What does DO mean when refering to a physician?

[Remster 30]

Ahhh the joys of healthcare stuff in the US....

What is a DO? As apposed to a MD that is...

Remster

[NWFlyer 2]

Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine. The way I understand it, it's a different type of training method, but has the same rights and privileges as an MD.

I'm sure someone with more expertise can give you more detail.

Edited because apparently it's Osteopathic Medicine, not Osteopathy. The things you learn online...
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002020.htm

"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

[Remster 30]

Cool... one of them cranial movement type people...

Thanks! Osteopathy is actually one of the new-agish things I do respect.

Remster

[TrophyHusband 0]

DO medical school is a little different, my wife says easier, but she is an MD. their residency is the same though, so as far as knowledge of their specialty, there isn't much difference. DO's give great massages also.

"Your scrotum is quite nice" - Skymama
www.kjandmegan.com

[HydroGuy 0]

My girlfriend is in a Masters Physician Asst. program. Her school also has a vet and a DO program.

DO school is definately shorter...but mostly the same rights are given as an MD. A DO is SUPPOSED to have a more holistic approach...in theory. Don't think this is really the case though.

My girlfriend is doing rotations right now...at the moment with a Family Practice DO. In my girlfriends opinion, her preceptor (the DO) is the worst health professional she's ever been around. Has no holistic approach. Just gives people pills and bills the insurance company...doesn't give a shit about her patients. This DO is a drug companies wet dream. And an ill persons worst nightmare.

Ask lots of questions

Get in - Get off - Get away....repeat as neccessary

[Remster 30]

Quote

This DO is a drug companies wet dream. And an ill persons worst nightmare.

So good drugs then?

Thanks for the heads up... but I think that probably is true of any bad physician... Too bad your wife has to work with one...

Remster

[jumpdoc 0]

I AM Trophy Husband's wife. A DO does a lot of the same medical training as an MD, but they are also trained in things such as manipulations, etc. (To take it to the most simplistic level, think of cracking backs). DO's have a different testing for credentialing as opposed to our medical licensing exams, but they are afforded the same priviledges as MD's. Some DO's do osteopathic residencies and concentrate on the holistic approach to problems while others take a more traditional approach and train along side MD's. One of my partners is a DO, but she doesn't use her training as much as she relies on traditional medicine (drugs). Some of the best physicians I have ever met are DO's as are some of the worst. Same with MD's. It's really just the medical school education that is different. And, for the record, I NEVER said that DO school was easier.

[jumper03 0]

Think of a DO vs. MD this way...
where a MD will read extensively about child birth and be present for 1 or 2 births - a DO will actually do 75-100 births and never read about them.

I used to work in an Osteopathic hospital and they all seemed like smart docs.

Scars remind us that the past is real

[Lindsey 0]

Dagny's a junior medical student at an Osteopathic medical school. I bet she could fill you in on some of the specifics. Their medical education really isn't that much different than ours I don't think. But they do get trained in manipulations....which can be a good thing :) Their training is 4 years and is pretty much set up like allopathic schools--2 years of didactics and 2 years of clinical training. I know some really good DOs and some really crappy ones--kinda like MDs. Some good and some not so good.

linz

--
A conservative is just a liberal who's been mugged. A liberal is just a conservative who's been to jail

[eisen009 0]

Agree with you there....I've met some great and poor docs from the MD and DO flavors. I've only run into one radiologist DO so far....seemed pretty with the program. Important thing is to find someone well trained who you trust....

Lara