Who Qualifies as a Reference?

[chasingthatPAdream]

Hi all,

I am currently in the job search market and have to put down references. In the past 3.5 years, I worked only with 2 physicians: my SP and another doctor. As I left his clinic while short staffed, I do not want to put my SP down as a reference. I am putting down the other doctor as a reference, but that is only 1 provider. 

My question is, may I put down another medical professional who has never worked with me but is a personal friend of mine? He is a pathologist.

Thank you for your input/reply.

[CAAdmission]

Unless the other end is specifying who you need to use, I'd imagine you are free to use anyone you like. The questionnaire will ask them for the nature of their relationship with you. 

[Reality Check 2]

Have you worked peripherally with any specialists who like your referrals, have commented on your notes or talk to you frequently?

Is there anyone you have considered a mentor or colleague of frequent interaction?

Would these folks be references?

Just a thought

[ventana]

I have commonly used specialists I send my patients to (PA's)

 

I think they likely have a better grasp on my practice ability then someone I share and office with

 

With the Commissions requirements to now have recommendations for credentialing everyone has to give them....

[SedRate]

Good suggestions above.

If it's a personal reference, I put down folks who are professionals and I know would speak highly of me. If they specifically request a professional reference, I put down folks I've worked with like SP, colleagues, director, etc., who would speak highly of me. Sometimes they're the same people, if that makes sense.

[SedRate]

2 minutes ago, ventana said:

With the Commissions requirements to now have recommendations for credentialing everyone has to give them....

What do you mean? 

[ventana]

For credentialing in a hospital the commission suggests peer references.   Huge PIA.  

[sas5814]

1 hour ago, ventana said:

For credentialing in a hospital the commission suggests peer references.   Huge PIA.  

I ran into this when I recredentialed this year. I work in a remote clinic with me and 5 physicians. They wanted peer references which they took to mean other PAs. I told them there were none. I know hundreds of PAs but I don't work with them.

Somehow they figured it out.

[SedRate]

2 hours ago, ventana said:

For credentialing in a hospital the commission suggests peer references.   Huge PIA.  

Huge PIA indeed, but it's not a new thing. This has always been a requirement, at least since I've been in practice. Were references not required when you started practicing?

[Reality Check 2]

In govt work you have to provide references every year or two - people who know you and have seen your work, can't necessarily be a supervisor - loaded request.

I also have to provide people who have known my whereabouts for three years in case I have been running illegal businesses in other countries............. or been an international assassin or something. Character references.

Okie dokie. 

But I have used specialists with whom I have a good rapport and history. Excellent reflections on my clinical capacity.

Pretty soon - the computer chip in my neck containing all pertinent data.......

[sas5814]

I am now selling references as a side hustle. My venmo is @easymoney. $200 for every year I have to attest to your skill and wonderful personality.

[SedRate]

2 hours ago, Reality Check 2 said:

Pretty soon - the computer chip in my neck containing all pertinent data.......

I'd prefer this as credentialing paperwork is the bane of my existence. 

[Reality Check 2]

Shall we start the fill in the blank forms now?....

Here are some suggestions.

Today is my Friday and I am more than a little punchy about now.

Just for fun...........

1. “Since my last report, this employee has reached rock-bottom and has started to dig.”

2. “I would not allow this employee to breed.”

3. “This employee is really not so much of a has-been, but more of a definite won’t be.”

4. “Works well when under constant supervision and cornered like a rat in a trap.”

5. “When she opens her mouth, it seems that it is only to change feet.”

6. “This young lady has delusions of adequacy.”

7. “He sets low personal standards and then consistently fails to achieve them.”

8. “This employee is depriving a village somewhere of an idiot.”

9. “This employee should go far, and the sooner he starts, the better.”

10. “Got a full 6-pack, but lacks the plastic thing to hold it all together.”

11. “A gross ignoramus — 144 times worse than an ordinary ignoramus.”

12. “He doesn’t have ulcers, but he’s a carrier.”

15. “He’s been working with glue too much.”

16. “He would argue with a signpost.”

17. “He brings a lot of joy whenever he leaves the room.”

18. “When his IQ reaches 50, he should sell.”

19. “If you see two people talking and one looks bored, he’s the other one.”

20. “A photographic memory but with the lens cover glued on.”

21. “A prime candidate for natural de-selection.”

22. “Donated his brain to science before he was done using it.”

23. “Gates are down, the lights are flashing, but the train isn’t coming.”

24. “He’s got two brains cells, one is lost and the other is out looking for it.”

25. “If he were any more stupid, he’d have to be watered twice a week.”

26. “If you give him a penny for his thoughts, you’d get change.”

27. “If you stand close enough to him, you can hear the ocean.”

28. “It’s hard to believe he beat out 1,000,000 other sperm.”

29. “One neuron short of a synapse.”

30. “Some drink from the fountain of knowledge; he only gargled.”

31. “Takes him 2 hours to watch ’60 Minutes’.”

32. “The wheel is turning, but the hamster is dead.”

[UGoLong]

When applying for another job, it is not expected that your supervisor would need to be a reference.

You're in a people-centered job; just think broadly about references. As stated above, providers in other specialties might be a fruitful source.

Edited May 16, 2023 by UGoLong