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The words we use matter, particularly for caring professionals and responsible leaders. Many thanks to the Association of Family Medicine Residency Directors (1) for officially discouraging the use of the pernicious P-word – “provider.” (2) The term “provider” has become a corporatespeak tool to dehumanize and commoditize both professionals and patients. A provider feels more impersonal than a doctor, nurse practitioner, or counselor. The impersonal becomes the interchangeable, more manageable, and more profitable. Provider contracts are more manageable than caring relationships. (3) The peril of “provider” is a problem we share across medical specialties (4) and healthcare professions (5), and with the patients and communities we serve. (3) All will be better served if we reject generalized labels in favor of language that is accurate, descriptive, transparent, and caring. (6)
References
1. Diaz KM, Johnson KE. “Physician,” not “provider.” Ann Fam Med 2022;20:582. https://doi.org/10.1370/afm.2913.
2. Phillips WR. The P-word should be professional, not provider [Comment]. Beasley JW, Roberts RG, Goroll AH. Promoting trust and morale by changing how the word provider is used. Encouraging specificity and transparency. JAMA. 2021; published online May 28. DOI:10.1001/jama.2021.6046. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34047757/
3. Phillips WR. Watching our words. Washington Family Physician. 2021; (Spring):12. https://wafp.net
4. Beasley JW, Roberts RG, Goroll AH. Promoting trust and morale by changing how the word provider is used. Encouraging specificity and transparency. JAMA. 2021; published online May 28. DOI:10.1001/jama.2021.6046. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34047757/
5. Phillips WR. PA Provider or professional? JAAPA. 2022;35(12)8.
DOI: 10.1097/01.JAA.0000892744.97285.d3. https://journals.lww.com/jaapa/pages/currenttoc.aspx
6. Michelfelder AJ, Myerholtz L, Cuba J, Vlasses F. Say this instead. Fam Med. 2021;53(10):904-5. DOI: 10.22454/FamMed.2021.719266. https://journals.stfm.org/media/4441/prescol-nov-dec21.pdf