Call out to what we introduce ourselves as

[ventana]

B/c I'm certainly not alone when I say that the issue simply isn't worth expending my energy on... Not when I have family, and other job related issues... I just don't let it affect me..an argument could be made simply giving it credence fuels the discord.

Heck, I'm ashamed to say this is interrupting my garage cleaning. But that's just me...

understand completely and that is why I posted the thread. To many of us (esp subspeciality) the title means little - and I get that it really doesn't matter in their eyes. To some of us though trying to branch out the title is almost a handcuff - how can an assistant own anything? How can an assistant be a partner? Why should and assistant get a seat at the "doctors" meeting where they talk about things like patient flow, staff moral, office issues (and every other doc partner and employee is there).

So if we can all agree on using PA Lastname as an introduction, and in your own words this really is not worth expending energy on so it would be fairly easy to change your ways, to help advance the profession as a whole (I am taking a leap of faith here, but how can it hurt - and as C so nicely pointed out it is part of who all health care providers are) it seems like a simple choice..... help the profession and one day it might just come back and benefit everyone!



I am really thankful that everyone offers opinions - I am at times stuck in my own little world of 30 patient days in primary care/ER and reflection to other estblished professional PA's is great. As for me - after this thread I am even more convinced that I will refer to myself as PA Lastname from now on - all the examples really do make a point that we are not assistants and we should be proud of our standing (but oh boy do we need a change away from assistant).

And to top it all off - with a $1 bill we can change our behavior and buy a cup of coffee (behavior change is free.....)



"C" - is it nice to agree with you on a point.....

[Joelseff]

understand completely and that is why I posted the thread. To many of us (esp subspeciality) the title means little - and I get that it really doesn't matter in their eyes. To some of us though trying to branch out the title is almost a handcuff - how can an assistant own anything? How can an assistant be a partner? Why should and assistant get a seat at the "doctors" meeting where they talk about things like patient flow, staff moral, office issues (and every other doc partner and employee is there).

So if we can all agree on using PA Lastname as an introduction, and in your own words this really is not worth expending energy on so it would be fairly easy to change your ways, to help advance the profession as a whole (I am taking a leap of faith here, but how can it hurt - and as C so nicely pointed out it is part of who all health care providers are) it seems like a simple choice..... help the profession and one day it might just come back and benefit everyone!



I am really thankful that everyone offers opinions - I am at times stuck in my own little world of 30 patient days in primary care/ER and reflection to other estblished professional PA's is great. As for me - after this thread I am even more convinced that I will refer to myself as PA Lastname from now on - all the examples really do make a point that we are not assistants and we should be proud of our standing (but oh boy do we need a change away from assistant).

And to top it all off - with a $1 bill we can change our behavior and buy a cup of coffee (behavior change is free.....)



"C" - is it nice to agree with you on a point.....

Agree, but....Where can I buy a $1 cup o Joe?
And is it good? Lol


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[LIPPER]

-

So if we can all agree on using PA Lastname as an introduction, and in your own words this really is not worth expending energy on so it would be fairly easy to change your ways, to help advance the profession as a whole (I am taking a leap of faith here, but how can it hurt - and as C so nicely pointed out it is part of who all health care providers are) it seems like a simple choice..... help the profession and one day it might just come back and benefit everyone!








"C" - is it nice to agree with you on a point.....

let me rephrase.... I like it the way it is. Formality is too....constraining.... I like the status-quo as it pertains to title and how I'm addressed. and since I work in Internal Med and encounter cognizant patients who like the approachability a first name engenders, I'd like it stay that way.

As well, ad far as advancing the profession, nothing will make that happen faster then quality medical care and good outcomes...they're really isn't a substitute for that... Certainly not a title change or Mr PA-C.....

[Oneal]

How long has there been quality medical care an good outcomes? Is this something new that is happening to win hearts and minds?

I agree that nothing can substitute that, but to say that is all we should be doing doesn't sound logical. You can do a great job, but if you never negotiate a raise, what reason does your boss have to give you one?

[andersenpa]

How long has there been quality medical care an good outcomes? Is this something new that is happening to win hearts and minds?

I agree that nothing can substitute that, but to say that is all we should be doing doesn't sound logical. You can do a great job, but if you never negotiate a raise, what reason does your boss have to give you one?

Agree
We have provided top notch care all along

Can't keep doing the same thing and expecting better results

[Joelseff]

Agree
We have provided top notch care all along

Can't keep doing the same thing and expecting better results

+1 i dont think the establishing of a title and providing excellent care are mutually exclusive nor is the pursuit of better recognition in the healthcare arena and practice issues named by Lipper...

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[foreveryoung]

So... something to think about... when we call someone Dr, we are referring to their level of education... so should people call us Master ___? I still believe as long as we state we are a PA, first name or last name usage should be a personal choice particular to the culture each one of us practices in...

[True Anomaly]

So... something to think about... when we call someone Dr, we are referring to their level of education... so should people call us Master ___? I still believe as long as we state we are a PA, first name or last name usage should be a personal choice particular to the culture each one of us practices in...

While I am coming around on the idea of "PA (last name)", I can't get behind "Master ____". Reminds me of when I was a kid and would get cards from my grandparents addressed to "Master TA"

Just IMO

[Corpsman2PA]

Agree... but small point of clarification.

Students are still "future" members of this profession.
They still have to make it through training (Didactic & Clinicals), graduate and pass the PANCE.
While the attrition rate in programs is low, there is still a percentage that never make it to the end for various reasons and therefore never become "members of this profession" because they never work as PAs. Even though they were once PA students.

Some even re-group, get it together and complete other healthcare programs.
For example, I know of a Physician who failed out of a PA program. He says it was due to his life stressors, maturity level and the sheer volume of info at that time that caused him to fail out. Fortunately he doesn't seem to harbor any resentment against PAs for his shortcoming back before he was admitted to DO school.

I don't consider him a "member of this profession" simply because he was admitted to a PA program.

I think the better term is Representative of the profession. As a PA-s, I consider myself a representative of the profession, clearly visible to the community, family, and professionals that I interact with. My actions as a PA-s will influence the representation, promotion and exposure of the PA profession (and our school) in either a positive (or in Ernies case) negative way. We make a conscious choice to represent and identify ourselves everyday. Just as a civilian going through Marine Corps boot camp isn't a Marine until completion, we are not 'official' members of this professional community until the "s" changes to a "C"...
This is a great thread and has caused me to really get serious and thinking about patient introductions. One of the PA's I work with on a daily basis has given up on patients calling her "doctor" even after she introduces herself as a PA.

[tahi193]

I'm only a future PA student (starting in August) so I realize my opinion means very little anyone on this forum.

I can't see how saying "I'm PA Smith" is any more informative to patients than saying "I'm John Smith, a PA at this clinic." It really seems to be an issue of public awareness and I understand many PAs are trying very hard to educate the public. Nurses can say "I'm John Smith, a nurse" and physicians can say "I'm John Smith, a physician" because those professions are in the general public's vocabulary. I think as PAs become more ubiquitous and people learn that PAs are highly competent practitioners of medicine, this title problem will matter less.

Incidentally, I would support the name change as a PA because "physician assistant" is a misnomer. PAs don't exist to get the physician coffee. It would be nice (and clear up a lot of misunderstandings) if the name better reflected the job.

[Joelseff]

I'm only a future PA student (starting in August) so I realize my opinion means very little anyone on this forum.

I can't see how saying "I'm PA Smith" is any more informative to patients than saying "I'm John Smith, a PA at this clinic." It really seems to be an issue of public awareness and I understand many PAs are trying very hard to educate the public. Nurses can say "I'm John Smith, a nurse" and physicians can say "I'm John Smith, a physician" because those professions are in the general public's vocabulary. I think as PAs become more ubiquitous and people learn that PAs are highly competent practitioners of medicine, this title problem will matter less.

Incidentally, I would support the name change as a PA because "physician assistant" is a misnomer. PAs don't exist to get the physician coffee. It would be nice (and clear up a lot of misunderstandings) if the name better reflected the job.

I think although as you state It's not more informative, I believe the proponents (i am on the fence but warming up to it. Actually my extension at my new office says "PA So n So" ) are trying to establish a common salutatory for the profession. The purpose, as I see it, is for more of a formal, professional address of title. I have heard it being used by other PAs, not many, but still. In fact, I overheard one of my pts refer to me as PA So n So when she was talking to my MA. It felt a little weird, but not bad weird. Different weird.

I don't think this is as important as other issues but I like that we might have come up with/settled on a formal way to be addressed. I'd rather be called PA So n So, than Dr. So n So.....the latter always makes me break out my 30 sec spiel I memorized the first week of PA school. Actually being called Dr., which happens 9/10 times, makes me uncomfortable.

So FWIW, if you like it, use it. It's not illegal...If you don't then don't....that's not illegal either. But let's live n let live. Our profession needs more unity. It seems when an idea gets tossed out there we come up with 90 reasons why it Won't work. I have been guilty of this too.....


"kumbaya my Lord, kumbaya......"



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[tahi193]

I think although as you state It's not more informative, I believe the proponents (i am on the fence but warming up to it. Actually my extension at my new office says "PA So n So" ) are trying to establish a common salutatory for the profession. The purpose, as I see it, is for more of a formal, professional address of title.

I definitely see the importance for PAs to distinguish themselves as professionals. Sorry if I came off as attacking anyone's ideas, as that was certainly not my intention. I just think adequate public awareness would make the title unecessary. PAs already conduct themselves with a level of professionalism that makes it clear that they are indeed professionals. They're so good at it that many unsuspecting patients think they are physicians. I think if PAs keep educating people they won't need awkward titles any more than lawyers, engineers or CEOs need to be addressed by their professional titles. Physicians are still called doctor because it's a relic from the middle ages when there were only 3 professions (law, medicine, theology) and they were all called doctors.

It's funny though, in the part of the country I'm from, even people who understand the PA/physician difference often refer to both as "the doctor." Of course, I would never let a patient think I'm a medical doctor. But I think it's a matter of grammatical convenience for people to just lump all medical practitioners together as "doctors."

[andersenpa]

I definitely see the importance for PAs to distinguish themselves as professionals. Sorry if I came off as attacking anyone's ideas, as that was certainly not my intention. I just think adequate public awareness would make the title unecessary. PAs already conduct themselves with a level of professionalism that makes it clear that they are indeed professionals. They're so good at it that many unsuspecting patients think they are physicians. I think if PAs keep educating people they won't need awkward titles any more than lawyers, engineers or CEOs need to be addressed by their professional titles. Physicians are still called doctor because it's a relic from the middle ages when there were only 3 professions (law, medicine, theology) and they were all called doctors.

It's funny though, in the part of the country I'm from, even people who understand the PA/physician difference often refer to both as "the doctor." Of course, I would never let a patient think I'm a medical doctor. But I think it's a matter of grammatical convenience for people to just lump all medical practitioners together as "doctors."

Our great care and professionalism will only go so far. We've been doing that for almost 50 yrs and many people still don't know what PAs are, or what we do (practice medicine!).

We have been told by the AAPA that we have to advocate for ourselves; they are not going to pay for any national promotion. So I don't see sitting it out and waiting on more "public awareness" since we already do that everyday. We need to take it to the next level and create a BRAND the way any other major PR initiative does. A BRAND is not defined as John or Melissa or Dave or Susan. It starts and ends with a short, easy to remember title: PA.

[rcjarrell]

One of the nice things about military medicine is your introduction is based on rank. "Hello, I'm Major Killjoy. I'm one of the PAs here."

[tahi193]

Our great care and professionalism will only go so far. We've been doing that for almost 50 yrs and many people still don't know what PAs are, or what we do (practice medicine!).

We have been told by the AAPA that we have to advocate for ourselves; they are not going to pay for any national promotion. So I don't see sitting it out and waiting on more "public awareness" since we already do that everyday. We need to take it to the next level and create a BRAND the way any other major PR initiative does. A BRAND is not defined as John or Melissa or Dave or Susan. It starts and ends with a short, easy to remember title: PA.

Touché. I guess I'm hoping that PAs will become more commonplace as healthcare continues to evolve and tat will educate the public for us. However, I'm just a student who reads a lot and I'll be the first to admit that I don't know enough about being a PA yet to be throwing my opinions around. I just enjoy engaging in the discussion. It's interesting that the AAPA wants nothing to do with PR. That makes it difficult for PAs to organize any kind of widespread public education effort.