Noz Posted July 7, 2020 Share Posted July 7, 2020 I like to use the proper medical address when talking to Health Professionals. I currently am going through knee difficulties again and the medical professional in charge of my case is a Physicians Assistant. In the presence of several nurses, I called him Doctor. When he was no longer present one of the elder nurses corrected me. "He is not a Doctor he is a Physicians Assistant" Then tell me how to address him if I am not supposed to call him Dr.? "Call him Todd. That's what everyone else calls him" Just don't seem right to me? Suggestions? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kid Rich Posted July 7, 2020 Share Posted July 7, 2020 Sounds like she got her panties in a wad. kR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Riot Posted July 7, 2020 Share Posted July 7, 2020 I have never been comfortable calling a doctor or a PA by their first name. I have called PAs “doctor”. I have had PAs tell me that they are not doctors. I always respond with “Well, you’re my doctor and that’s how I see it.” I did have a nurse tell me not to call my PA “doctor”. I told her I will call her what I like unless she corrects me. The nurse them told me that my PA reports to a doctor. I told the nurse that I had never seen this mythical being and my PA is my “doctor“. She walked out in a huff. I have a primary care doctor that I like. She is a young new doctor. Apparently she is not “doctor” enough to be my primary care physician according to some bureaucrats at the medical center where I see her. I was told my doctor “is only a consulting physician and that she reports to a doctor Walker who is your primary care doctor.” I told the desk jockey that said this to me that “Dr Walker can pound sand. I have never seen him and he has never seen me. He is not my doctor and if you insist on this tack I will go else where.” Recently I found out that Dr Walker was inquiring about my condition through my Orthopedic back surgeon I told him not to tell Dr Walker anything. He is not my doctor. I am now looking for a new primary care physician. Screw medical bureaucrats! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Original Lumpy Gritz Posted July 7, 2020 Share Posted July 7, 2020 As a patient, the only MD that I ever called by his first name, was a longtime friend that I helped put through medical school. OLG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forty Rod SASS 3935 Posted July 7, 2020 Share Posted July 7, 2020 Fall back on Marine Corps useages and call any medical corpsman or woman or nurse or anyone else who cares for you "Doc". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Linn Keller, SASS 27332, BOLD 103 Posted July 7, 2020 Share Posted July 7, 2020 Forty has the right of it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dusty Boots Posted July 7, 2020 Share Posted July 7, 2020 I have asked 2-3 PAs how they would like to be addressed, all said “call me by my name”. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Father Kit Cool Gun Garth Posted July 7, 2020 Share Posted July 7, 2020 If I called my Physician Associate Todd, she would either look at me funny, slap me, or both! Her name is Amanda. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
South-Eye Ned Posted July 7, 2020 Share Posted July 7, 2020 My regular internist is a doctor and is probably 35, but looks 12. I call him, “doc”. I go to a PA to have these skin patches and skin rags removed and I call her, “Diana”. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocWard Posted July 7, 2020 Share Posted July 7, 2020 My response would likely be something along the lines of "I'll call him 'Doctor,' 'Doc,' 'Ma'am' or 'Sir' as I feel appropriate. Just as I'll call my nurse 'Nurse,' 'Ma'am' or 'Sir,' as I feel appropriate. The education and licensure means to me the respect is earned. If, and only if, he insists I call him by his first name will I do so." I recently became friends on Facebook with my old commanding officer. I called him "Sir," and he asked me not to. My response was "You'll have to pardon me, but 'Sir' is a tern of civility and respect for me, even beyond the military aspect. It is a challenge for me to not utilize the term in most situations. This is true when I do not know a person, but also particularly in those times I hold a person in some esteem, so to the extent I utilize it in our conversations, do keep the latter in mind." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocWard Posted July 7, 2020 Share Posted July 7, 2020 2 hours ago, Pat Riot, SASS #13748 said: I have a primary care doctor that I like. She is a young new doctor. Apparently she is not “doctor” enough to be my primary care physician according to some bureaucrats at the medical center where I see her. I was told my doctor “is only a consulting physician and that she reports to a doctor Walker who is your primary care doctor.” I told the desk jockey that said this to me that “Dr Walker can pound sand. I have never seen him and he has never seen me. He is not my doctor and if you insist on this tack I will go else where.” Recently I found out that Dr Walker was inquiring about my condition through my Orthopedic back surgeon I told him not to tell Dr Walker anything. He is not my doctor. I am now looking for a new primary care physician. Screw medical bureaucrats! I think I would be right with you. If I couldn't pick him out in a crowd, and he do the same, he ain't my doctor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
South-Eye Ned Posted July 8, 2020 Share Posted July 8, 2020 Post Script: I don’t like pretentiousness. I have some letters that come after my name based on my profession, but I don’t use them outside my work. I went to a seminar and one of the speakers had the following after her name “, PHD-ABD”. I was a bit dumbfounded because I didn’t know what ABD was, so I looked it up. It’s “All But Dissertation”. She was saying, “I’m a PHD, except I didn’t write my thesis”, meaning she ain’t a friggin’ PHD. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdeacon Joe Posted July 8, 2020 Share Posted July 8, 2020 On first greeting one, it's "Doctor." If we develop a good relationship it will often be "Doc Surname." I've called PAs "Doctor" without them correcting me. Nurses are "Nurse Surname" (if I can read it on their nametag), or "Ma'am" or "Sir." If they insist I will use their given name. As Doc said above, I use "Sir" and "Ma'am" or "Miss" as a common courtesy, unless I have been told otherwise. Even then I'll often revert to those forms out of habit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MizPete Posted July 8, 2020 Share Posted July 8, 2020 6 hours ago, The Original Lumpy Gritz said: the only MD that I ever called by his first name, was a longtime friend Taking my Mama to the doctor in her later years was an adventure. She was a nurse, and they had worked together for decades. We'd walk in, she'd say "now, Frank....." and tell him what was wrong with her & what she expected to be done about it. Being raised by her & my Aunt Gerry, also a nurse, I apologize to new (to me) doctors & give them the option to opt out. And I have a great deal of respect for PA's and NP's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-BAR #18287 Posted July 8, 2020 Share Posted July 8, 2020 Maybe, “Bones?” Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickasaw Bill SASS #70001 Posted July 8, 2020 Share Posted July 8, 2020 well I just call the PA , (VA ) Doc , or Maam . most of the nurses Maam , the guys Sir even tho , several have said , I am way to formal , respect is a 2 way street CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smoken D Posted July 8, 2020 Share Posted July 8, 2020 I call one at V.A. "Blood Sucker", she sucks all the blood out of me she can. (Especially in October for Halloween as I accuse her) The other is Doc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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