

Great lecture. I watched it on youtube and it is also in bookform.

 

[delano2000]

Pharmacist should become a title in itself and the distinctions between pharmacy and medicine need to be reemphasized both ways. That is, pharmacists should rightly claim that physicians have encroached on the practice of pharmacy, especially in clinical trials.

There are laws in most states (if not all) that protect the use of the title "Pharmacist" and breaking those laws are punishable. I think everyone encroaches on the different disciplines from time to time and pharmacy is no different. Physicians do it, nurses do it, dentists do it and vice versa.

 

[Pharmacy Kid]

I vote to get rid of the word "doctor" and use only the words physician, pharmacist, dentist, chiropractor, nurse, optometrist, veterinarian . . . etc. Unfortunately, not everyone knows what a "physician", or "optometrist", or "podiatrist" is.

 

[tkim]

I think that's incorrect. It's totally acceptable, and correct for that matter, for dentists and professors to use the title "Dr. So and So".

It's not the title so much as the location.

 

[Doctor M]

Actually, it does has legal implications. eg when sombody putting up false ads on newspaper or public place, he or she will be sued for providing misleading information to public.

Really? How so? If I advertise as Dr. M, Pharmacy, how is that misleading? I see chiropractors advertise as Doctors all the time. Please show me a case where this has happened.

 

[a runner]

Honestly, I can see why the physicians get upset over this. I agree that it really depends on the way it is used and in what setting. We are all healthcare professionals or will be in the future, so our health literacy is leaps and bounds above your average person. The issue is that in everyday English "doctor" is synonymous with "physician." Are there people trying to change that? You bet.. for whatever reason those people feel the need to be called "doctor" in a healthcare setting. Can this change in 10, 20, 30 years? Sure, language evolves and so can the meaning of the word doctor. But for the meantime, in the language of the masses, the word doctor in a healthcare setting equals physician (except at dental, chiropractic, optometric, etc. offices of course, but then again.. different setting). If someone enters the room in a patient care setting, a hospital or clinic, and says "Hi, my name is ....... and I'll be your doctor" 99.9% of patients will assume they are a physician. They don't think, "hmm do they mean doctor of pharmacy, doctor of nursing practice, or medical doctor?"

 

[PharmDstudent]

It's not the title so much as the location.

Honestly, I can see why the physicians get upset over this. I agree that it really depends on the way it is used and in what setting. We are all healthcare professionals or will be in the future, so our health literacy is leaps and bounds above your average person. The issue is that in everyday English "doctor" is synonymous with "physician." Are there people trying to change that? You bet.. for whatever reason those people feel the need to be called "doctor" in a healthcare setting. Can this change in 10, 20, 30 years? Sure, language evolves and so can the meaning of the word doctor. But for the meantime, in the language of the masses, the word doctor in a healthcare setting equals physician (except at dental, chiropractic, optometric, etc. offices of course, but then again.. different setting). If someone enters the room in a patient care setting, a hospital or clinic, and says "Hi, my name is ....... and I'll be your doctor" 99.9% of patients will assume they are a physician. They don't think, "hmm do they mean doctor of pharmacy, doctor of nursing practice, or medical doctor?"

This makes sense, but it's probably too subjective. What defines a healthcare setting?... a patient?

 

[a runner]

This makes sense, but it's probably too subjective. What defines a healthcare setting?... a patient?

Well I guess I'm more thinking of physician clinics that might employ DNPs and PAs and in the hospital setting. And it makes a difference if it is being used as a prefix as in "Dr. so-and-so" which is less confusing, versus using it as a noun, "I'm a doctor.. woooo!" The second, saying "I'm your doctor," implies you are a physician and only a physician should say that to a patient.

 

[Carboxide]

Well I guess I'm more thinking of physician clinics that might employ DNPs and PAs and in the hospital setting. And it makes a difference if it is being used as a prefix as in "Dr. so-and-so" which is less confusing, versus using it as a noun, "I'm a doctor.. woooo!" The second, saying "I'm your doctor," implies you are a physician and only a physician should say that to a patient.

PAs are never doctors and should never use it. DNPs and all other non-physician doctors should clarify. "Hi, my name is Dr. Carboxide. I'm the pharmacist who's going to be managing your condition."

Actually, really, only DNPs should clarify. If the patient was like, "Hey Doc, look at this rash! Is it contagious?" I would be like, "Not my area, sorry. Gonna have to ask Dr. So-and-So about that."

 

[optom123]

Though Pharmacists are doctors, they aren't perceived as doctors through the customers/patients eyes.

Personally, I respect the training of pharmacists, but at the end of the day, a person working behind the counter is just not perceived as a doctor.

I had to get my prescription filled by a pharmacist. I went up to the pharmacist and handed him my script. He told me to wait 5 minutes or so. After about 5 minutes, he handed me my script and I paid him.

That was all, lol. There is virtually no patient interaction, especially in Pharmacies that are busy.

 

[benjee]

Really? How so? If I advertise as Dr. M, Pharmacy, how is that misleading? I see chiropractors advertise as Doctors all the time. Please show me a case where this has happened.

Of course if you advertise yourself specifically in pharmacy and specified if Pharm D or PhD , then it makes it more clear . Just like those ads " doctor of carpet" or "doctor of plumbing", public will know right away it's not doctor of medicine..etc. But alot of times, like others have said in hospital setting or even in clinic, those doctors of nursing or doctors of PA, they left the specification out weather intentionally or not when they introduce themselves , layman will assume they are doctor of medicine. Even those doctor of nursing or PA explained to layman they are not MDs, but how many layman will understand the difference? of course, you can argue it's the public's fault that they are too dump to understand the difference but as healthcare professionals, don't we have an obligation to minimize confusion instead of maximize it?For example, some drugs names are very similar and pharmaceutical companies need to either change drug names or do something about it so to lower the confusion.

 

[eagles22]

I think the real root of this issue is why do all these non-physician groups fight so hard to use the term "doctor". When it breaks down to it, it's because these groups are trying to equate themselves with the status of a "real" doctor. In the public perception, the doctor is respected, knowledgeable, and, essentially, the top dog in the medical field. The problem is that using the term doctor in order to assert oneself in the medical field is misleading (and intentionally so). The non-physician "Dr." wants the patient (or any other person) to see him/her at the level of the physician. That's why this title is so important.

The problem is that this confuses the patient. To be honest, there's no reason that the pharmacy degree du jour has to be the Pharm.D (there's still a ton of people practicing with B.Pharm). It could easily be a master's degree, but we adopted the "doctorate" so that pharmacists could try to assert themselves near the top level of medicine.

On a side note, anyone insisting on being called "Dr." is a complete dbag and needs to get over him/herself.

 

[delano2000]

I think the real root of this issue is why do all these non-physician groups fight so hard to use the term "doctor". When it breaks down to it, it's because these groups are trying to equate themselves with the status of a "real" doctor. In the public perception, the doctor is respected, knowledgeable, and, essentially, the top dog in the medical field. The problem is that using the term doctor in order to assert oneself in the medical field is misleading (and intentionally so). The non-physician "Dr." wants the patient (or any other person) to see him/her at the level of the physician. That's why this title is so important.

The problem is that this confuses the patient. To be honest, there's no reason that the pharmacy degree du jour has to be the Pharm.D (there's still a ton of people practicing with B.Pharm). It could easily be a master's degree, but we adopted the "doctorate" so that pharmacists could try to assert themselves near the top level of medicine.

On a side note, anyone insisting on being called "Dr." is a complete dbag and needs to get over him/herself.

Anyone holding a doctorate is a doctor. 🙄 How you choose to introduce yourself is up to you.


Can I just say that it seems like you have a bit of an ego problem going on there.

I look at terminal degrees this way, if you are the expert in your field then a doctorate is appropriate.

MD/DO- expert in diagnosing and treatment
DMD- expert in diagnosing and treating diseases of the oral cavity
DVM- expert in diagnosing and treating diseases in animals
PharmD- expert in pharmaceutical care and drug use
etc.

Just my opinion.

 

[Tired Pigeon]

I introduce myself to patients by my first and last name, and then I say something like, "I'm one of the doctors on the team taking care of you." Patients assume (correctly) that doctor in this case means physician. I've never had a patient in this situation mistakenly think I'm a DNP, Pharm D, doctor of plumbing, etc. So if the word doctor = physician in the clinical setting, introducing yourself as doctor when you're not a physician seems misleading unless you further clarify your role.

It's not about who has the "right" to the title. It's about being honest with patients so they understand the roles and qualifications of each member of the health care team.

 

[owlegrad]

I introduce myself to patients by my first and last name, and then I say something like, "I'm one of the doctors on the team taking care of you." Patients assume (correctly) that doctor in this case means physician. I've never had a patient in this situation mistakenly think I'm a DNP, Pharm D, doctor of plumbing, etc. So if the word doctor = physician in the clinical setting, introducing yourself as doctor when you're not a physician seems misleading unless you further clarify your role.

It's not about who has the "right" to the title. It's about being honest with patients so they understand the roles and qualifications of each member of the health care team.

I am Dr. Owlegrad, the pharmacist who will be on your healthcare team.

How was I dishonest? Not that I actually plan to do this, but I could.

 

[ucrx]

I am Dr. Owlegrad, the pharmacist who will be on your healthcare team.

How was I dishonest? Not that I actually plan to do this, but I could.

This. I've only gone by doctor (in the clinical setting) when the physician I was working with said "This is Dr. ucrx, she is the pharmacist on the infectious disease team" or something similar. I've also gone by doctor when instructed to teaching. I think they had us go by doctor because I'm the same age as many of my students, so it helps set me apart and put me into that position of authority. I've never actually introduced myself as Dr. ucrx.

 

[tkim]

I am Dr. Owlegrad, the pharmacist who will be on your healthcare team.

How was I dishonest? Not that I actually plan to do this, but I could.

Sure, but if you introduced yourself as "Dr. Owlegrad", without the clarification as being a pharmacist, in a hospital setting, right or wrong, the patient will assume you are a physician.

 

[Dr Wario]

I introduce myself as Dr. Wario because I am the kinder, more sensitive side of Wario.

In practice, I don't introduce myself to patients at all because I'm too busy fixing the mistakes made by "real doctors". I had this little gem just the other day "Apply 1 tablet by inhalation rout every 12 hours as needed for pain".

 

[gotdrugs]

Sure, but if you introduced yourself as "Dr. Owlegrad", without the clarification as being a pharmacist, in a hospital setting, right or wrong, the patient will assume you are a physician.

This.

And not everyone will clarify themselves and/or patients will stop listening at "Dr." and not hear what you are a "doctor of"

I have never introduced myself as Dr. gotdrugs, period, not even when I guest lecture. There, for reasons stated above, it's appropriate to pat yourself on teh back with the doctor title, but that's just not me.

Seriously, I'm all about giving our profession (and others) the respect it deserves, but don't we have bigger things to worry about? Physicians have the traditional/historical title of "Dr." in the clinical setting, let's just leave it that way.

EDIT: I do want to add, I *obviously* am trying to understand the viewpoints of our physician-colleagues. This is something I saw them worrying a bit about when my area (i.e. the local pharmacy schools) first when to the all-PharmD in the 90s, but when the vast majority of pharmacists didn't introduce themselves that way, the fear subsided. I (and completely assuming here and the physicians reading/responding please correct me if I'm off) think people are getting worried again with the DNP, esp in light of the Dean of Nursing at Columbia's comments regarding the DNP being basically an equivalant to physicians. If I was a physician, I frankly would be insulted by that notion. And while I shouldn't be starting that debate in this thread, I just did.

 

[awval999]

This.

And not everyone will clarify themselves and/or patients will stop listening at "Dr." and not hear what you are a "doctor of"

I have never introduced myself as Dr. gotdrugs, period, not even when I guest lecture. There, for reasons stated above, it's appropriate to pat yourself on teh back with the doctor title, but that's just not me.

Seriously, I'm all about giving our profession (and others) the respect it deserves, but don't we have bigger things to worry about? Physicians have the traditional/historical title of "Dr." in the clinical setting, let's just leave it that way.

This.

Although I do put "Dr" on hotel reservations and airplane tickets. I feel like I get better service.

 

[Doctor M]

This.

Although I do put "Dr" on hotel reservations and airplane tickets. I feel like I get better service.

Until someone has a stroke or some severe medical emergency that a physician is trained for but you are not (at 30,000 feet in the air) 😱

 

[gambit78]

Seriously folks, patients, customers and nurses and doctors will get CONFUSED.

Why? I work alongside pharmacists who have Bachelor Degrees of Pharmacy and we all do the same staff positions at my hospital and retail pharmacies. They graduated in the 70s,80s,90s and the younger ones have no intent on getting a PharmD. when their Bachelors have sufficed in their worksettings.

So folks call me by first name, as I've called the allied health staff by first names. The only doctors I've referenced are the MDs, DOs, and my kitty's veterinarian.

 

[tkim]

Until someone has a stroke or some severe medical emergency that a physician is trained for but you are not (at 30,000 feet in the air) 😱

I never identify myself as a physician on board airplanes. Or anywhere else, for that matter, except when I'm working. People dislike physicians.

 

[All4MyDaughter]

It took me a while to even recognize that students were addressing me when they were calling me Dr. A4MD in academic settings. I don't introduce myself to patients that way, but have had students do so. It's always clear that we are pharmacists, however. I can't tell you for sure that patients "get" it. But I've seen patients who thought the janitor was their doctor.

 

[njac]

Until someone has a stroke or some severe medical emergency that a physician is trained for but you are not (at 30,000 feet in the air) 😱

I know multiple emergency medicine pharmacists who have responded to patient emergencies in the air. They've waited until the 2nd call "for a doctor" and have often had physicians then volunteer to work with them who ignored the previous calls... Regardless, they put you on the phone with a physician on the ground.

 

[Doctor M]

I know multiple emergency medicine pharmacists who have responded to patient emergencies in the air. They've waited until the 2nd call "for a doctor" and have often had physicians then volunteer to work with them who ignored the previous calls... Regardless, they put you on the phone with a physician on the ground.

Emergency Medicine pharmacists are few.

 

[Sparda29]

There was a resolution that came up at MRM 2011 in Buffalo this year similar to this.

I believe it went something like, "APhA-ASP opposes any legislation that bans pharmacists from calling themselves Doctor".

The resolution got passed, I found it very weird that there were 2 or 3 delegates who voted "Nay" on the issue. I voted aye.

 

[pharm B]

There was a resolution that came up at MRM 2011 in Buffalo this year similar to this.

I believe it went something like, "APhA-ASP opposes any legislation that bans pharmacists from calling themselves Doctor".

The resolution got passed, I found it very weird that there were 2 or 3 delegates who voted "Nay" on the issue. I voted aye.

Groundbreaking. Is anything ever done with those resolutions? It seems like we just vote on pleasant statements that are assembled into a pdf document that no one reads.

 

[nubian pharm]

you r right

beside that, i think the problem is not about confusing the patients ,i believe allot of physicians (not all of them) entered the Field of medicine for the prestige of the title (doctor),of course no one can chose a career based only on that, but it plays a big role ,and the title is really nice, that's way (on the other hand) all the other medical Practitioners witch have obtained the doctorate in there study try to be called the same in order to gain the same respect, i can understand both views really, if i was a physician i would try my best to keep the title that distinguished me and confirms me respect specially after all the effort i had to reach the title,in the other hand i think the other medical Practitioners which obtained (doctorate) thinks that they have the right to be called (doctor) since they have to train as much as the title required, in my opinion the word (doctor) given to the person who obtained (doctorate degree) and he can address him self by Dr xxxxx by the law, but i understand the view of the physicians also,i believe the argument will go for ever😴.

 

[Pharmacopia]

Anyone holding a doctorate is a doctor. 🙄 How you choose to introduce yourself is up to you.


Can I just say that it seems like you have a bit of an ego problem going on there.

I look at terminal degrees this way, if you are the expert in your field then a doctorate is appropriate.

MD/DO- expert in diagnosing and treatment
DMD- expert in diagnosing and treating diseases of the oral cavity
DVM- expert in diagnosing and treating diseases in animals
PharmD- expert in pharmaceutical care and drug use
etc.

Just my opinion.

agreed. If you've earned the title, you can use it with in your scope of practice.

Only thing i hate is when colleagues of mine (i.e. pharmacists), who tell me that I have to introduce them as doctors, or introduce themselves to me as doctors, or refuse to answer to anything else other than doctor (and believe me, there are a few of them in the pharmacy world---->remember the circle jerk we all know of as pharmacy school and the people who tend to run them???).

IMHO, even though we've earned the title of doctor in the academic setting, its not the greatest idea to introduce ourselves as doctor in the real world, mainly it leads to 3 things:

1. confusing among patients and nurses. It gets old really fast that you have to explain that you are not a medical doctor on the hospital floors.

2. leads to patients showing us their diseased body parts, and its never the healthy body parts either.

3. leads to questions out of our scope of practice.


I've only made someone call me "doctor" on one occasion. A dietician asked me to order cases of glucerna for the nutritional department b/c she wanted to cut her budget. I told her that I couldn't do it, and she needed to talk to the pharmacy director. Well, she decided to tell the pharmacy director by making a scene at the hospital cafeteria at lunch time, by pointing at me and saying "this man....this man.....etc" to the pharmacy director who was eating lunch with me. I told her " you can call me a doctor or you can call me a pharmacist, your choice".....hahaha . She stopped making a scene, and apologized and initially thought that I was a technician, and couldn't see my hospital badge clearly. Anyways, it did feel good but I rather not of had that scene to deal with.

 

[kvl1027]

"Better one or better two...........Better one or better.....two............one........or.....two. Ok, good. Now.....better one or better two...............one....or.....two" "Ok.....stare at the light...you might feel a little pressure...........good."

 

[Shnurek]

I vote to get rid of the word "doctor" and use only the words physician, pharmacist, dentist, chiropractor, nurse, optometrist, veterinarian . . . etc. Unfortunately, not everyone knows what a "physician", or "optometrist", or "podiatrist" is.

Random dude in bar: "So what do you do?"
Me: "I'm studying to be an optometrist."
Random dude: "Oh is that like a masters? Will you be selling glasses?"
Me: "No, its a doctorate program and I will not dispense glasses. Opticians do that."
Random dude: -looks confused-

lol

 

[PharMed2016]

This is a time-worn argument that has been resurrected many a times and is frankly getting old. Everyone wants respect that a title brings but respect isn't given but earned. I use the title as a sign of respect in the academic and in the institutional setting to non-physicians doctorate holders.

Many individuals have brought up misunderstanding in the healthcare setting with patients. Well, if you really want to use the title of doctor then you should add exactly what your field of expertise is to clear up any confusion.

ex. Hello, my name is Dr. PharMeD2016 - and I'm the pharmacist.

****My one greatest pet peeve is those people who want to call themselves doctors of whatever but don't want to get the knowledge that is consummate of such a distinction.

Edit: I've never introduced myself as a doctor or student doctor and have always corrected others when addressed so (staff/patients). I have however let (future) doctor of pharmacy slide when called so by a nurse. =P

 

[Ackj]

Random dude in bar: "So what do you do?"
Me: "I'm studying to be an optometrist."
Random dude: "Oh is that like a masters? Will you be selling glasses?"
Me: "No, its a doctorate program and I will not dispense glasses. Opticians do that."
Random dude: -looks confused-

lol

Not going to lie, I still mix up optometrist and ophthalmologist, and I've had corrective lenses since kindergarten.

 

[PharMed2016]

Pharmacist should become a title in itself and the distinctions between pharmacy and medicine need to be reemphasized both ways. That is, pharmacists should rightly claim that physicians have encroached on the practice of pharmacy, especially in clinical trials.

You do know that pharmacist had little to do with clinical trials and have largely been the preview of PhDs and MDs? It wasn't until the last few decades that pharmacist have started to become more involved in clinical trials and even then they are far and few besides your traditional PhDs/MDs. Looking from a publication standpoint, pharmacy journals have very small impact factors which kind of gives you an idea of the quality of evidence that is used in those journals.

 

[Shnurek]

Not going to lie, I still mix up optometrist and ophthalmologist, and I've had corrective lenses since kindergarten.

Haha, so does my girlfriend and my best friend. I just gave up on explaining it lol.

But for those that are curious here is info, all others just skip it.

Ophthalmologists are MD's or DO's that match into an ophthalmology residency and most of their work involves surgery. They are colloquially referred to as the "eye surgeons" although they also do a lot of medical stuff. They have an unlimited license to practice medicine and surgery.

Optometrists are OD's that go to optometry school. Most of the curriculum is medically focused. They spend a lot of their time refracting patients (which is better 1 or 2). They also diagnose and treat a majority of eye diseases. They can prescribe eye drops and oral medications. They are colloquially called "eye doctors" but they do some minor surgical procedures from time to time. Optometrists have a state license to practice optometry and the scope of practice is highly variable from state to state. Example: Massachusetts is the only state that doesn't allow optometrists to treat glaucoma while Oklahoma allows laser surgery and scalpel surgery to be conducted by optometrists.

With recent legislation the lines between optometrists and ophthalmologists are blurring as both types of doctors now share a larger portion of each others scope of practice.