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Some Noteworthy Facts about Doctors of Osteopathy

A doctor of osteopathy, or D.O., is a highly qualified medical professional who achieved licensing as an osteopathic physician. This is considered a specialization in the field of medicine and has garnered a distinction from the M.D. designation that is reserved for allopathic medical practitioners. As a matter of fact, you might have been visiting a D.O. and do not even know it - unless you take a closer look at the letterhead or prescription pad your doctor uses and instead of the M.D. you suddenly notice a D.O. designation.

Do not panic! Both M.D.s and D.O.s are fully licensed, educated, and permitted by law to prescribe medications, tread ailments, and conduct patient care and treatment in keeping with their stated specialties. Both kinds of physician must possess an undergraduate degree with a heavy course load in scientific classes prior to being admitted to medical school. After graduating from there, both D.O.s and M.D.s complete internships, fulfill residency requirements, and lead quite frequently to a specialization in a certain field of medicine.

Both kinds of medical professionals are licensed by the states in which they practice, but when compared to the medical doctor, the doctor of osteopathy is considered to sit on a parallel track when it comes to patient care. It is noteworthy that unlike their M.D. colleagues, D.O.s work hard to prevent the need for medical attention rather than just specializing on reactively treating symptoms and illnesses. This makes for a unique relationship that develops between a D.O. and the patients under his care, and many patients become so loyal to their D.O. that they are hard pressed to seek out different medical care should the physician retire.

The fact that a D.O. considers the whole of the person as opposed to simply the sick portions has endeared this practice to individuals who are seeking for ways to remain healthy and minimize their healthcare expenditures. In the realm of patient education, the doctor of osteopathy is unrivaled, especially when illuminating how lifestyle choices and changes can affect the health of the patient as a whole. Even as many M.D.s are attempting to also fit portions of this role, it is still considered the primary dominion of the D.O.

The art of prevention has taken on a much publicized role lately, when the skyrocketing cost of healthcare in the United States and ever more expensive medical coverage plans have highlighted the need for adequate prevention and screening procedures. Patients feel that the D.O. approach fits neatly into the picture and therefore they consider their choice of medical professional one that is not only in keeping with the trends of the time, but also a smart choice with respect to their overall general healthfulness.

Some have jokingly suggested that the average D.O. covers about two thirds of the patient's body - counting the mass made up of the muscles, skeletons, and related tissues - while the average M.D. only deals with the leftover one third. Granted, this is not entirely true at face value, but it does underline the far reaching care a doctor of osteopathy has on a patient's life, health, and overall wellbeing.