Differences between MD & DO?

[elbenn]

I'm searching for a PCP closer to my home and a DO has been recommended. I don't know anything about DOs and am only familiar with MDs. What are the differences? Why would someone get a DO degree instead of the more well known MD degree?

[KLD313]

I just had an appt with an endo that is a DO. I think they're more into the whole body and holistic medicine than an MD. This Dr. I saw asked a ton more questions than the other endos and they were different than the MD endos had ever asked. She was really thorough, too. Idk if it's just the type if person she is or because she's a DO but I wouldn't hesitate to use a DO because I like the holistic approach.

[Liziz]

These days, the differences between the two are very small, most of the time. The medical school curriculum is almost identical, other than the fact that DOs learn some manipulation techniques that MDs don't learn. Many DOs do the same residency (post-med school training) programs that MDs do, although there are some DO only residency programs out there as well. DOs have to take the same type of licensing and proficiency tests as MDs. I would feel completely comfortable with either -- for me it's more about whether there's a good match between me and the individual person.

In terms of why people choose DO rather than MD, I think there's two main reasons. The DO curriculum does tend to be a little more "whole body and holistic" as you mentioned below -- although I think that difference is less than it was many years ago. So, some people choose DO for that reason. The other reason I've personally seen many people go the DO route is because it's easier to get accepted to a DO program. I am *not* saying that DOs are less qualified, but right now there are *far* more people applying to medical schools each year than there are spots, meaning if you're not at the very tippy top of your class, you don't get in -- even if you would be a great doctor. It's a little less competitive (though still very tough) to get into a osteopathic program (DO), rather than an allopathic program (MD).

And as a caveat, I am not a doctor so I'm not saying this from personal experience...but I do work in healthcare, and my best friend is a DO and my husband is an MD, so I've seen and heard a lot about both paths.

[crl]

DO school is often easier to get into, I think. My mom is a nurse and has a long standing prejudice in favor of MDs. I think the training used to be more different with DOs relying much more heavily manipulations and such.

Catherine

[geochick]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_MD_and_DO_in_the_United_States

[Claki]

I work in healthcare and work with many MDs and DOs. I don't have any more details to add to above. But I wanted to add that I would have no qualms seeing either an MD or a DO if they came highly recommended. I do, however, have friends who will only see a DO.

[elephantmeg]

the hospital I work with has MD's and DO's as hospitalists (the people that see pts in the hospital) and they do the same job. I would not hesitate to see a DO from my experience with them

[theriviera]

These days, the differences between the two are very small, most of the time. The medical school curriculum is almost identical, other than the fact that DOs learn some manipulation techniques that MDs don't learn. Many DOs do the same residency (post-med school training) programs that MDs do, although there are some DO only residency programs out there as well. DOs have to take the same type of licensing and proficiency tests as MDs. I would feel completely comfortable with either -- for me it's more about whether there's a good match between me and the individual person.


:yeahthat:

These days there are very little differences between a DO and an MD.

[essnce629]

Our family doctor is a DO and she is great. The kids see her instead of a pediatrician. She does everything a regular doctor does, but is more likely to suggest alternative treatments (probiotics, diet change, etc) along with, or instead of, the standard treatments of antibiotics, etc. Like when DS2 had whopping cough last year, she did prescribe him antibiotics, but said they most likely wouldn't do anything to help his symptoms and said it was up to me if I wanted to give them or not. She was fine with me trying sodium ascorbate (vit C) and homeopathic treatments first (which I did and worked). She is also fine with us not vaxing which I find is more common with DOs and family doctors in general. I find she is more thorough as well-- like I went in for an annual physical and she noticed one of my eyelids is slightly droopy and suggested I have it checked out by an opthamologist just in case it is something more serious. No other doctor I've ever seen has ever noticed or mentioned anything, and I've always just thought my one eye was smaller or something! So I will be taking her advice and getting it looked at.

[NCGrandma]

:yeahthat:

These days there are very little differences between a DO and an MD.

I agree -- I'm not a physician but have worked with a number of both MDs and DOs over the years. Because of where the DO schools are located, you're probably more likely to encounter them in some parts of the country than others.

One caveat: if you want to choose a DO specifically because you're interested in OMT (osteopathic manipulative therapy), be sure to confirm that the person you're interested in actually includes this in their practice. Even though all DOs have been trained in OMT, not all keep doing it.

[geochick]

Interesting thread found elsewhere about whether DO school are easier to get into than MD schools:

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/archive/index.php/t-77474.html

My dh is an MD, so we're a little biased.

[mom3boys]

These days, the differences between the two are very small, most of the time. The medical school curriculum is almost identical, other than the fact that DOs learn some manipulation techniques that MDs don't learn. Many DOs do the same residency (post-med school training) programs that MDs do, although there are some DO only residency programs out there as well. DOs have to take the same type of licensing and proficiency tests as MDs. I would feel completely comfortable with either -- for me it's more about whether there's a good match between me and the individual person.

In terms of why people choose DO rather than MD, I think there's two main reasons. The DO curriculum does tend to be a little more "whole body and holistic" as you mentioned below -- although I think that difference is less than it was many years ago. So, some people choose DO for that reason. The other reason I've personally seen many people go the DO route is because it's easier to get accepted to a DO program. I am *not* saying that DOs are less qualified, but right now there are *far* more people applying to medical schools each year than there are spots, meaning if you're not at the very tippy top of your class, you don't get in -- even if you would be a great doctor. It's a little less competitive (though still very tough) to get into a osteopathic program (DO), rather than an allopathic program (MD).

And as a caveat, I am not a doctor so I'm not saying this from personal experience...but I do work in healthcare, and my best friend is a DO and my husband is an MD, so I've seen and heard a lot about both paths.

:yeahthat:

I don't think there are many differences anymore. I think DOs, as a result of their training, also used to stick to more primary care type specialties, but I know 3 DOs now (as friends), one is a surgeon, one is an anesthesiologist, one is an Emergency Med doc who also has a faculty appointment at an allopathic medical school (i.e, a school that awards MDs). Given their fields I don't think any of them do osteopathic manipulation or much else holistically. Their residencies were the same as those with MD degrees as far as I know.

[infocrazy]

To me, it is less important whether they are MD or DO (assuming board certified) than the hospitals they are affiliated with for issues.

We have seen both DO and MD, however around here it seems that certain hospitals are DO and others are MD. In our case, on the few occasions that DH has had something serious (30 years of playing hockey takes it's toll!) they referred him to hospitals that I didn't like. The turning point was when we went once asked the specialist about the MRI results (which said the findings were abnormal for a circulatory issue) and he said that the radiologist probably read the chart wrong, so when we asked what he saw, he said oh, I didn't look at the films!!!! He just had a fax! The next day, I switched our practice.

It was a shame, because we really liked the family practice of DO (open nights and weekends too!) but in the end, we switched to an MD practice because when something was really wrong, we have a hospital preference.

[tabegle]

This excerpt is from my DO's website:
"Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine are fully licensed physicians who specialize in all areas of medicine and founded on the “whole person” treatment approach to medicine. Osteopathic physicians have a complete understanding of the ways that an injury or illness in one part of the body can affect another. As is the case with NCH Medical Group’s allopathic physicians (MDs), our DOs focus on preventative healthcare, the rapid and accurate diagnosis and treatment of acute illness/disease, and effective disease management.

"For more detailed information on DO physicians, including similarities/differences between DOs and MDs, contact the American Osteopathic Association website: www.osteopathic.org"

I LOVE LOVE LOVE my DO. I think she is more thorough and picks up on the little details. I still admire how she did the reflex test on my knee and the proceeded to suggest getting my thyroid tested (8 years ago). Low and behold, my thyroid was out of range. I went off to see my own endocrinologist only to fire him. I'm going back to my DO to treat my thyroid because she was so thorough and I trust her.

I do realize this could just be *her* and not her DO approach. I've also read that DOs have one more year of schooling that MDs.