Florida Society of the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians: About Osteopathic Physicians

What is a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.)?

If you're like most people, you've been going to a physician ever since you were born and perhaps were not aware whether you were seeing a D.O. (osteopathic physician) or an M.D. (allopathic physician). You may not even be aware that there are two types of complete physicians in the United States.

The fact is that both D.O.s and M.D.s are fully qualified physicians licensed to prescribe medication and perform surgery. Is there any difference between these two kinds of physicians? Yes. And no.

D.O.s and M.D.s are alike in many ways:

Applicants to both D.O. and M.D. medical colleges typically have four-year undergraduate degrees with an emphasis on scientific courses.
Both D.O.s and M.D.s complete four years of basic medical education.
After medical school, both D.O.s and M.D.s obtain graduate medical education through such programs as internships and residencies. This training typically lasts three to six years and prepares D.O.s and M.D.s to practice a specialty.
Both D.O.s and M.D.s can choose to practice in any specialty area of medicine-such as pediatrics, family practice, psychiatry, surgery or obstetrics.
D.O.s and M.D.s must pass comparable examinations to obtain state licenses.
D.O.s and M.D.s both practice in fully accredited and licensed health care facilities.
Together, D.O.s and M.D.s enhance the state of health care available in America.

D.O.s, however, belong to a separate yet equal branch of American medical care. It is the ways that D.O.s and M.D.s are different that can bring an extra dimension to your family's health care.

Excerpted from "A Historical Perspective on the Philosophy of Osteopathic Medicine," by Robert E. Suter, D.O., based on the writing of A.T. Still

More Than a Century of Unique Care

Osteopathic medicine is a unique form of American medical care that was started in 1874 by Andrew Taylor Still, M.D., D.O. Dr. Still was dissatisfied with the effectiveness of 19th century medicine. He believed that many of the medications of his day were useless or even harmful. Dr. Still was one of the first in his time to study the attributes of good health so that he could better understand the process of disease.

In response, Dr. Still developed a philosophy of medicine based on ideas that date back to Hippocrates, the father of medicine. That philosophy focuses on the unity of all body parts. Dr. Still identified the musculoskeletal system as a key element of health. He recognized the body's ability to heal itself and stressed preventive medicine, eating properly and keeping fit.

Dr. Still pioneered the concept of "wellness" more than 130 years ago. In today's terms, D.O.s evaluate each patient's personal health risks-such as smoking, high blood pressure, excessive cholesterol levels, stress and other lifestyle factors. In coordination with prescribing appropriate medical treatment, osteopathic physicians act as teachers to help patients take more responsibility for their well-being and to change un-healthy patterns.

21st Century, Frontier Medicine

Just as Dr. Still pioneered osteopathic medicine in 1874, today's osteopathic physicians serve as modern-day medical pioneers.

They continue the tradition of bringing health care to areas of greatest need:

Approximately 65% of practicing osteopathic physicians specialize in primary care areas, such as pediatrics, family practice, obstetrics and gynecology, and internal medicine.
Many D.O.s fill a critical need for physicians by practicing in rural and other medically underserved communities.

Today osteopathic physicians continue to be on the cutting edge of medicine. D.O.s are able to combine today's medical technology with their ears, to listen caringly to their patients; their eyes, to see their patients as whole persons; and their hands, to diagnose and treat injury and illness.

D.O.s bring something extra to medicine:

Osteopathic medical schools emphasize training students to be primary care physicians.
D.O.s practice a "whole person" approach to medicine. Instead of just treating specific symptoms or illnesses, they regard your body as an integrated whole.
Osteopathic physicians focus on preventive health care.
D.O.s receive extra training in the musculoskeletal system-your body's interconnected system of nerves, muscles and bones that make up two-thirds of your body mass. This training provides osteopathic physicians with a better understanding of the ways that an illness or injury in one part of your body can affect another.
Osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) is incorporated into the training and practice of osteopathic physicians. With OMT, osteopathic physicians use their hands to diagnose illness and injury and to encourage your body's natural tendency toward good health. By combining all other available medical options with OMT, D.O.s offer their patients the most comprehensive care available in medicine today.
If you are not seeing a D.O. and would like help finding one, please click on the “Find A Member” link in the menu above. If you are looking for a D.O. near you outside of the state of Florida, you can search the AOA Database to find one in your area, or call (866) FIND-A-DO.

What is a D.O.? (Downloadable brochure from the AOA)

Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT): Hands-On Care

Nearly every day, medical science unveils new discoveries from brain scans to anti-cancer drugs. In the midst of these wonders, it's easy to forget that sometimes what patients really need is a healing touch. Osteopathic physicians haven't forgotten.

What Is OMT?
Osteopathic manipulative treatment, or OMT, is hands-on care. It involves using the hands to diagnose, treat, and prevent illness or injury. Using OMT, your osteopathic physician (D.O.) will move your muscles and joints using techniques including stretching, gentle pressure and resistance.

Who Can Benefit From OMT?
OMT can help people of all ages and backgrounds. It can:

ease pain
promote healing
increase mobility

OMT is often used to treat muscle pain. But it can also help patients with a number of other health problems such as:

asthma
sinus disorder
carpal tunnel syndrome
migraines
menstrual pain

When appropriate, OMT can complement––and even replace––drugs or surgery. In this way, OMT brings an imporatant dimension to standard medical care.

What Is a D.O.?

The physicians who practice OMT are Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.s). Both D.O.s and M.D.s are fully licensed physicians. They provide a full range of services, from prescribing drugs to performing surgery, and they use the latest medical tools. But D.O.s offer something special—their unique approach to patient care. They:

teach patients how to prevent illness and injury by maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
look at the whole person to reach a diagnosis without focusing just on symptoms.
help the body to heal itself.
believe that all parts of the body work together and influence one another. D.O.s are specially trained in the nervous system and the musculoskelatal system (muscles and bones).
are trained to perform osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT).

They provide the best care that medicine has to offer. If you’ve never been to a D.O. before, you may wonder what to expect. A typical office visit includes four parts: interview, exam, diagnosis, and treatment.

Interview
The D.O. will talk with you about your medical history. In addition, you will be asked about such factors as your home, work, and family life.

Exam
Your D.O. will do a complete physical exam. If necessary, tests will be ordered. The physician will do a structural exam, which starts by checking your posture, spine, and balance. The D.O. will then use fingers to feel your back, hands, and feet. Also, the physician will check your joints, muscles, tendons, and ligaments.

Diagnosis
The D.O. will consider the results of the interview and exam and will tell you what may be causing your symptoms.

Treatment
The D.O. will suggest a treatment plan. This may include such options as drugs and surgery. It may also include OMT. Depending on how severe your problem is, you may need more than one OMT session.

Carol's Story
“I went to a D.O. because I had a sharp pain in my side. Plus, I was having trouble moving. The D.O. asked some questions about the pain: How strong it was, when it started, and how long had I felt it? We also talked about my medical history. He ordered some tests to find out if the pain was caused by disease. The tests showed that it wasn’t. Then he asked me about my lifestyle, including my job. When I described my workstation, he said the pain might be caused by sitting and moving in unhealthy ways. The D.O. recommended using OMT to reduce the pain and help me become more mobile. And he gave me some tips for changing my workstation to prevent future problems.”

Mike's Story
"I had a cough, stuffy nose, fever, and headache. After feeling sick for a while, I visited my D.O. She thought I might have chronic sinusitis. To make sure, she first did an exam and ordered tests. It turned out she was right on target. Then she gave me a prescription for an antibiotic to get rid of the infection. Plus, she used OMT to help drain my sinuses and relieve my headache. After just one OMT session, I felt a lot less stuffy. And the antibiotics cleared up the problem for good.”

Does OMT Work?
Consider the results of a study published in a 2003 issue of Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine. Researchers observed the effects of OMT as an added treatment for children suffering from frequent ear infections. Patients were divided into two groups. One group received routine care for the infections while the other received routine care plus OMT. The results found a potential benefit of using OMT as an added treatment by possibly preventing or decreasing the need for surgical interventions or the overuse of antibiotics. In addition, The New England Journal of Medicine published a study in November 1999. In the study, researchers looked at how well OMT works to treat low-back pain. Patients were divided into two groups. One group got standard treatments, such as hot and cold packs, physical therapy, and drugs. The other group received standard care plus OMT. Twelve weeks later, patients in both groups felt better. But those in the OMT group used less medication and less physical therapy. That meant they had fewer side effects and lower health care costs.

What Credentials Does a D.O. Have?
Upon receiving a college degree, D.O.s complete four years of training at an osteopathic medical school. After graduation, D.O.s serve internships and residencies. Internships expose D.O.s to all areas of primary care medicine— family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, as well as obstetrics and gynecology. Residencies consist of between two to six years of additional training, allowing D.O.s to specialize in any area of medicine, ranging from the primary care disciplines of family medicine, general internal medicine, and pediatrics to such specialized disciplines as surgery, radiology, oncology, psychiatry and sports medicine. But more than 60% percent of practicing D.O.s choose to stay in primary care. To go into practice, D.O.s must pass a national licensing exam and be licensed by the state in which they will provide medical care.

When Did Osteopathic Medicine Start?
Physicians have been using their hands to treat patients for hundreds of years, at least. Osteopathic medicine traces its official start to the year 1874 when Dr. Andrew Taylor Still founded the discipline.
More than a century later, osteopathic medicine is among the fastest-growing sectors of health care. By the year 2020, it’s projected that approximately 100,000 D.O.s will be practicing in the United States.
OMT, Hands-on Care (Downloadable Brochure from the AOA)

Osteopathic Medical Education

Osteopathic medicine is emerging as one of our nation's fastest growing healthcare professions. And with good reason. Because of their commitment to primary care and prevention, osteopathic physicians (D.O.s) are becoming the physicians of choice for more and more people. Osteopathic medicine emphasizes the inter-relationship of the body's nerves, muscles, bones and organs. The osteopathic philosophy of treating the whole person is applied to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of illness, disease and injury. Because osteopathic medical education places a strong emphasis on primary medical care, more than 65% of all D.O.s practice in these areas including family practice, internal medicine, obstetrics/gynecology and pediatrics. While the majority of D.O.s provide primary care, they can also specialize in any area of medicine from psychiatry to cardiology to ophthalmology.

To be considered for admission to any of the nation's osteopathic medical schools, applicants typically have a bachelor's degree, with undergraduate studies that include one year each of English, biological sciences, physics, general chemistry and organic chemistry. Other requirements may include genetics, mathematics, and psychology. Most prospective D.O. students major in sciences with an emphasis in biology or chemistry; however, applicants may major in any discipline as long as they meet the minimum course and grade requirements. Applicants must also take the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT).

Osteopathic medicine is a people-oriented profession that demands dedicated and empathetic individuals. Prospective osteopathic medical students must exhibit a genuine concern for people. Applicants may wish to spend some time with a D.O. or do volunteer work in a healthcare setting before considering a career in this field. Osteopathic medical colleges require a personal interview to assess an applicant's desire to become an osteopathic physician. For a catalog of requirements and information, contact any of the Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine.

The first two years of the osteopathic medical curriculum focus on basic sciences. The third and fourth years emphasize clinical work, with much of the teaching in community hospitals, major medical centers and doctors' offices. During the clinical years, students study general medicine and are involved in research. They rotate through urban, suburban and rural settings, gaining exposure to all areas of medicine.
Osteopathic principles and practices, which emphasize the relationship between body systems, are integrated into the four-year curriculum. Students learn osteopathic manipulative treatment for prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease.

Following graduation, D.O.s complete an approved 12-month internship. Interns rotate through hospital departments including internal medicine, family practice and surgery. Many may then choose to complete a residency program in a specialty area, requiring two to six years of additional training. D.O.s are licensed for the full practice of medicine and surgery in all 50 states. Each state determines the tests and procedures for licensing its physicians. In some states, the same tests are given to D.O.s and M.D.s; other states administer separate licensing exams.

Continuing Medical Education is a lifetime commitment to learning by osteopathic physicians who recognize that the study of medicine does not end with completion of medical school. The American Osteopathic Association requires its members to earn a specified number of continuing medical education credits every three years in order to maintain membership. For more information on admission to a college of osteopathic medicine, visit the Web site of the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine.

Tenets of Osteopathic Medicine

First, do no harm. A thoughtful diagnosis should be made before exposing the patient to any potentially harmful procedure.

Look beyond the disease for the cause. Treatment should center on the cause, with effect addressed only when it benefits the patient in some tangible way.

The practice of medicine should be based on sound medical principles. Only therapies proven clinically beneficial in improving patient outcome should be recommended.

The body is subject to mechanical laws. The science of physics applies to humans. Even a slight alteration in the body’s precision can result in disorders that overcome natural defenses.

The body has the potential to make all substances necessary to insure its health. No medical approach can exceed the efficacy of the body’s natural defense systems if those defenses are functioning properly. Therefore, teaching the patient to care for his own health and to prevent disease is part of a physician’s responsibility.

The nervous system controls, influences, and/or integrates all bodily functions.

Osteopathy embraces all known areas of practice.

Excerpted from A Historical Perspective on the Philosophy of Osteopathic Medicine, by Robert E. Suter, D.O., based on the writing of A.T. Still.

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The Osteopathic Medical Profession Report

Developed more than 130 years ago by Andrew Taylor Still, MD, DO, osteopathic medicine brings a unique philosophy to traditional medicine. With an emphasis on the inter-relationship of the body's nerves, muscles, bones and organs, osteopathic medical school curriculum prepares osteopathic medical students to apply the philosophy of treating the whole person to prevent, diagnose and treat illness, disease and injury.

Osteopathic physicians (DOs) are fully-licensed to prescribe medicine and practice in all specialty areas including surgery. DOs are trained to consider the health of the whole person and use their hands to help diagnose and treat their patients.