What's in a title?

"I am fascinated by the way organizations designate their administrator leader. For example, cardiology practices seem to call their administrator 'executive director.' I have spent 28 years in this business as both an administrator and executive director, and in one organization I split the difference: I was an executive administrator. Is there really a difference?"

Mike DiDonato, CMPE, MGMA member and practice administrator, Comprehensive Cardiology Consultants, Trenton, N.J., mikedidonato@covad.net, from the MGMA Cardiovascular/Thoracic Surgery and Cardiology Assembly e-mail forum

Responses (mostly tongue in cheek)

"Don't ask me ... I gave up on a title other than 'Does Everything.'"

"I don't think there is a difference. 'Executive director' may sound a little more academic. For instance, if the name of your practice has the word 'institute' in it, executive director might fit better. On the downside (I suppose), those who run notfor-profit organizations are generally referred to as executive directors.

"Sometimes the title 'administrator' reminds me of what they used to call the really old guys who used to run hospitals before they came up with all of the 'Cclass' titles.

"Some days, I think I should have a more prestigious-sounding title, but most days, I don't care what they call me as long as I still get a paycheck."

"You can call me Ray ... You can call me Jay ... You can call me Ray Jay ... You can call me ED, you can call me executive, you can call me executive director, you can call me CEO, you can call me business manager, you can call me administrator, you can call me manager. Just don't call me administrative assistant. Heck, you can call me that if you give me a 20 percent raise!"

"One time I was introduced as the administrative secretary. It's true - I can type 60 words a minute - but I always thought administrative secretaries were brighter than me."

"Some days, I think I should nave a more prestigious-sounding title, but most days, I don't care what they call me as long as I still get a paycheck."

The e-mail forums - a benefit of your membership in the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) - host discussions that often resonate with all medical practices, regardless of size or specialty. Party Line features topics gleaned from listening in on member dialogues.

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