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Is the term intensivist typically reserved for a residency trained physician or would a PA refer to themselves as an "Intensivist PA"? Similar concept to Cardiologist being a residency trained physician, but a PA would just say Cardiology PA (not cardiologist PA). If your speciality is in an ICU or critical care setting, how do you refer to yourself in a manner that includes your speciality? Critical Care PA?

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an intensivist is usually a physician who did a critical care/pulmonology residency. The term refers to the physician who is managing the ICU/SICU/MICU etc. A PA in this setting is usually just called a critical care PA. That same physician working in his outpatient pulm practice would be a pulmonologist in that setting, i would figure. so to answer your question a PA is not technically an intensivist, but can have one as their supervisor.

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I guess it really depends on where (geogrpahically) you work. I know of a fair number of critical care jobs where the job title is "PA Intensivist" and the team that manages patients is made up of some combination of MD Intensivists, PA Intensivists, and NP Intensivists.

 

Also, MD Critical Care programs are fellowships, not residencies, and not all programs are pulm/CC, many are straight CC or another flavor of CC.

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While I think monikers that denotes "one who studies" or "the study of" like pulmonologist, anesthesiologist, cardiologist, is for those with doctorate degrees, I think that "intensivist," "anesthetist," "internist," "generalist," can be used by anyone. For example, it's well known in anesthesia that an anesthetist can be an AA, CRNA, or MDA. We also all know that no one gets pissed when we call ourselves generalist.

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I have identified myself as a geriatrician in the past when doing geri house calls

I do not subscribe the notion that doc's are the only one's who can use these words to describe what we do  We should openly and frequently use these descriptions as they accurately describe what we do... 

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