“Hi, I’m Kim, and I’ll be your provider today,” says a smiling woman in scrubs as she strides into your exam room. The appointment is moving quickly and you glance at her name badge, but it is turned around showing only the back bar code. Before you know it, the encounter is over.
Most patients never know what kind of “provider” they are seeing, and that’s a problem. Insurance companies, or “payers”, have proliferated the term “provider” because it saves them money. The insurance company has collected the patient’s premium for months or years, and prefer to pay out a lower claim for what is believed to be the same level of care.
At Mulpur Psychiatry, no one will ever introduce themselves as your “provider.” We pledge to always provide first and last names and job titles, and qualifications. We encourage our patients to research the different kinds of mental health professionals and understand the different kinds of care they are able to provide. If you receive care from another practice, Dr. Mulpur is happy to coordinate with them after receiving your permission.
What is the difference between psychiatrists, psychologists, therapists, counselors, and providers?
A psychiatrist has completed medical training and holds a medical degree (MD or DO). Dr. Mulpur is a psychiatrist (MD). Psychiatrists evaluate any co-occurring medical conditions, prescribe and manage medications, and provide therapy. Board-certified psychiatrists offer a high level of experience and critical care in the field of mental health. Physicians with this level of experience have over 16,000 hours of training and over 20,000 hours of graduated responsibility of supervised direct patient care throughout medical school and residency. It takes over 15 years to complete medical training, including college, medical school, internship, residency, and completion of specialty board examinations.
Psychologists hold a doctoral degree in psychiatry (PhD or PsyD), and specialize in evaluating mental health systems and conducting therapy. In most states, psychologists are unable to prescribe medications.
A therapist or counselor might have training in psychology, but they might also have studied sociology, childhood development, education, or social work. They could be licensed mental health counselors (LMHC), licensed clinical social workers (LCSW), psychologists (PhD or PsyD), psychiatric nurse practitioners (NP), or psychiatrists (MD or DO).
Nurse Practitioners (NPs) hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), complete an NP-focused graduate master’s or doctoral nursing program and successfully pass a national NP board certification exam. Nurse Practitioners complete an estimated 500-700 hour practicums in which they shadow (or observe) a physician or nurse practitioner.
A provider could be any of the above categories, or something altogether different. Our practice avoids the use of this word to prevent confusion and to honor the professionalism and education of everyone who helps our patients.
