Why We’ll Never Call You a “Provider

Because you’re a physician, and that still means something.

In today’s healthcare system, language is quietly but powerfully reshaping how we see the people at its center. One word that’s crept in – without much resistance – is “provider.”

But we won’t use it. Not now. Not ever.

We work exclusively with physicians. And we respect everything it took to become one. Calling you a “provider” strips away your identity, blurs your expertise, and lumps you into a catch-all label that was never meant to reflect the depth of your training or the weight of your responsibility.

Where Did “Provider” Even Come From?

Spoiler: not from medicine.

The term was born in the insurance world as a convenient, catch-all word to group everyone delivering care, from doctors to dietitians. It helped streamline billing and paperwork. But it also erased something vital: the distinction of being a physician.

Even the American Medical Association has warned that “provider” turns physicians into functionaries. It flattens the complexity of your role into a line item. Some health systems have pushed back, dropping the term entirely in recognition of what it leaves out.

According to the American Medical Association, one Delaware-based health system has implemented a policy to discontinue the term "provider" when referring to physicians, considering it inadequate to describe their extensive education and qualifications.

Additionally, according to an article published by Jonathan R Scarff, MD, in the National Library of Medicine, one Southern California medical group prohibited using the word "provider" to describe physicians, as noted in a 2021 article discussing the problematic nature of the term. ​ 

Physician Isn’t Just a Title. It’s a Lifetime Commitment.

To be a physician is to sacrifice time, sleep, and years of your life to pursue one goal: caring for others with excellence.

Medical school. Residency. Fellowships. Board exams. Lifelong learning. The path isn’t easy, and that’s why it deserves respect. You’re not interchangeable. You’re not transactional. You’re not just delivering a “service.”

You are a physician. And that title still matters.

Why Words Matter – Now More Than Ever

Language shapes perception. And perception shapes value.

When healthcare leaders, administrators, or insurers default to “provider,” they send a message that roles are interchangeable and expertise is just another checkbox—that physicians, nurses, APPs, and PAs are all the same.

But they’re not.

Every patient deserves to know who is caring for them – clarity matters. Accuracy matters. And respect? That matters most of all.

We’ll always call you what you are. You earned your title, and we honor it.

We work with physicians because we believe in the power of medicine – and in the people who practice it with integrity, curiosity, and compassion. You are the heart of healthcare, not a line on a spreadsheet.

So, if you’re looking for a team that respects your expertise, understands your value, and stands with you. We’re here. Not for “providers.” For physicians.

Are you a physician interested in working locum tenens assignments? Call (321) 586-2139 or send us an email: recruitment@freeupmd.com