OK...its happened. I said it would.... From my talk/article “Don’t Let Them Take Your Mind and Spirit: On Being Called a ‘Provider’” (see www.thenationalcoalition.org for the full text) - the part quoted below was referring to how the managed care industry aims to change our thinking by using the word “provider,” and the impact it will have on people, treatment, and the professions - and the insidious ways it will creep into our daily vocabulary, and the purposes it will serve the managed care industry - In 1997, I wrote: “...the use of the word “provider” leads others to see all those who give care as “interchangeable parts.” It becomes easier to think that any “provider” can deliver any “product” or perform any “service.” One will be less apt in the future to ask for a social worker, a psychologist, a psychiatrist. One will ask for a “provider” and will be assigned a “provider,” with the covert implication that each “provider” is equivalent to and interchangeable with every other “provider.”

Yesterday, I had a call from my daughter, Debbie. She related the following events, which had just occurred. My grandson will be due for his six-month check-up soon, and Debbie was calling to make an appointment. My son-in-law is a Navy doctor, so this was the health care facility on base - not an insurance company per se, but managed care nonetheless.

The conversation Debbie reported went something like this:

Debbie: I’d like to make an appointment with Dr. Jones for my son.

Clerk: I have appointments available for August 17 and 18 at such and such times.

Debbie: OK...August 18th is good.

Clerk: OK, I’ll put you down for August 18th. You’ll see Provider Smith.

Debbie: Who is “Provider” Smith?

Clerk: She is your Care Manager that day.

Debbie: What is “Provider” Smith?

Clerk: She is a nurse practitioner.

Debbie: I want to see Dr. Jones. She is my son’s pediatrician.

Clerk: I’ll have to see if Provider Jones will see you........

Clerk, a minute or so later: OK, Provider Jones will see you that day.

Debbie’s husband is a physician in the military and he and Debbie know Dr. Jones, and she’s seen the baby before, so Dr. Jones knew who was asking to see her.  So Dr. Jones will see her fellow physician’s son, but for others who call to see Dr. Jones, Provider Smith and Provider Jones will be spoken of as if they are equivalent, and Provider Smith is who they will get.

So....Dr. Jones will see Dr. Elliott’s son...but for most others who call to see Dr. Jones, Provider Smith and Provider Jones will be spoken of as if they are equivalent, and Provider Smith is who they will get.