limabeans

I figure I should ask here. I had never heard about a DO before, but what does that mean? What does that degree lean towards. How does a DO compare to an MD? Is it like the difference between a psychologist and a psychiatrist? or optomitrist and an ophthalmologist? What are the advantages and disadvantages?

mcat2

Both MD and DO are doctors. In some areas, people do not distinguish DO from MD very much, but in some areas where there are not many DO doctors, some may have some prejudice against DO, maybe not a justified bias.

The difference is NOT like between a psychologist and a psychiatrist, or optomotrist and an ophthalmologist.

In terms of the stats, the admission criteria are slightly lower for DO schools than MD schools.

WayOutWestMom

No, an osteopath is a physician with full medical practice privileges identical to those of an MD. Osteopaths can specialize in the same medical specialties that MDs can. (Surgery, anesthesiology, pediatrics, cardiology, family practice, neurology, orthopedics. etc) The differences are largely philosophical ones, and I believe those have greatly diminishing over time. Osteopathic school includes training in osteopathic manipulation medicine (OMM), but many of the younger osteopaths don't practice it.

DOs are more common in some parts of the country than others. In the Philly area where I grew up, DOs and MDs were about equally common. Where I live now in the Southwest, there are fewer than 200 practicing DOs in the entire state.

Because of the relative rarity of DOs in some places, people may not be familiar with what an osteopathic doctor is and could be more reluctant to have a DO treat them.

limabeans

What is OMM? I suppose DOs are really arer where I live, since I never heard of it. They go by Dr. Name D.O. or do they just go by Dr. Name?

WayOutWestMom

OMM

Osteopathic manipulative medicine - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Osteopaths are addressed as "Doctor" and list themselves as Dr. Smith, D.O.

Allopaths are addressed as ""Doctor" and list themselves as Dr. Jones, M.D.

kristin5792

But I'd say in practice/clinics, you wouldn't actually refer to them as "Dr Jones DO" and the other guy as "Dr Jones." The only way I can tell a difference is by looking at their badges (assuming I don't know other things like where they went to med school). In my pretty limited experience, it seems like there are good DOs and bad DOs...but there are also good MDs and bad MDs. I hope degree doesn't make that much difference, but I guess you never know for sure.

MiamiDAP

Sometime, MD and DO are working in the same office, doing exactly the same thing. I do not know how it reflects in their compensation. But I have been to office like this, it was ENT and I was seeing by DO.

gouf78

Medical education wise these days it's the same education for both. They take a different exam at the end of their medical careers. Both do surgery, prescribe medicine etc. So when
you see a DO, it's essentially the same as an MD.
DO's may have more training along the lines of chiropractors. DO's philosophy initially comes from fixing the body to get rid of the disease or condition. A more "whole body" approach.
Just my observation over the years--DO's seem to have a better bed side manner. Maybe that's part of their training too.

MiamiDAP

I have to tell you that it depends on a person. My chiro is absolutely amazing, one of the people who I trust the most. He has helped me and my D. tremendously in situations when many MDs in several specialties could not provide any relief at all.
However, my experience in ENT office was very different. DO was exactly the same in and out type of doc. who did not care much to help. One thing I keep telling my D., do not be this type of doc. MD (and DO) have to remember that they are NOT treating the desease, they are treating human beings that happen that are seeking help from them. The biggest compliment that I value the most in my D's experience so far was from the patient who said that she was the best Med. Student that she ever seen. She talked to her, she made connection. Trust is the most important. Yes, if one doc. has better bed manners, he will be ahead of another, he will get more information, he will be trusted and it will help healing. I do not think though that it has anything to do with MD vs DO.

cbreeze

The correct usage is Joe Smith MD or Joe Smith DO or Dr. Joe Smith.
Using Dr. and MD is redundant.

mom2collegekids

Our family doctor is a DO (she is a retired Army doc). My son's dermo is a DO. We have complete confidence in both.