Patient advocate: What D.O. you know about osteopathy?
Nurse practitioners and physician assistants are two types of primary caregivers who help doctors treat more patients efficiently and extend health care into underserved areas. I’ve discussed both of these roles in previous columns.
Today, I want to talk about another health-care role that we’re seeing more and more often: doctors of osteopathy, also known as osteopathic doctors and osteopaths. I’ve noticed that D.O.s are showing up more frequently in lists of primary care providers, and I wondered why that was so. And if you’re looking for a new practitioner, you may find more D.O.s than M.D.s in your network.
It’s not surprising that we’re seeing more D.O.s. The number of osteopathic doctors has quadrupled in the past three decades, according to the American Osteopathic Association, and they represent 11% of all physicians in the U.S. In addition, more than 40,000 students are enrolled in osteopathic medicine programs, compared to about 100,000 students in traditional medical schools.
Let’s look at what osteopathic doctors are, dispel some myths, and see how they differ from medical doctors.
What is osteopathy?
Osteopathic medicine is a distinctly American form of medicine. In 1874, a Civil War medic by the name of Andrew Taylor Still, dissatisfied with what he saw as shortcomings in medical care, established a philosophy that the body was designed for health and that it could heal itself through manipulation of the musculoskeletal system. He founded the first osteopathic medical school in 1892 in Missouri.
Today, osteopaths are fully licensed medical professionals in all 50 states — the U.S. is the only country in the world with two types of medical systems. Their specialties include pediatrics, surgery, radiology, oncology and psychiatry, and they still incorporate some of Still’s philosophy of using hands-on techniques as a form of treatment.
What education do osteopaths have?
Osteopathic education used to be quite different from that of medical doctors, but that distinction has all but evaporated.
M.D. and D.O. programs, both very rigorous, take about 11 years (or more depending on specialization), and classes are the same: anatomy, biochemistry, physiology and the like. One difference is that about 10% of D.O. coursework focuses on hands-on therapies, described as similar to chiropractic but less aggressive.
Why is osteopathy growing?
There are a number of factors here. Probably the primary one is the realization that good care transcends the treatment of symptoms. People who are interested in a healthier lifestyle and addressing the root causes of illness are drawn to osteopathy.
Another factor, according to a recent New York Times story, is that the number of osteopathic schools continues to grow, with 14 campuses opening in the past five years. The field is also growing in recognition and prestige. The article pointed out that D.O.s oversaw the health of the president during the last three administrations.
The dearth of primary care physicians is an opportunity for osteopathic doctors to fill a void. Osteopathic medicine's focus on preventative care and community health is well suited for addressing the challenges of our aging population and chronic conditions such as diabetes and heart disease.
How do M.D.s look at D.O.s?
By and large, medical doctors (also called allopathic doctors) consider osteopathic doctors to be knowledgeable and skilled colleagues, albeit with a slightly different treatment philosophy. I think, though, that traditional medical schools are adopting some of the osteopathic philosophies, especially as they relate to holistic treatment and “whole patient” care, so there are definitely more similarities than differences.
Should you choose a D.O.?
There are good and bad osteopaths, just as there are good and bad medical doctors, so I recommend giving them the same scrutiny.
Are they board certified? How long have they been practicing? How are their patient satisfaction scores? Do you feel listened to? It’s always good to get recommendations from family members, friends and neighbors.
Studies have found no significant differences between M.D.s and D.O.s when it comes to patient outcomes, lengths of hospital stays, readmission rates or health-care cost. So I think the main reason to consider seeing a D.O. is if you are looking for a more holistic, patient-centered approach to your health care and would like to have your doctor focus more on prevention than on treating symptoms.
If osteopathy is moving health care in that general direction, it’s a plus for all of us.
• Teri (Dreher) Frykenberg, a registered nurse, board-certified patient advocate, is the founder of www.NurseAdvocateEntrepreneur.com, which trains medical professionals to become successful private patient advocates. She is the author of “How to Be a Healthcare Advocate for Yourself & Your Loved Ones,” available on Amazon. Frykenberg offers a free phone consultation to readers. Contact her at Teri@NurseAdvocateEntrepreneur.com.