Who is referred to as the physician of record?

The term "physician of record" typically refers to the physician who is first responsible for the treatment of a patient, particularly in situations such as worker’s compensation cases. This physician is often the one who initiates the patient's care and is usually the one responsible for documenting the healthcare provided to that patient during their treatment or recovery period.

This designation is important as it determines liability and responsibility for the patient's care and documentation. The first physician treating an injured employee is crucial in establishing the medical history and guiding subsequent treatment decisions. While the roles of supervising or managing follow-up care are also significant, those roles may not involve the initial medical history establishment or treatment initiation, which is why the first treating physician holds the title of "physician of record."