Doctors - MD vs. DO ?

[StPeteMark]

The clinic I have been going for several years was run by a seasoned MD who knew his profession. Unfortunately, the nearby hospital bought the business and ran him off. He is being replaced with a DO only 4 years out of school and a Nurse Practitioner. Seems like plain cost-cutting to me!

Over the years I've noticed a trend of clinic groups mixing MDs and DOs. No offense to anyone, but in past generations, DOs did not have a status or reputation anywhere near an MD.

I have changed doctors before when they started to use Nurse Practitioners since I didn't feel they had sufficient knowledge of a condition. I went to see an MD and got put with the NP - felt ripped off!

I would appreciate anyone's "respectful" information, opinions, feedback, and/or experience concerning DOs.

Thanks,
SPMark
.

[WillFlyToDisney]

Okay I knew that Brett would know so I asked him. This is what he told me.

MDs are schooled in allopathic medicine
DOs are schooled in osteopathic medicine
Allopathic medicine is modern medicine. It is a method of treating disease by the use of agents producing effects different from those of the disease being treated.
Osteopathy is the body of medicine that originally used strictly manipulative techniques for correcting somatic abnormalities thought to cause disease and inhibit recovery. However, over the past century, osteopathy has embraced the full spectrum of medicine (to different degrees across the world), including the use of prescription drugs and surgery, in addition to manipulative techniques.
Both practice medicine, both can prescribe drugs, and can specialize and perform surgery.
DO schools tend to look at more than just grades when evaluating potential docs for admittance.
MD schools focus on grades and MCAT scores.
Both require the MCAT though but DO schools are an alternative to those students who can't gain admittance to an MD school due to slightly lower grades, however, they both have boards they have to pass for licensure.

[StPeteMark]

Thanks Ken and Kelley!

I did a Yahoo search and found comparisons on two (DO) websites. Kelley, they mirror exactly what you said above - tell Brett thanks!

http://www.scma-docs.com/domd_pg.htm

http://www.stronghealth.com/services/primarycare/domd.cfm

I think I'll stick with the MDs for now, and keep my options open for a DO if a condition warrants the whole body approach.
.

[WillFlyToDisney]

No problem, Mark. I know that in general the DOs aren't held with as high a regard in the medical profession as an MD.

:)
Kelley