If you’re like most people,
you’ve been going to a doctor ever since you were born, and perhaps
were not aware whether you were seeing a D.O. (osteopathic physician)
or an M.D. (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 D.O.s and M.D.s are fully qualified physicians
licensed to perform surgery and prescribe medication in all 50 states.
Is there any difference between these two kinds of doctors? Yes and no.
D.O.s and M.D.s are alike in many ways:
• Applicants to both D.O. and M.D. colleges typically have a four-year
undergraduate degree with an emphasis on scientific courses.
• Both D.O.s and M.D.s complete four years of basic medical education.
• After medical school, both D.O.s and M.D.s can choose to practice
in a specialty area of medicine -- such as psychiatry, surgery or obstetrics
-- after completing a residency program which requires an additional two
to six years of training.
• Both D.O.s and M.D.s must pass comparable state licensing examinations.
• D.O.s and M.D.s both practice together in fully accredited and
licensed health care facilities.
• D.O.s comprise a separate, yet equal branch of American medical
care. Together, D.O.s and M.D.s enhance the state of care available in
America.
D.O.s bring something extra to medicine:
• Osteopathic medical schools emphasize training students to be
primary care physicians.
• D.O.s practice a "whole person" approach to medicine.
Instead of just treating specific symptoms or illnesses, they assess the
overall health of their patients.
• Osteopathic physicians focus on preventive health care in addition
to illness.
• D.O.s receive extra training in the musculoskeletal system --
your body’s interconnected system of nerves, muscles and bones that
make up two-thirds of its body mass. This training provides osteopathic
physicians with a better understanding of the ways that an injury or illness
in one part of your body can affect another.
• Osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) is incorporated in the
training and practice of osteopathic physicians. With OMT, osteopathic
physicians use their hands to diagnose injury and illness and to encourage
your body’s natural tendency toward good health. By combining all
other medical procedures with OMT, D.O.s are able offer their patients
more comprehensive care.
More than a Century of Unique Care
Osteopathic medicine is a unique form of American medical care that was
developed in 1874 by Dr. Andrew Taylor Still. 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 founded a philosophy of medicine based on ideas
that date back to Hippocrates, the father of medicine. The philosophy
focuses on the unity of all body parts. He 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, personal health risks -- such as smoking,
high blood pressure, excessive cholesterol levels, stress and other lifestyle
factors -- are evaluated for each individual. In coordination with appropriate
medical treatment, the osteopathic physician acts as a teacher to help
patients take more responsibility for their own well-being and change
unhealthy patterns.
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