If you're like most people, you've been going to a physician ever since you
were born and perhaps were not aware whether you were seeing a DO (osteopathic
physician) or an MD (allopathic physician). You may not even be aware that there
are two types of complete physicians in the United States.
The fact is that both DOs and MDs are fully qualified physicians licensed to
prescribe medication and perform surgery. Is there any difference between these
two kinds of physicians? Yes and no.
DOs and MDs are alike in many ways:
- Applicants to both DO and MD medical colleges typically have four-year
undergraduate degrees with an emphasis on scientific courses.
- Both DOs and MDs complete four years of basic medical education.
- After medical school, both DOs and MDs obtain graduate medical education
through such programs as internships and residencies. This training
typically lasts three to six years and prepares DOs and MDs to practice a
specialty.
- Both DOs and MDs can choose to practice in any specialty area of
medicine-such as pediatrics, family practice, psychiatry, surgery or
obstetrics.
- DOs and MDs must pass comparable examinations to obtain state licenses.
- DOs and MDs both practice in fully accredited and licensed health care
facilities.
- Together, DOs and MDs enhance the state of health care available in
America.
DOs, however, belong to a separate yet equal branch of American medical care.
It is the ways that DOs and MDs are different that can bring an extra dimension
to your family's health care.
More Than a Century of Unique Care
 Osteopathic medicine is a unique form of American medical care that was started
in 1874 by Andrew Taylor Still, MD, DO Dr. Still was dissatisfied with the
effectiveness of 19th century medicine. He believed that many of the medications
of his day were useless or even harmful. Dr. Still was one of the first in his
time to study the attributes of good health so that he could better understand
the process of disease.
In response, Dr. Still developed a philosophy of medicine based on ideas that
date back to Hippocrates, the father of medicine. That philosophy focuses on the
unity of all body parts. Dr. Still identified the musculoskeletal system as a
key element of health. He recognized the body's ability to heal itself and
stressed preventive medicine, eating properly and keeping fit.
Dr. Still pioneered the concept of "wellness" more than 130 years ago. In
today's terms, DOs evaluate each patient's personal health risks-such as
smoking, high blood pressure, excessive cholesterol levels, stress and other
lifestyle factors. In coordination with prescribing appropriate medical
treatment, osteopathic physicians act as teachers to help patients take more
responsibility for their well-being and to change un-healthy patterns.
21st Century, Frontier Medicine
Just as Dr. Still pioneered osteopathic medicine in 1874, today's osteopathic
physicians serve as modern-day medical pioneers.
They continue the tradition of bringing health care to areas of greatest
need:
- Approximately 65% of practicing osteopathic physicians specialize in
primary care areas, such as pediatrics, family practice, obstetrics and
gynecology, and internal medicine.
- Many DOs fill a critical need for physicians by practicing in rural and
other medically underserved communities.
Today osteopathic physicians continue to be on the cutting edge of medicine.
DOs are able to combine today's medical technology with their ears, to listen
caringly to their patients; their eyes, to see their patients as whole persons;
and their hands, to diagnose and treat injury and illness.
DOs bring something extra to medicine:
- Osteopathic medical schools emphasize training students to be primary
care physicians.
- DOs practice a "whole person" approach to medicine. Instead of just
treating specific symptoms or illnesses, they regard your body as an
integrated whole.
- Osteopathic physicians focus on preventive health care.
- DOs receive extra training in the musculoskeletal system-your body's
interconnected system of nerves, muscles and bones that make up two-thirds
of your body mass. This training provides osteopathic physicians with a
better understanding of the ways that an illness or injury in one part of
your body can affect another.
- Osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) is incorporated into the
training and practice of osteopathic physicians. With OMT, osteopathic
physicians use their hands to diagnose illness and injury and to encourage
your body's natural tendency toward good health. By combining all other
available medical options with OMT, DOs offer their patients the most
comprehensive care available in medicine today.
*Information courtesy of the AOA (www.do-online.org)
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