When you visit a doctor at his workplace, you can tell what type of degree he has by the letters after his name. If they went to a traditional medical school, they’ll have “MD” after their name, indicating they have a doctor of medicine degree. But sometimes you see “DO” after their name; what Dr is a DO?
In this short article, I will explain the main similarities and differences between “MD” and “DO” in order to help you find the type of physician that best suits their needs.
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What is “MD” in medicine ?
The initials “M.D.” stand for “Doctor of Medicine” or “Medical Doctor,” which is the more commonly known kind of physician. A doctor of medicine attends a four-year allopathic (conventional) medical school where they receive their MD degree. After completing their school’s program, allopathic students match into a residency, where they will train in their specialty of choice.
What is a “DO” in medicine ?
The initials D.O. stand for “Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine”, it is granted to physicians who graduate from an osteopathic medical school. Osteopathic medicine is an approach to the practice of medicine that focuses on treating the body as an integrated whole rather than treating for specific symptoms or individual system.
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What is the similarity between M.D. and a D.O.?
Both MD and DO are similar in important ways, including:
- Both attend medical school; many complete residencies at the same hospitals, where they learn the same things, and the physicians frequently become colleagues once their training is complete as well.
- They graduated from medical school certified to see patients, diagnose conditions, prescribe medications, and perform surgeries.
- Meet the same standards set forth by their state’s licensing body to practice medicine.
- Both are fully licensed to work in all 50 states.
- Examine and treat patients with methods based on scientific conclusions.
- Both physicians can practice in all areas of medicine, from primary to specialty care.
What is the difference between an “MD” and “DO” ?
Although both attend medical school, the philosophy of the two is vastly different. MD use symptoms to develop a diagnosis and an appropriate treatment plan via conventional methods. On the other hand, a DO practices osteopathic medicine, which means that an osteopathic doctor views the patient from a more holistic perspective beyond the symptoms that are being presented. i.e., in a way that treats the whole person, taking into account mental, nutritional, and social factors, rather than just the symptoms of a disease.
A DO also receives an additional 200 hours of training in the skill of osteopathic manipulative medicine. This means that if a patient presents with muscle pain, a DO may choose to manipulate the musculoskeletal tissue to relieve pain
What to choose, MD or DO ?
when it comes to choosing between an MD or DO, There’s no right answer since Both are equally qualified to treat patients and prescribe medication if need it. but If you’re looking for a more hands-on doctor who might be more open to alternative treatment options, consider seeing a DO.
Most DO no longer use osteopathic manipulative medicine in their daily work, blurring the lines between their practices and MD practices. At the same time, large number of MD now integrate a whole-person perspective into their treatment.
Conclusion
In short, both MD and OD share medical knowledge and clinical practice. Both are legally licensed to work in all states but differ in their approach to patient care. A MD will focus on symptoms and signs to reach a diagnosis and treat you. While an OD will take into consideration all other aspects like your mental state, social background, and nutrition and treat your body as one unit. in my medical opinion a collaborative medical care team from MD and OD Is the best choice to deal with medical conditions
Which do you prefer, MD or OD? Let me know in the comments.
