Educate me: Osteopath - "real" doctor? n/t

[UTUSN]

[UTUSN]

1. Chirp chirp chrip --------O.K., --------FINE!!!!!!!!!!!!!1 /t

[philosophie_en_rose]

2. Maybe akin to a nutritionist.

But not a physician, in my opinion.

[Oeditpus Rex]

4. Ahem

See below.

[philosophie_en_rose]

9. your doctor is a physician and an osteopath.

that doesn't mean an osteopath is the same as a physician.

I can play the flute and drive a car. I don't transport myself to work by playing the flute. One doesn't equal the other.




I respect that many people believe in osteopathy, and that trained osteopaths can do all of the functions of a physicians. However, like chiropractors, I personally wouldn't invest my health in a person who only looked at health through an osteopathic lens.

[Oeditpus Rex]

10. 'Only'

Assume much? :eyes:

[Oeditpus Rex]

3. My doctor is an osteopath

They are indeed "real" doctors. (She's also a surgeon.) They study osteopathy for an additional two years after med school.

I'm not gonna bombard you with information. Anything you wanna know, PM me. :hi:

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

11. Osteopathic medicine is an "alternative" pathway of medical training that

awards the D.O. degree instead of the M.D. degree. It is NOT more training as your post would seem to imply. It is just a different path. Once people have graduated, done their residencies etc. their training is equivalent.

http://www.aacom.org/om.html

There are osteopathic physicians in virtually every branch of medicine. We have an osteopathic physician who is a partner in my practice. There are neurosurgeons, orthopedists etc. who are osteopathic physicians who I work with. Osteopathic medicine has an emphasis on a holistic approach to the patient and is primary care oriented, the majority of osteopaths are in primary care.

[Oeditpus Rex]

13. From the site you linked to:

In addition to studying all of the typical subjects you would expect student physicians to master, osteopathic medical students take approximately 200 additional hours of training in the art of osteopathic manipulative medicine.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

14. The D.O. degree is a 4 year degree like the M.D. They don't

spend extra time in school. They just have some extra courses, during their D.O. program, that relate to manipulation and such.


From the website of one of the osteopathic schools, Kirksville: http://www.kcom.edu/

D.O. & M.D.
The Similarities

* Both typically have a four-year undergraduate degree with an emphasis in the sciences.
* Both complete four years of basic medical education.
* Both are fully trained and licensed to prescribe medication and perform surgery.
* Both can choose to practice in a specialty area of medicine, such as psychiatry, surgery, or obstetrics after completing a residency program (typically two to six years of additional training).
* Both must pass comparable national and state licensing examinations.
* Both practice in fully accredited and licensed healthcare institutions.
* Together, D.O.s and M.D.s enhance the state of medical care available in America by comprising a separate, yet equal branch of American health care.

The Differences

* D.O.s practice a "whole person" approach to medicine; instead of treating specific symptoms or illnesses they regard the body as an integrated whole.
* D.O.s receive more training in the musculoskeletal system - the body's interconnected system of nerves, muscles, and bones. This training provides osteopathic physicians with a better understanding of the ways in which an injury or illness in one part of the body can affect another.
* Osteopathic physicians focus on preventive health care.
* Osteopathic medical schools graduate more students who become primary care physicians.
* Osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) is incorporated in the training and practice of osteopathic physicians. D.O.s are trained to use their hands to diagnose injury and illness and encourage the body's natural tendency toward good health. By combining all other medical procedures with OMT, D.O.s offer their patients the most comprehensive healthcare available in medicine today.

You are interpreting the statement you cited as implying that the D.O.'s take a full 4 year curriculum identical to an M.D. then take 2 years of training in excess of that. That's not true.

[Oeditpus Rex]

15. Okay, I misunderstood

It's my doctor who has the extra schooling — not D.O.s in general — because she's also a surgeon.

[medeak]

16. my radiologist is DO

makes over a million a year...

but she's great...very thorough at reading.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

17. You have a personal radiologist? How many imaging studies do you get done?

[medeak]

18. live in tiny town

and grateful...know we get more personal care here.

As old as I am getting..have been in her office too many times of late.

edited to say...btw...she is only radiologist here. Hospital outsources films to Australia for readings

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

19. Ah yes, the group is called 'Nighthawk' that does the contract work from

Australia, among other countries. It wouldn't surprise me if there were more than one by now, though.

http://www.nighthawkrad.net/

[medeak]

20. they read mother in law's films wrong

went in ER in large city and they said she was fine..Austrailian firm....thank gawd she went to personal physician who had them done over...she had agressive colon cancer and told if she had waited any longer she would have died.

[BuddhaGirl]

5. yes, I believe they are

check out this site:

http://kidshealth.org/parent/system/doctor/osteopath.html


snip:

<DOs and MDs

Both DOs and MDs are physicians. They are both licensed by state and specialty boards to perform surgery and write prescriptions. Applicants to both DO and MD colleges typically have a 4-year undergraduate degree with an emphasis on science courses, and both complete 4 years of basic medical education. In fact, both DOs and MDs:

* can choose to practice in a specialty area of medicine, such as surgery or obstetrics
* complete a residency program, which typically takes 2 to 6 years of additional training
* must pass comparable state licensing examinations
* are equal in the eyes of the law
* practice in fully accredited hospitals and medical centers
* can order medical tests and procedures
* must maintain a prescribed level of continuing education units (CEUs) to remain certified>

[UTUSN]

6. Yeah, saw that on Google, Thanks all n/t

[RevCheesehead]

7. Yes they are.

My SIL is one. If there were one around here, I'd be going to her/him. They give complete attention to the whole person, not just your symptoms.

[KitchenWitch]

8. IIRC Osteopaths are similar to a combination between

an MD and a DC (Medical doctor and Doctor of Chiropractic)

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

12. Read post 11, has link to osteopathic association's site with description.

[bmbmd]

21. I have many colleagues and friends

who are trained as osteopaths. They fit right in to mainstream medicine. Most are excellent.

[LaurenG]

22. Yes they are real doctors

I worked for one for a few years. He was very dedicated. Some people may believe that they aren't as good but I was satisfied that this doctor was one of the best either DO or MD I'd ever known.

[AirmensMom]

23. Yes they are.

My doctor is one. I prefer him over any MD I've ever been to.