Industry News | 02.12.26
Calling a Physician a ‘Provider’ Is an Ethics Issue: Paper
By NAMSS Staff
Beckers Hospital Review (2/9/26) Twenter, Paige
The American College of Physicians (ACP) has released a policy paper arguing that referring to physicians as “providers” raises ethical concerns and undermines professionalism, accountability and trust in the physician-patient relationship. Published in Annals of Internal Medicine, the paper outlines four key ethical implications, including the blurring of distinctions between clinicians and commercial entities, the erosion of the non-transactional nature of medical care, and the impact of language on professional identity and behavior. ACP emphasizes that physicians have unique ethical obligations — such as prioritizing patient welfare over financial interests — that differentiate them from other healthcare roles. The paper concludes that “physician” and “provider” are not interchangeable and urges that the term “provider” not be used to describe physicians, their colleagues, or trainees.
Read the full story from Beckers Hospital Review.