Together, the loss of autonomy, the shift to a task-based focus, the increasing pressures on physicians, and their devaluation as “providers” all contribute to the high rates of burnout currently experienced by attending physicians and residents, and the growing number of physicians who are leaving clinical practice. Use of the term provider is not the primary driver of burnout and workforce attrition. Rather, widespread and unquestioning adoption of the term is a symptom of greater problems.

Respecting Professional Identity

A microaggression is a subtle, often unintentional, form of discrimination or devaluation. Although the term “provider” might seem harmless, its use in reference to physicians is a microaggression by devaluation. It strips physicians of the title that conveys their level of expertise and responsibility. It is akin to referring to university professors as information providers, judges as a sentence providers, or police officers as safety providers. Although those descriptors are not wholly wrong, they are not reflective of the full scope of their role and, importantly, are not respectful of their desired form of address.

Use of the term often stems from administrative convenience or to create a sense of equivalence among health care team members. Although interdisciplinary collaboration and respect are crucial; they should not come at the cost of erasing individual professional identities. Acknowledging the differences among health care workers is not intended to establish a hierarchy, but to appreciate and respect the unique value each person in his or her role contributes to the team.