I recently ordered an ECG along with routine blood work for a patient who needed a pre-op workup. I received the ECG results today with the interpretation by the cardiologist. I thought it was funny and sad that he felt the need to cross out the default "Dr." preceding my name on the report. Of course, I am not a "doctor" as in physician, nor do I ever purport to be. I will soon have my doctorate in nursing practice (7 months to go!) but that will have no impact on how I interact with my patients or colleagues. I wish reports, and even prescription bottles for that matter, correctly referred to the credentials of the ordering clinician. Our patients should be able to identify their clinician without further confusion. But until then, I guess providers will self enforce who gets to be called "Dr." I can't help but to imagine a rogue pharmacist crossing out the "Dr." on every prescription label for prescriptions that are written by non-physicians. Surely, we have better things to do with our limited time and resources....right?
There is an interesting trend that I'm observing and don't necessarily see how this is going to turn out. I'm seeing more and more nurse practitioner's opening their own autonomous practices. Many of these offices set out to offer care that is personalized, covered under insurance, and of course high-quality. I'm also seeing more NP specialty/sub-specialty practices such as house calls, incontinence, and women's health. This is in a time when more physician practices are joining together in these conglomerations that aren't necessarily tied to hospitals. You'd be hard pressed to find a solo primary care physician these days yet nurse practitioner solo practices are popping up. The talk about the formation of accountable care organizations can be attributed to health care reform and the spurring of large multi-physician practices. What to make of this? I honestly don't know. Many people and patients have said to me "you should start your own prac...
Comments
hang in there Stephen, you could stand on your head for seven months if you had to !~!
I think when you finish you may have to talk to this guy if he does that same thing again, you earned it.
Stephen
Jaisysonny@gmail.com
I would tell him quickly but that is my nature Stephen.
I have witnessed multiple episodes where nurses told me if not for your pleasant yet assertive measures-pt would have had an adverse outcome.
- NP -former employee of Stephen Ferrara
for any one reading Stephen is an especially talented NP who started and ran successfully NP clinics which are under CVS.
For all of you that may not be familiar Stephen started a successful model of NP run clinics that are now under CVS. I was his employee for a short while. he is incredibly smart very and talented.
If that happened to me I 'd call him/ her on it.
I usually ignore those ignorant offences but legally that is a doc that is a means of communication and it's up to you to correct it. He can also let medical records know or QA but ...
E. Murray FNP