Dr Podiatrist?

Hi Julian,
If that option is available i most certainly will (and even if its not......i'll be putting Dr in front of my name).
Hope that answers your query.
BTW, I have enjoyed and learnt a lot from your posts! Thanks for the insight.
Cheers,
Dr. Sal (Podiatrist)

 

I am just curious about the numbers of podiatrists who call themselves Dr (excluding the one's who have an academic doctorate and are therefore legitimately using the title). I have seen a couple of posts on here that says lots of podiatrists are already calling themselves Dr yet I haven't seen one podiatry clinic or spoken to one podiatrist in Victoria or QLD (I know QLD is a special case regarding legalities) where the podiatrist advertises or uses the Dr title in front of their name.

David

 

http://www.footclinic.com.au/index2.asp?go=about/traralgon_team.html

Have a look around that site posalafin.....should answer your question and show how it is being used in Victoria currently.

 

Can we add a poll to this thread??
I'm not sure how to??

 

Hi Posalafin,
Im just curious about what you mean by "legitimately using the title"?
There is nothing illegal about using the title here in Victoria or in other states that don't protect the title (unless the respective boards don't allow it).
Academics aren't the only ones allowed to legitimately use the title.
Cheers and thanks for the post.
Dr. Sal (Podiatrist)

 

There is a difference though Sal between ILLEGAL and LEGITIMATE is there not?

Just because a loop-hole enables it, does not mean it is legitimate. It may be considered legal though - for the time being.

 

Admin,

How about 'Should Podiatrists use the Dr. title?'
Simple enough if unless anyone else has a better idea?

Cheers!

 

:good:
I agree.....
how long I wonder until the AMA legislates it and keeps it for their own?

Just a thought, if a male orthopaedic surgeon becomes a 'Mister' (even though they are a doctor), does a female orthopod become a 'Missus'?

?

 

Hi Paul,

DEFINITION OF LEGITIMATE: "Being in compliance with the law" (The free dictionary. www.thefreedictionary.com)

Based upon the definition there is no difference.

Loop-hole? Im not sure what you mean. Where is the loop-hole in; "there is no legal barrier to using the title"?
I hope i haven't offended anyone or tread on anyones toes.
Keep up the great posts,
Cheers,
Dr. Sal (Podiatrist)

 

It's not marked in legislation, no one has worked to change legislation regarding it in Victoria - its just a grey area - there is no legal barrier. Whether or not that makes it right or wrong to use is not my place to say. But what is completely clear is that legally Podiatrists in Victoria may use the title until:

a) It is legislated that they can

b) It is legislated that they can't

Time will tell, and with national registration around the corner it will make for an interesting outcome that is for sure.

 

Just for everyones info...

Here in Queensland, only Medical / Dental or Ph.D-holders can as Health Practitioners use the title "Doctor", HOWEVER, The Osteopaths, Chiropractors and (Phil Perlman used it too) use the "Doctor"Title, even to the extent that my Osteopath is listed on the State Register as Dr.

The Osteopaths and Chiropractors couldn't give a rats about the Boards' bulletins on titles, and to the best of my knowledge, no action has ever been taken to enforce the Act/Legislation....

Your views ?

 

At present it is likely that National Registration will not restrict the title of Dr

 

Or 'surgeon'...Perhaps more importantly.

We are a surgical discipline at the end of the day.


LL

 

Never have I been happier to have left a profession.

Felicity

 

Your views are your views, but why post that comment here ? Why visit Podiatry Arena if you are happy to have left the Profession ?

 

Well said


Jair

 

Hi Felicity,
Just out of interest, why is it that you are happy to be leaving the profession?
Cheers,
LS

 

Good day Felicity, never had the pleasure, but from all the positive 'vibes' from your ex-students I've picked up since I've been mentoring? LaTrobe pod students your exit is obviously a big loss to the education system, all the best, mark c

 

Darling Felicity

What are you doing .. and can I do it too?

Missing you already

lover toeslayer

 

I knew my posting would be a tad provocative!

To mj conley - thankyou, I needed to hear that. From reading your posts, I am sure that the students are fortunate to have a mentor in you.
To Jair - I hope that the profession treats you well, you were a great student, and I know you will be an asset to the profession.
To my Beloved ToeSlayer - I am now involved in Education at RMIT (I work for the DVC, beating professors up, that kind of thing). It's weird stepping away from from podiatry. But one thing I have learnt:

The fights are so dirty, because the stakes are so low.

And to all the Dr Pods out there...... if that's what you need, then go for it.

And you are right Julian. Why am I reading Podiatry Arena? I went in search of genuine obituaries for Phil Perlman (another who the Masonic Surgical Mafia excluded). You can leave a profession, but you never leave friendships and sources of admiration completely.

But, in deference to Julian's indignation. I shall say goodbye, and unsubscribe.

Felicity

 

Perhaps we should suggest to the AMA that they legislate that the use of the letters MD after the name of Medical Doctors... that would save some of the confusion and then you can use the Doctor title to your heart's content without the suggestion that you are actually a Medical Doctor.

 

Felicity,

Thou doth protest too much!

Curiosity sure, indignation never!

Why not post on the (?)Surgical Mafia ? I have not heard the term and am sure others haven't either.

All the best...
Julian

 

Hi Stephen,

Care to elaborate on this a little more? All the information and meetings I have been involved with suggest that once national registration comes into place very little will change in any state (from its current position) because of multiple acts governing different skill sets we may have as Podiatrists. For example, even though federal recognition of Podiatrists using S4 may change, state based the POISONS AND THERAPEUTIC GOODS ACT will not. Hence they give with one hand and quickly remove with the other.

Your thoughts on how this relates to this situation?

 

If I may attempt to answer on Stephen's behalf...

The intergovernmental agreement (IGA) discusses that essentially we will simply have a title only protection system. In effect the terms "medical practitioner, physiotherapist, podiatrists etc" will be protected, but in the current documents i have seen, there is no mention of "Doctor, Dr, Surgeon, Physician" in the list of protected titles.

It remains to be seen if any effective lobbying by the medical groups will change this, but at this stage those descriptors remain unprotected.

However - it is still my belieft - and that shared by many others - that the whole point of this exercise is workforce reform. Apply the same legislation across all professions, and then move forward with effective nationalised scope of practice etc. As far as I can tell, if we have a strong and progressive national podiatry board, they will be able to develop policies (such as in prescribing) that will become benchmark standards - and this will leave little room for the states to argue about the merits either way. So if the board determines a set of competencies for prescribing, this will filter back to state health departments and ministers, with firm Commonwealth backing, to implement and modify local drugs and poisons policy. That's the theory anyway...

LL

 

Below is the list I assume Tony is referring to in his post above regarding protection of title.

PROFESSIONAL TITLES PROPOSED TO BE RESTRICTED UNDER

THE NATIONAL SCHEME

Profession Titles to be protected
Chiropractic

* 'chiropractor'
* catchall provision along the lines of 'any other title, name, symbol, description, et cetera which given the circumstances could be reasonably understood to indicate the person is a registered chiropractor'

Dental Titles restricted to those registered in the relevant division of the register:

* 'dentist'
* 'dental therapist'
* 'dental hygienist'
* 'dental prosthetist'
* 'oral health therapist'
* catchall provision as above

Medical

* 'medical practitioner'
* catchall provision as above

Nursing and Midwifery Titles restricted to those registered in the relevant division of the register:

* 'nurse'
* 'nurse practitioner'
* 'enrolled nurse'
* 'midwife'
* catchall provision as above

Optometry

* 'optometrist'
* 'optician'
* catchall provision as above

Osteopathy

* 'osteopath'
* catchall provision as above

Pharmacy

* 'pharmacist'
* 'pharmaceutical chemist'
* catchall provision as above

Physiotherapy

* 'physiotherapist'
* 'physical therapist'
* catchall provision as above

Psychology

* 'psychologist'
* catchall provision as above

 

Hi All,
Is anyone aware of when these proposed changes (protected titles and whatnot) are coming in to play?
Cheers,
Dr. Sal (Podiatrist)

 

Hi Julian,
Are there any "rogue" podiatrists in QLD using the title?
Cheers

 

With National Registration & Accreditation, July 1, 2010.

LL

 

In terms of putting it on Business Cards and using it in their Clinic as a form of address....One that I am aware of. He's never been pulled up. Of course, there could be many more.

Anecdotally, several of my Podiatric colleagues and myself are referred to as "Dr" by many patients. Most just call me Julian, some "Dr" and others "Mr".

Personally, I feel that it is not so much whether individual Practitioners use the title, more that overall, we all exercise the Title at least on Business Cards and Advertising, to elevate the public's perception of the range of skills we can employ.

7 Pages, and 170+ posts....seems like a hot topic for discussion/debate.

Good question Sal...

BTW Will you change your Yellow pages ad?

Julian

 

Paul,

you are correct. Most of the National Reg stuff will be about process, setting national standards etc.
The National Act will set the framework to allow prescription, but individual state laws (drugs and poisons) will need to be changed (or similarly nationalised, which has been in discussion for 10 plus years) for each state, though it is hoped that for those states which do currently allow for podiatry prescribing (Vic/WA/SA/Qld) that the process is standardised. It will also put pressure on the states where there is no Pod prescribing to change their laws,

Currently Nurse Practicioners can prescribe in all states but the process, drugs etc vary widely. It is hoped that this will be standardised, similarly for the optometrists, who do not have national precribing. At this stage the national Reg task force is no where near looking at this much detail yet.
Further information HERE

 

Stephen,

Do you happen to know when they are looking at nationally registering us podiatrists? Having looked at the National Registration and Accredation website (http://www.nhwt.gov.au/natreg.asp), it seems that only the 'lucky 9' (medical practitioners; nurses and midwives; pharmacists; physiotherapists; psychologists; osteopaths; chiropractors; optometrists; and dentists (including dental hygienists, dental prosthetists and dental therapists)) will get a mention, and even these won't be until 2010? National registration and accreditation seems ot be a good time to overhall our profession (i.e. title change across the board, and implementation of S4 rights), but how long do we have to wait for it?
:bang::sinking:

 

Adrian,

In July they changed the 9 to 10, to include podiatry and based upon submissions from other "partially Regulated" professions (OT, Speech, Med Imaging, Chinese Medicine) due in early October, it may grow.

see this call for submissions

http://www.nhwt.gov.au/documents/National%20Registration%20and%20Accreditation/Call%20For%20Submissions.pdf

 

Hi Julian,
Thanks for the reply.
Things will change with national registration, should they not?
Its been a very enlightening discussion to say the least.

As for the yellow pages ad.......................im an employed Podiatrist, so i guess its up to the boss. Having said that, he and all other Podiatrists working here, use the title.

Cheers,
Sal

 

The question is not whether it SHOULD change, its whether they will?

 

Well lets hope they do!

 

What is the issue like in other states (apart from QLD)?
Does this legal "loop-hole" exist in other states?
Cheers,
Dr. Sal

 

Paul

I think Nat Reg & Acc will be the dawn of a new era.

I don't think this will be a simple bureaucratic exercise, it is more of an exercise in laying the foundations for workforce reform. If the political will is there, and by all accounts it is better than it has been for a generation, then I suspect exciting times are ahead.

BUT - it will depend on the strength, competence and foresight of the members of the national podiatry board in order to step out of the shadows of another bit player in the smorgasboard of 'allied health', and into a genuine position of influence alongside medicine and dentistry.

There is simply no reason to not make this happen; barring ego's, petty jealousies, and squabbling. Let's set our goals and get on with the job.

LL

 

Julian, The NSW Med Reg Board has asked at least one podiatrist who is using the title Dr to "please explain" in the past, but in Qld I think the Med Reg Board has had a few bigger issues of late!!