Physicians Are Not Providers: New ACP Paper Says Names in Health Care Have Ethical Significance
The term ‘provider’ is detrimental to the patient-physician relationship and undermines physicians’ ethical obligations
PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 10, 2026—A new ethics policy paper from the American College of Physicians (ACP) says the term ‘provider’ should not be used to describe physicians, and using the blanket term undermines physicians’ ethical responsibility, clinical integrity, and professionalism. Referring to physicians as providers reduces the patient-physician relationship to a transaction and does not recognize differences in roles, responsibilities, and training among health care professionals. “Physicians are not Providers: The Ethical Significance of Names in Health Care” is published in Annals of Internal Medicine.
Language in health care has ethical and practical implications and should uphold the ethics of the patient-physician relationship, which is fundamental to the practice of medicine. The words physician and provider are not interchangeable and using them synonymously also reflects the increasing commercialization of today's practice environment. ACP says that the current use of the word provider in reference to institutions, insurers, and health care professionals lumps impersonal entities with humans and is not transparent to patients.
"The term provider is derogatory because it diminishes the physician-patient relationship. Physicians are not providers, they are confidants, health advocates, and partners with patients, especially in times of medical need, bound by deep and longstanding ethical responsibilities,” said Jason M. Goldman, MD, MACP, President, ACP. “And patients are not merely consumers. They are individuals with dignity and unique needs. This paper serves as an important reminder that words have meaning and should be used carefully and thoughtfully."
ACP also recommends that professionals with varied credentials who care for patients should be referred to as clinicians or health care professionals, not providers. The paper was developed by the ACP Ethics, Professionalism and Human Rights Committee.
About the American College of Physicians
The American College of Physicians is the largest medical specialty organization in the United States with members in more than 172 countries worldwide. ACP membership includes 162,000 internal medicine physicians, related subspecialists, and medical students. Internal medicine physicians are specialists who apply scientific knowledge and clinical expertise to the diagnosis, treatment, and compassionate care of adults across the spectrum from health to complex illness. Follow ACP on X, Facebook, Instagram, Threads and LinkedIn, and subscribe to our new RSS feed.
Contact: Louisa Ahlqvist, 215-351-2661, Lahlqvist@acponline.org
Frequently Asked Questions About Why Physicians Are Not Called Providers
What is the ACP ethics paper about?
The ethics paper examines the ethical significance of professional terminology in medicine. Language used to describe physicians has implications for professionalism, patient relationships, and ethical obligations in health care.
Why does ACP say physicians are not providers?
The term ‘provider’ should not be used to describe physicians because the words physician and provider are not interchangeable. Referring to physicians as providers reduces the patient-physician relationship to a transaction and does not recognize differences in roles, responsibilities, and training among health care professionals.
Why is terminology an ethical concern?
Terminology shapes how patients understand the physician-patient relationship and can influence expectations of medical care. Referring to physicians as providers diminishes the professional identity, clinical integrity, and ethical responsibilities associated with being a physician.
How does terminology affect the physician-patient relationship?
Names influence how patients view their relationship with physicians. Using accurate professional titles helps reinforce trust, responsibility, and the ethical commitments that distinguish physicians from broader health care roles.
Why is the term "provider" considered problematic?
The term "provider" may reduce physicians to service vendors rather than professionals with ethical obligations to patients. This language affects trust, accountability, and perceptions of medical professionalism. Further, current use of the word provider in reference to institutions, insurers and health care professionals lumps impersonal identities with humans and is not transparent to patients.
What does ACP recommend?
ACP recommends that professionals with varied credentials who care for patients should be referred to as clinicians or health care professionals, not providers.