Is there any real difference between an M.D. and a D.O.?

[Bunny]

I'm thinking of changing my primary care physician, who is an M.D. Since I'm motivated by location, the next closest physician is a D.O. The D.O. is covered under my health insurance. Are there any significant differences between the two?

[Gormy Cuss]

1. In general, no. Osteopaths put more emphasis on how illness or conditions

in one part of the body may be related to other parts of the body but on a day-to-day basis your experience may be no different that with an M.D. Overall their approach is more holistic. A good osteopath is a good doctor, period.

My family had only D.O.s for years because they were the only physicians in our area who would take Medicaid patients. Like all doctors, there were good ones, and not so good ones.

[Bunny]

3. Okay, good. I was afraid that a D.O. might be more into the

"herbs and spices" approach to treating things, and frankly, when I'm sick I want actual drugs, not herbs and vitamins. I guess I'm a slave to Big Pharma. ;)

[Gormy Cuss]

5. They'll help you support Big Pharma.

No problem there. Their holistic approach is more involved with the musculoskeletal system and theirs is a more "hands-on " approach in that they will do some manipulation but the good ones that I've known always explain that ahead of time and give the patient the option of that or more traditional treatments. Never had a problem getting drugs when drugs were needed.

[Connonym]

2. If you ask an M.D.

they'll tell you they're better but I think it's just snobbery on their part. They all have to complete the same licensing process. I love my D.O.

[Bunny]

4. Yeah, I imagine a lot of MD's would be pretty snobby about that.

[KitchenWitch]

6. They are like an MD only they try to get to the underlying condition

behind the symptoms.

Some are even trained to do spinal adjustments like chiropractors.

My new PCP is an Osteopath! Love him.

[Scout]

7. don't go to a DO.

I went to one once ... I had mono, acute tonsillitis and strep throat. He did a strep culture, and sent me home to drink hot tea and have a warm shower. Then said the strep culture was negative the next day...

I went home to an MD, who correctly diagnosed me and gave me antibiotics, etc.

[ileus]

9. You went to an ID10T not a DO

I went to a MD with a grade 4 separated shoulder, he sent me home with some pain meds and said I "may" want to see an orthopod in a few days. I went to our best orthapod the next day and was scheduled for surgery the next day. Oh....he was a DO.
So are all MD's crap and DO's great because of my experience?

I was called to the OR once because the brain surgen didn't know how to turn the microscopes light source.



Most DO's are fine, for that matter a FNP or PA is fine for family care. DO's don't treat you for cancer you know if they have any doubts they'll refer you. Have a little faith, Word of mouth is the best thing when selecting doctors.

Anyone who works in a hospital will tell you that every DR/DO ect... will have their detractors for valid and FOS reasons.

There are Dr.s I hate working with, however.com one's I like working with I may not seek treatment from. It's a crap shoot, recommendations from people you trust are your best friend.

[rug]

8. I think the difference is historical.

http://www.cranialacademy.org/history.html

You'll find D.O.s in all the specialties including psychiatry.

[borlis]

10. You are right.

One of my good friends is a D.O. He is a cardiologist and a highly regarded one as well.

[Strawman]

11. Been to both and I don't notice any difference

Currently see a DO and he is great.

[Critters2]

12. DOs are more likely to serve in small towns, so I've had DOs for years

In fact, I was on a committee to bring a physician to a small town once. There were two things I noticed. First, most of the MDs who would talk to us had gone to school off-shore. I'll be honest in that I don't know much about the quality of education at those schools, but I was skeptical. We interviewed DOs who'd gone to school in Des Moines, Chicago, and Kansas City.

Then there were the questions they'd ask. The MDs ALWAYS asked about the golf course, to the point that we added a visit to the golf course to our itinerary, when an MD came to town. They also asked about theaters, department stores. One asked whether the garages in town could service a Lexus. They also asked about medical facilities, etc, but never first. DOs otoh, wanted to see the local nursing homes and hospitals. They'd ask about stores, theaters, etc, but way late in the process.

My impression of DOs was that they had a sense of vocation when it came to medicine, and were grateful to serve wherever they could. I've been told, by friends who've studied in other fields at Des Moines University, that DOs get more training in bedside manner, patient relations, that sort of thing.

As far as herbs, alternative meds, I've never known a DO to use them. But, otoh, if you tell them you're using them (like when I told mine that I took 5-htp for mood swings) they don't freak out like MDs can. They're open to other modalities, but don't generally use them themselves.

When I moved here, it was the first place I've lived in a long time with a choice of physicians in town. I knew what I was looking for, and immediately sought out a woman DO. I don't no that I would ever go to an MD for primary care after my experiences. I'm completely impressed with DOs as professionals and as caring people.

And I say all this as someone who's deeply skeptical of chiropractic, which was once related to Osteopathy. Won't go to a chiropractor, but have no qualms about DOs.

[Critters2]

13. Here's a chart comparing MDs, DOs, and Chiropractors

http://www.osteohome.com/SubPages/compare.html

What I find interesting is that DOs are required to do more continuing ed than MDs.