SoCal_PA Posted March 11, 2017 Share Posted March 11, 2017 A simple question. Are you for or against a name change? If yes, why and what title would you prefer? If no, why? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8404PA Posted March 12, 2017 Share Posted March 12, 2017 I was always kind of partial to Paraphysician. Doesn't have the ambiguity of Medical Practitioner, which is akin to NP. But for simplicity I would make sure if anything was changed, maintaining the PA acronym is important I think. On changing the name I'm like at a yes:no ratio of 50.9:49.1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marktheshark89 Posted March 12, 2017 Share Posted March 12, 2017 I prefer medical practitioner Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeteK777 Posted March 12, 2017 Share Posted March 12, 2017 Meh. It just doesn't bother me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lyndhurst Posted March 12, 2017 Share Posted March 12, 2017 In the world of things to worry about this is way down the list. They could call us any name they want if they put us on parity with NPs and allowed free practice rights. It isnt our name that is holding us back. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G920A using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hustleforthePAC Posted March 12, 2017 Share Posted March 12, 2017 I'm for physican associate, helps eliminate confusion between pas and mas therefore helping to build long term trust with patient. Ultimately it'll be the hardwork of the PA that builds rapport and long term trust with the pt but a name change sure would help. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UpRegulated Posted March 12, 2017 Share Posted March 12, 2017 In a year or two, when I rule the world, :) there will be three titles: MD, DO, MP. The latter being a "medical provider" and used by both PA's and NP's in areas of general medicine (family, peds, adult/IM, urgent care, women's health, ED) after 3-5 years of experience and passing a rigorous specialty national examination respective to each specialty. Physician Assistant does not accurately reflect the advanced training and abilities that PA's have. Too many patients see "Physician Assistant" as "nurse" or even worse, "medical assistant." How is a PA "assisting" a physician when they have been taking care of a patient for 2 years that has 8 different chronic issues when the "SP" has never even laid eyes on them? The PA title makes sense historically, but not now. I don't think Physician Associate works well either. Isn't a physician associate a physician? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8404PA Posted March 12, 2017 Share Posted March 12, 2017 In a year or two, when I rule the world, :) there will be three titles: MD, DO, MP. The latter being a "medical provider" and used by both PA's and NP's in areas of general medicine I reject your premise of lumping PA and NP into MP. There's little that could be more damaging to our profession (enter overthehorizion). " Hi I'm MP Smith, not the nurse type". I'm almost laughing out loud how dumb and masochist I think that is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
overthehorizen Posted March 12, 2017 Share Posted March 12, 2017 I reject your premise of lumping PA and NP into MP. There's little that could be more damaging to our profession (enter overthehorizion). " Hi I'm MP Smith, not the nurse type". I'm almost laughing out loud how dumb and masochist I think that is. So many on this forum want to go toe to toe with NPs to show "we're better than you." NPs don't even notice us. The footsteps all of you PAs hear behind you are those of the NPs. They aren't coming to get you. They are coming to run past you to take the next hill; state 24 in their quest for 50 state independence. We are arguing about hours of HCE and swapping war stories about who has the most testosterone and biggest cajones. Look out over the horizen with some insight into the future. We need a 50 state strategy for independent practice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator EMEDPA Posted March 12, 2017 Moderator Share Posted March 12, 2017 anything that gets rid of assistant is a good start. I like physician associate because it maintains the initials PA, but would be ok with other suggestions out there like clinical associate, advanced practice provider, etc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reality Check 2 Posted March 12, 2017 Share Posted March 12, 2017 The name Physician ASSISTANT is strangling us right now - we have evolved - the name did not. I like the idea of keeping PA and changing to Physician Associate. I can't keep up with the political correct concepts of APP - Advanced Practice Provider --- NPP - NONPhysician Provider --- HATE midlevel - sounds like a haircut. Associate Physician really doesn't clarify that we aren't Physicians. Medical Provider is too close to Healthcare Provider which includes everyone. MP to me means Military Police or Mitral Prolapse. I AM a Primary Care Provider but not all PAs are - so, scratch that. A patient of Mexican origin called me her Medica - not La Doctora - so I wonder if that was a compliment or accurate. By the time a change happens with all the legislation and changes of letterhead and every piece of legislation in every state - I might be retired. A name does not make us what we are but I think it could help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cg02186 Posted March 12, 2017 Share Posted March 12, 2017 anything that gets rid of assistant is a good start. I like physician associate because it maintains the initials PA, but would be ok with other suggestions out there like clinical associate, advanced practice provider, etc Throughout all my rotations, I have almost exclusively heard PAs/NPs lumped together and called Advanced Practice Providers. On schedules in the ER and on the call list it simply lists APP and then Joe Smith, PA or whatever. The badges have them labeled as APP on top and only list their actual credential of PA or NP under their name. If it's any consolation, on the interviews I've attended for job openings for an "APP" I was told by the medical directors, practice managers, and recruiters that they have a preference for PAs. Granted this was for ER and surgical specialties and doubt it applies throughout other specialities, OB/GYN and Peds especially. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roger777 Posted March 12, 2017 Share Posted March 12, 2017 I actually really like ParaPhysician which I heard for the first time yesterday, but it may be seen as too radical a change. I agree that the term assistant is not good because it encourages the belief that we are assistants. I would be fine with it just being PA and not standing for anything. Physician associate comes across as a bit of a non sequitur, but would do as long as it would encourage the use of "PA." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corpsman89 Posted March 12, 2017 Share Posted March 12, 2017 The logical change is a switch to Physician Associate, similar to our UK counterparts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avalon Posted March 12, 2017 Share Posted March 12, 2017 Recent experience is informative here. I am in a GYN-only practice where the CP is on-site approximately 8 hours per week and prefers, at this pont in her career, to see only surgical cases. That means I see everyone else. As I have been in this position only one year, the majority of the practice's patients do not yet know me. I am the first PA in this practice that has had 4-5 NP's previously. Last week I saw two of the physician's long term patients, both for problem visits (menorrhagia and prolapse). For each patient, her care included chart review, HPI, physical exam, ordering of testing and imaging, explaining my findings and suspicions, discussion of possible management options, and arranging follow-up appointments. When I asked the patients to finally dress and proceed to the front office for scheduling, each looked confused and asked, "But I have to see the doctor now." No, I, explained - she is actually in another state (as she is every Thursday through Monday). Again - this is after a very complete HPI, exam, and plan of care has been devised and fully explained to each patient. I can only imagine the word "assistant" accounts for their confusion. If I am only assisting, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TWR Posted March 12, 2017 Share Posted March 12, 2017 UpRegulated, as a noun Physician "associate" is an accurate description. as·so·ci·ate1 verb synonyms: link, connect, relate, identify, equate, bracket; More connect (someone or something) with something else in one's mind: noun synonyms: partner, colleague, coworker, workmate, comrade, ally; More a partner or colleague in business or at work: a person with limited or subordinate membership in an organization. a concept connected with another. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator ventana Posted March 12, 2017 Moderator Share Posted March 12, 2017 ANYTHING that gets rid of ASSISTANT!!!! This name simply does us harm professionally!! I think Physician Associate makes the most sense as it preserves the PA name..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Paula Posted March 12, 2017 Share Posted March 12, 2017 Licensed Medical Practitioner, PA-C (Physician Associate - C) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PA-C Posted March 12, 2017 Share Posted March 12, 2017 I am supportive of changing our name. I think my top choice would be changing Physician Assistant to Physician Associate. Word choice is significant. The words a person chooses to use don’t just express thought; they shape thought. The word “assistant” carries a very different connotation than the word “associate.” An assistant is a person who helps a higher-ranking member of a professional team perform his or her job, whereas an associate is someone who can perform the job in question in his or her own right. If the “A” in PA continues to stand for “assistant,” we are continuing to shape the minds of those outside of our profession (legislators, hospital/practice administrators, etc.) to think that we are less competent than we are. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator True Anomaly Posted March 12, 2017 Moderator Share Posted March 12, 2017 I figured it was about time again for this argument to resurface :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TX2GA Jake Posted March 12, 2017 Share Posted March 12, 2017 If it where easy to make the change, I would vote for Medical Practitioner. It would provide equal footing with NP's and it accurately describes the profession. However, I think Physician Associate is a more logistically easy change that gets away from the "assistant" ball and chain while still allowing the PA title. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joelseff Posted March 13, 2017 Share Posted March 13, 2017 Title change has to go together with FPAR or else it's just window dressing. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BruceBanner Posted March 13, 2017 Share Posted March 13, 2017 I think Medical Practitioner or Physician Associate works best. In my organization we are referred to as Advanced Practice Providers (while all the docs continue to use "midlevels"). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmiller3 Posted March 13, 2017 Share Posted March 13, 2017 I don't like Para-Physician at all. Would we be known as PPs? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8404PA Posted March 13, 2017 Share Posted March 13, 2017 I don't like Para-Physician at all. Would we be known as PPs? Eh, still PA. just the PA part comes from the ParAphysician or some such thing. Just spitball'n, end-the-day who cares what I think :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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