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Australian pods adopting Dr Title

Discussion in 'Australia' started by JAYNES, Nov 13, 2010.

  1. JAYNES

    JAYNES Active Member


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    Hi all
    I have been looking at the codes and guidelines on the AHPRA website.
    For advertising we can adopt the title Dr if (podiatrist) is used after your name, i am interested in if any other podiatrists will adopt this title.
    Would this help that some of the public would stop perceving podiatrists as just toenail cutters? i would like to hear from other podiatrists if we should all adopt this title.

    Thank for your time and i look forward to any replies.

    Jaynes
     
  2. Admin2

    Admin2 Administrator Staff Member

  3. Paul Bowles

    Paul Bowles Well-Known Member

    Oh no not this topic again!!!!!! The last thread gave me nightmares.

    :deadhorse:
     
  4. I thought our discussion about our american friend the Dentist was quite funny.
     
  5. Tuckersm

    Tuckersm Well-Known Member

    Also from AHPRA

    I have highlighted the areas, that I think, means we should not be using the title.
     
  6. LuckyLisfranc

    LuckyLisfranc Well-Known Member

    Good point.

    But somehow I don't think all of the people who have a Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery, or Bachelor of Dentistry, etc. , will stop using the "Dr" title. Clearly these qualifications are not 'verifiable' doctorates. Those practitioners may only lay claim to 'credibility', through a quirk of historical courtesy.

    So, I would suggest, there will prove to be varying interpretations of AHPRAs policy that will be open to yet more debate.

    Lets see if chiropractors, dentists and medical practitioners pay any heed to this policy, then our profession can make its own determination.

    LL
     
  7. Sarah B

    Sarah B Active Member

    Do our patients really care what title we use?

    Personally, I think not. In my experience the main factors that influence patients' perceptions include things like the ability to explain our diagnosis & management plan, behaviour that is consistent with trustworthiness, interventions and advice that is effective, and of course whether or not the patient feels they like the practitioner.

    I have enough confidence in the validity of my qualifications to have no desire to use anything other than my everyday title.

    Maybe the public will stop associating the word 'podiatry' with toenail cutting when podiatrists cease to receive public remuneration for that function. If that happens, who will carry out this task, while we busy ourselves with all of the more important tasks that are more in keeping with our training?

    By the way - do physios have this same discussion about massage, I wonder?!
     
  8. Paul Bowles

    Paul Bowles Well-Known Member

    Ah yes, LOL what was his name again? Good point, that was an excellent discussion! I retract my point above, lets dig this puppy out of the ground and start running it around again! It gave me some great laughs last time....

    ....on topic (Dr Weber and I do get off topic occasionally) I don't know one Podiatrist in my area using the title - and besides Podiatric Surgeons in NSW I don't know of any Podiatrist using it either.

    Does anyone have any examples in NSW of Podiatrists publicly adopting this title in lew of a PhD?
     
  9. amcheli

    amcheli Member

    the solution is simply changing the name of bachelor in Podiatry to doctor of podiatry...because that what seems to be the problem, not the competencies it's the name of ones degree.
     
  10. Bug

    Bug Well-Known Member

    Pod in Vic love it. I struggle with it.
    I did a whole lot of work for mine so use it most of the time in professional practice on written info only and rightly or wrongly bite my tongue when I see a new grad take it on. I get their argument and respect their right to do so, doesn't mean I have to agree with it.

    I agree though with Sarah, I don't think our patients care.
     
  11. Paul Bowles

    Paul Bowles Well-Known Member

    Interesting enough this topic came up at the end of last year in a staff meeting - not about the use of the title "Dr" though, about the use of the title "Podiatrist". Due to clinic expansion, restructure and several other things our discussion centered around our clinic even using the word "Podiatry" anymore. Most of our patients didn't care what we were - they just knew we were all good at fixing foot problems and that's why they were referred to us or came to us.

    What the practice admin people took away from that? If you are good at your job - honestly people do not care what you call yourself!
     
  12. Ros Kidd

    Ros Kidd Active Member

    Further to that Paul. Respect is what you earn not what an exam result or title gives you.
    Ros
     
  13. Paul Bowles

    Paul Bowles Well-Known Member

    In saying that I notice recently in some media releases by certain "union" based Podiatry organisations they refer to a Podiatrist with no University qualifications as a "Dr". Go figure.....
     
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