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DPT? - October 9, 2007 10:40:43 AM
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ChrisMSPT
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Qusetion about the DPT, are we able to call our selfs Dr. so and so, I have a coupled of new grads that introduce themselves as dr.'s, is that proper? I know that we have a doctorate level status, but are we confusing our patients by calling ourselves doctor? Just a thought
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RE: DPT? - October 9, 2007 12:42:38 PM
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Tom Reeves DPT ATC
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I think it is confusing and unnecessary and pretentious. In a health care setting the MD/DO are doctors and we are doctors of physical therapy. "Hi, I am Tom, a physical therapist" Not "Hi, I'm Doctor Reeves". That implies to my layperson patient that I can catch medical disease states like kidney failure, prescribe meds, inject shoulders, and order MRIs.
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RE: DPT? - October 9, 2007 1:12:36 PM
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orthotherapist
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I agree with Tom. Let your skills speak and not you "title".
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RE: DPT? - October 9, 2007 2:06:53 PM
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VagusX
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From: Savannah, GA, USA
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Ask the new grads if they want to sound like chiropractors?
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RE: DPT? - October 9, 2007 2:07:49 PM
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jlharris
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We are. In fact the APTA's stance (atleast the last one they put out) is that it is up to the individual to decide.
I disagree slightly with Tom. In a hospital setting going as "Dr. suchandsuch" could be confusing. But in a clinic setting there is no doubt what you are. NOTE- I don't introduce myself as Dr. Harris, but don't rush to correct the few patients that do call me doctor. There are MANY Dr.'s out there (OD, PharmD, DC, DDS, etc) and they ALL go by doctor and no one seems to get confused in a clinic setting. I'm not sure why we, as a profession, feel we must always apologise for our knowledge and expertise. <Tangent>Most likely reason MD's still hold control over us and why we can't shrug off the crap coming from Chiros</tangent>
_____________________________
Jason L. Harris, PT, DPT
My PT Blog
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RE: DPT? - October 9, 2007 3:10:57 PM
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Tom Reeves DPT ATC
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Jason,
You actually said what I would have said in an expanded post. I wasn't able to get into it at time. I wholeheartedly agree about the DC thing. I also do not introduce myself as dr reeves but don't correct people when they call me doctor. The DC arguement is that they are "real doctors" I actually had a local DC refer a patient to me and the DC said, that we should be a team, I would do the therapist and trainer stuff and he would do the doctor stuff. No ****. it was all i could do not to laugh right there.
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RE: DPT? - October 9, 2007 6:17:26 PM
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jlharris
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Tom,
To true about chiros and "doctor" (at least around the midwest). A family friend just graduated from Palmer and she referred to herself and other DC's she was working with simply as "doctor". "The doctor adjusted x, y, z". I guess it's better then "physician" as many around here and forcing their way into being referred to as. If you wanted to be a physician, go to medical school. Or, as my wife likes to say: "If you want to be a captain, go to captain school".
_____________________________
Jason L. Harris, PT, DPT
My PT Blog
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RE: DPT? - October 9, 2007 10:39:37 PM
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PTupdate.com
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In the PT clinic, perhaps using "Doctor" in the title will not cause too much confusion (although I introduce myself to everybody simply as "Duffy", and still many think I'm a physician-go figure). But, in the hospital setting, with the typical egoistic new grad, wearing scrubs and a steth around their neck, saying "I'm Dr. Dickhead", there may be some confusion.
_____________________________
John M. Duffy, PT
Board Certified Orthopaedic Clinical Specialist
www.PTupdate.com
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RE: DPT? - October 9, 2007 10:40:57 PM
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PTupdate.com
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And Dear God, for the second time in a few months, I agreed with Tom Reeves on something!!! I'll wash my mouth out with soap and give myself an enema before bed
_____________________________
John M. Duffy, PT
Board Certified Orthopaedic Clinical Specialist
www.PTupdate.com
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RE: DPT? - October 9, 2007 11:21:58 PM
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blast7
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quote:
ORIGINAL: jlharris
We are. In fact the APTA's stance (atleast the last one they put out) is that it is up to the individual to decide.
The APTA's stance is that it is up to the individual to introduce themselves as "Doctor of Physical Therapy" not just "Doctor".
And on a tangent I find it confusing as a practitioner when taking a history from a patient they keep telling me they've been going to Dr. so and so to check out this and that and then finally I find out they are a chiropractor. I may be a little simple minded, or a lot, but if I find it confusing at times then patients must as well.
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RE: DPT? - October 9, 2007 11:43:07 PM
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Kaden
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Blast
I agree patients/public may find the whole "doctor" thing confusing but most patients find are entire profession confusing at times. Our profession is very eccletic and probably why most people would give you 100 different answers when asked what a PT does but not react the same when asked to describe what a chirpractor does. This eccletic nature of our job makes getting the public to understand how many skills we do have very difficult. And probably why we are not often looked at as a point of entry clinician.
I feel the "doctor" situation is a great chance to start to educate our patients, public in general,etc how skilled we are and how much education we have. Whenever we have the chance to educate those about the profession we should take the chance. We should not be shy about our level of skill and education and hopefully the profession will reap the rewards
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RE: DPT? - October 10, 2007 6:35:50 AM
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ginger
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I remember when graduating as a physiotherapist in the eighties, the grand dame of physio in australia , Patricia Cosh, was giving us our last talking to. She emphasised the responsibilities and priveledges of our new status. The joys and pleasures of meeting the needs of our patients, as well as the power of having a position of considerable rank amongst our fellow graduates as well as the general public. I see no way that the perception of physiotherapists , by the public , would be enhanced by the prefix doctor. During my clinical life I have had few occasions to feel lesser than any of those working alongside us in hospitals , including those who are trained as medical practitioners. In most clinical settings , we are the leaders in rehab, those with most skill in movement dynamics and its restoration . taking on a title merely to seek status with those who are working alongside us seems a ridiculous and unworthy attention seeking act .
To do so would blunt and render sterile the noteworthy and powerful position gained by many who have gone before us all . People of principal , of passion , dedicated to the position of trust patients placed in them. I firmly believe that to seek agrandisement by title, is professional misconduct of the kind only those who lack character would bother with.
However, if you really want to fullfill that grand dream of rising above your fellow therapists , I feel it is only right that I allow anyone who wishes , to assume the title of Grand Pediculator. merit may be gained by simply sending me , in a plain sealed envelope, say ,a couple of grand. ( in new notes please, I hate dirty money )
_____________________________
Ubi est mea anaticula cumminosa?
The Grand Pediculator
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RE: DPT? - October 10, 2007 6:42:55 AM
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SJBird55
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Ging... did you change your email address? I've been trying to snag your attention, but you haven't responded either by a private message OR email... are you ignoring me??
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RE: DPT? - October 10, 2007 10:07:45 AM
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AdamP
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I have a name plate on my desk that says Dr. Adam Pennell (my mom got that for graduation). Otherwise, I don't introduce myself as doctor for several reasons. First, there are other PTs here that don't have doctorates and by introducing myself as doctor the patients get the impression that I am a better PT than the people I work with and I am smart enough to realize that the credential change doesn't make me a better PT than someone with 20 years experience. Another reason is the confusion this creates. I don't think DC's should go by doctors, but they don't follow the same rules as the medical community, so they may do as they wish (it doesn't make it right for me to do so). Now if a friend calls me I often say (in a deep voice) "hello, this is doctor Pennell" they always get a kick out of it.
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RE: DPT? - October 10, 2007 2:31:50 PM
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jlharris
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From: Nebraska
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I lied. I do call myself "Dr. Harris" on occasion. It's when I page my wife (she's a "real" doctor), they call me back stating: "Did someone page Dr. Harris". I love saying, "Yes, this is Dr. Harris, is she available". Was more fun early on, but now all the nurses know who I am and just hang up on me!
To echo Blast7, when asking a new pt re: x-rays, I often get the answer of "I have and was told by the doctor I had (fill in you favorite non-physiologic chiro diagnosis)" I then have to ask if was a chiro or an MD that told them that in order to weed out any non-reliable information (mostly b/c x-rays read be a DC tend to be done only to Dx chiro specific issues and not ICD-9 type Dx).
_____________________________
Jason L. Harris, PT, DPT
My PT Blog
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RE: DPT? - October 10, 2007 2:47:21 PM
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bonez
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This has always been a real hang up so how about some definitions.
The New Websters Encyclopedic Dictionary of The English Language. There the first definition is"A teacher; A learned man A person who has received this degree from a university being thus doctor of___.
Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary 31 st ed 1) A practioner of the healing arts who has received a degree from a college of medicine, osteopathy, chiropractic, optometry, podiatry, pharmacy, dentistry, or veterinary medicine lcened to practice by state. 2) a holder of a diploma of the highest degree form a university, qualified as a specialist in a particular field of learning.
As you can see many people can hold the title it is all about frame of reference. Back in the day we thought only Phd' s could hold the title.
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RE: DPT? - October 10, 2007 2:51:46 PM
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blast7
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Kaden
Our profession is very eccletic and probably why most people would give you 100 different answers when asked what a PT does but not react the same when asked to describe what a chirpractor does.
I certainly have to agree with you on this one. I think it also gets quite confusing as you have ATC's, Massage Therapists, and Occupational Therapists where the public may misconstrue what each one does and what they are legally allowed to do.
I recently had a patient in the hospital s/p bankart repair and was teaching her some exercises to perform. An older woman with the patient told me that the patient will be fine because this older woman is a massage therapist and "does physical therapy". I corrected the woman and, while working with the patient in the next bed over, heard the woman whisper to the patient that she will give her a new program that she does with her patients. Now this is just one scenario. How many other people out there are doing this. This is why I can't stress enough the importance of APTA membership.
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RE: DPT? - October 10, 2007 7:01:15 PM
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ginger
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From: Melbourne Victoria
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Birdie, have sent you PM's but you don't get em, your other mails may get filtered, but try agin today if you would at fishergn@hotmail.com
Happy Halloween Y'all.
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Printable Version
All Forums >> [RehabEdge Forum] >> Open Forum >> DPT? 
maybe we don't disagree as much as you think, If you would just learn how to treat patello-femoral syndrome, you would be getting it all right