[Maurice Tift]

  She wrote about being called a "provider" instead of a doctor. "Provider" just sounds impersonal. It must be the current communist lingo for doctor. A doctor is a special individual who sees a patient as a real person and I think that the government resents this sort of relationship because it interferes with the level of control that the government has over the individual. In a free country, a doctor will always be referred to as "doctor" or "physician." There's a very good tv show that's been popular for decades and it's not called "Provider Who."

[Chickensoup]

A provider is any one who provides healthcare services. Doc Nurse Practioner, PA, counselors, psychologists, chiropractors, anyone who is actually provides services, either covered or uncovered by insurance.

[KoRn]

“Provider” is a perfectly acceptable term in healthcare. I know this for a fact, because I happen to be married to one.(Nurse Practitioner)

[ransomnote]

Someone who organizes medical services for low or no income families explained that the term “provider” is used to be inclusive of alternative staff who are going to play an increasing role in medical care. Translated that means it is going to be harder to see a doctor and people will more often be seen or treated by nurses or Physician’s Assistants so the software used in clinics is designed to refer to “Providers” instead of “doctors”.

[VerySadAmerican]

I’m going to start calling my VA doctor “Provider”.