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What is the difference between allopathic and osteopathic medicine?
Wiki User
∙ 10y ago
There is a huge difference in nurse practitioner and osteopathic (and allopathic) physician training.
Physicians complete 4 years of college, 4 years of undergraduate medical training (allopathic or osteopathic - which includes over 150 hours of didactic training and at least 2000-3000 hours of clinical training), then between 3 and 6 years of residency training, which incorporates > 12000 more hours of clinical training as well as formal didactics.
Nurse practitioners complete 4 years of nursing school, then 2-3 years of didactic and clinical training. Nurse practitioner school is typically a masters degree, the majority of which may be pursued online and part time, includes about 50 didactic hours and an undisclosed number of clinical training hours. The doctor of nursing practice, which is a relatively new degree, includes an extra 40 hours of didactic training and 1000 hours of clinical training - again, much of which can be performed online.
So, as you see, there is a HUGE difference in the training. In addition, the didactic training in medical school is in hard sciences (biochemistry, cell biology, genetics, pharmacology, pathophysiology, as well as training in the individual fields - cardiology, neurology, pulmonology, etc), while nurse practitioner didactics are a lot of nursing theory, practice management and is fairly light on hard science.
FNP responds: While I agree that the DO and MD have more years of education and clinical experience, please disregard the uninformed information provided about the NP education. My master's curriculum was more along the lines of the doctoral program comparable with physical therapists, occupational therapists and other health science field doctorates. Between the 4 years undergrad and 3 years masters, I completed approx. 1500 clinical hours (which were entirely on-site). All undergraduate clinical hours are on-location, NOT online. All graduate CLINICAL hours must be completed with a vetted MD, DO, or NP. Performance is routinely critiqued and rated. As a DNP student now, yes, I can complete some research courses online, but all my clinical courses will still be onsite. All RN clinical is ONSITE, all MSN clinical is ONSITE.
My undergrad curriculum was right along side the pre-med candidates - the same chemistry, Biology, physiology, pathology, pathophysiology, calculus, statistics, microbiology. . . As I progressed to the master's level, this was expanded to advanced pathophysiology, advanced statistics and research, advanced pharmacology + others, ALONG with the "nursing theory and practice management". Depending on the specialty chosen, other courses can be included (e.g. cardiology, neurology), otherwise those courses are more of recognizing "normals" and "abnormals", assessment skills, red flags, and practical application.
What is also different with nursing versus the medical programs is the amount of Social Sciences that are ALSO included in the nursing curriculum, since from the beginning, we are trained to view the "patient" as a whole being, not just a diagnosis. So, we've studied psychology, sociology, ethics, religion, and other "soft sciences". As a family nurse practitioner, I spent my clinical rotations in the pediatric setting, internal medicine setting, orthopedics, emergency room, state psychiatric facility, community health (health department and in-home care), newborn nursery, labor and delivery, and medical-surgical rotations. As the NP chooses the specialty, the "residency" will be in the chosen area - so for me, working in a family practice clinic for my final rotation. I also was interested in orthopedics, so completed a sports medicine rotation. This is where there isn't as structured "total clinical time" as it can vary depending on the program.
As the MD has to take a credentialing exam to be considered a "MD" - which is the basic, generalist MD and shows a "basic" medical knowledge and practical ability, the NP must take a credentialing exam to show the "basic" knowledge as well. As the MD specializes further, other credentials are added, while at this point, as the NP progresses with specializing, acquiring more education, knowledge, etc., there are not necessarily "more credentials" that are added. This may change in the future and there is current debate whether the new entrance level for NPs (which will be the DNP level in 2015 as a generalist NP) should finish with taking the same USMLE (or very similar) Step 3 exam as do the medical students. In my opinion, this may be acceptable for basic clinical knowledge, but doesn't include the specialized nursing knowledge and won't distinguish the two professions. It may make some physicians and patients more comfortable with the NP education, but our purpose is NOT to be physicians, so personally, I don't agree with the final certification being the USMLE.
I will never claim that the NP (master's level) has as much education or training as a DO or general practitioner MD. There have been multiple studies that show that the certified FNP can "do" 85-95% of the same job that the MD does (general practice, not specialty). Now, that other "5-15%" is very important and I recognize when I need to consult, and what I don't know. I do collaborate with physicians. Currently I work in a subspecialty clinic and have general practitioners refer their patients to me, because I have more experience in this given field (neuropsychiatry), but I still don't have as much knowledge or as much "medical" training as the psychiatrist I collaborate with (except in the counseling arena, where I have more training.)
Even when I achieve my DNP, it will not place me on the same level as the psychiatrist regarding that specialized knowledge; but just as the PsyD psychologist or PhD pharmacist, my degree will be a doctoral degree and should be respected as such. This DNP program is focused on systems theory and holism, integrating individual nursing practice into the healthcare arena with the plan of utilizing multiple fields to provide the best care for the patient - integrated. This means transitioning healthcare into the family, community, between specialties AND utilizing all these for the benefit of the patient - not claiming NURSING only is best.
The best physicians I knew started out as nurses (or nursing assistants) and had that rounded knowledge of body-mind-spirit incorporated into their medical practice. I believe that the new medical graduates are now experiencing some of this "holistic" training as many programs are now requiring rotations with a clergy/religious representative for the hospital setting.
Please don't devalue my training or those of other NPs who have chosen to specialize and also receive extra clinical and didactic training (as do the medical specialists). There is also nothing wrong with a student who decides to work through a program on a part-time basis. Whether it is a part-time program or a full-time program is irrelevant, as the same knowledge and clinical experience must be completed in a set amount of time.
Wiki User
∙ 11y ago
Wiki User
∙ 10y agoDoctors of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) and Doctors of Medicine (M.D.) are both full-fledged physicians trained in the United States who attend four years of medical school and are eligible to specialize in any field of medicine after residency training.
Additionally, both DOs and MDs may sit for board certification examinations and each type of physician has the same legal and medical responsibilities such as prescribing medications, performing surgery, working in the hospital, medical diagnosis, etc. The difference between a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine and Doctor of Medicine is a slight one-Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine, in addition to the standard medical curriculum, receive 300-500 hours of instruction in a form of manual therapy known as osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM). This form of therapy is another approach sometimes used by DOs to address a patient's musculoskeletal issues.
Allopathic medicine is basically Western "biomedicine": prescribing drugs and doing surgery. Osteopathic medicine is nearly indistinguishable from allopathic medicine other than the fact that osteopathic physicians learn musculoskeletal manipulation in addition to the same things that allopathic physicians learn.
Wiki User
∙ 10y agoHonestly, not much any more. Both Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.)/osteopathic physicians and Doctors of Medicine (M.D.) attend medical school for four years, sit for licensure examinations, go to residency to specialize in any field of medicine, get board-certified, perhaps attend fellowship, etc. Both can prescribe medications, perform surgery, work in a hospital or academic setting, and so on. There is a slight difference in training during medical school-during the four years of osteopathic medical school, in addition to learning the traditional medical curriculum that DOs and MDs learn (anatomy, biochemistry, histology, pathology, etc.), DO students also receive 300-500 hours of instruction in a form of manual therapy known as osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT).
Honestly, not much any more. Both Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.)/osteopathic physicians and Doctors of Medicine (M.D.) attend medical school for four years, sit for licensure examinations, go to residency to specialize in any field of medicine, get board-certified, perhaps attend fellowship, etc. Both can prescribe medications, perform surgery, work in a hospital or academic setting, and so on. There is a slight difference in training during medical school-during the four years of osteopathic medical school, in addition to learning the traditional medical curriculum that DOs and MDs learn (anatomy, biochemistry, histology, pathology, etc.), DO students also receive 300-500 hours of instruction in a form of manual therapy known as osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT).
In the US, the terms are sometimes used to distinguish between those with an MD (Doctor of Medicine) degree and those with a DO (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine) degree. (In other countries, the term allopathy seems to be more likely to be used for "alternative" methods like homeopathy and chiropractic.) DOs and MDs have essentially identical courses of study, except that DOs also take classes in osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM). (This is true only in the United States. In other countries, such as the UK, osteopathy is a practice that is similar to chiropractic and its practitioners are not fully trained physicians as DOs are in the US.)
In general you'll get basically the same treatment from both, they're usually licensed by the same boards, and most of the time hospitals accept either as interns or residents.
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What is the difference between complementary medicine and holistic medicine?
complementary medicine is used to refer to the use of both allopathic and holistic treatments. It is more often used in
Is there a difference between an MD and a DO?
Yes M.D. is a medical doctor D.O. is a doctor of osteopathic medicine its more natural and manipulated medicine
What does the DO after a doctors name mean?
It means that he or she is a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine. The "DO" degree is conferred upon successful completion of a medical education at any of the Osteopathic Medical Schools in the United States. The "MD" degree is conferred upon successful completion of a medical education at any of the Allopathic Medical Schools. If you are a patient you need not worry about which initials follow a doctor's last name. MDs and DOs work side by side in every state and corner of the country. There is no substantive difference between the two.
Difference between MD and DO?
Holders of a DO are known as osteopathic physicians, while holders of an MD are sometimes referred to as allopathic physicians D.O.s are trained much in the same way as M.D.s, with the addition of osteopathic manipulative medicine techniques. Osteopaths also believe strongly in the healing power of the body and do their best to facilitate that strength. During this century, the disciplines of osteopathy and allopathic medicine have been converging.For the source and more detailed information concerning your request, click on the related links section (Wikipedia) indicated directly below this answer section.Holders of a DO are known as osteopathic physicians, while holders of an MD are sometimes referred to as allopathic physicians D.O.s are trained much in the same way as M.D.s, with the addition of osteopathic manipulative medicine techniques. Osteopaths also believe strongly in the healing power of the body and do their best to facilitate that strength. During this century, the disciplines of osteopathy and allopathic medicine have been converging.For the source and more detailed information concerning your request, click on the related links section (Wikipedia) indicated directly below this answer section.Holders of a DO are known as osteopathic physicians, while holders of an MD are sometimes referred to as allopathic physicians D.O.s are trained much in the same way as M.D.s, with the addition of osteopathic manipulative medicine techniques. Osteopaths also believe strongly in the healing power of the body and do their best to facilitate that strength. During this century, the disciplines of osteopathy and allopathic medicine have been converging.For the source and more detailed information concerning your request, click on the related links section (Wikipedia) indicated directly below this answer section.Holders of a DO are known as osteopathic physicians, while holders of an MD are sometimes referred to as allopathic physicians D.O.s are trained much in the same way as M.D.s, with the addition of osteopathic manipulative medicine techniques. Osteopaths also believe strongly in the healing power of the body and do their best to facilitate that strength. During this century, the disciplines of osteopathy and allopathic medicine have been converging.For the source and more detailed information concerning your request, click on the related links section (Wikipedia) indicated directly below this answer section.Holders of a DO are known as osteopathic physicians, while holders of an MD are sometimes referred to as allopathic physicians D.O.s are trained much in the same way as M.D.s, with the addition of osteopathic manipulative medicine techniques. Osteopaths also believe strongly in the healing power of the body and do their best to facilitate that strength. During this century, the disciplines of osteopathy and allopathic medicine have been converging.For the source and more detailed information concerning your request, click on the related links section (Wikipedia) indicated directly below this answer section.Holders of a DO are known as osteopathic physicians, while holders of an MD are sometimes referred to as allopathic physicians D.O.s are trained much in the same way as M.D.s, with the addition of osteopathic manipulative medicine techniques. Osteopaths also believe strongly in the healing power of the body and do their best to facilitate that strength. During this century, the disciplines of osteopathy and allopathic medicine have been converging.For the source and more detailed information concerning your request, click on the related links section (Wikipedia) indicated directly below this answer section.
What is the difference between a doctor of medicine and a doctor of osteopathic medicine?
Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) and Doctors of Medicine (M.D.) are both full-fledged physicians trained in the United States who attend four years of medical school and are eligible to specialize in any field of medicine after residency training. Additionally, both DOs and MDs may sit for board certification examinations and each type of physician has the same legal and medical responsibilities such as prescribing medications, performing surgery, working in the hospital, medical diagnosis, etc. The difference between a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine and Doctor of Medicine is a slight one-Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine, in addition to the standard medical curriculum, receive 300-500 hours of instruction in a form of manual therapy known as osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM). This form of therapy is another approach sometimes used by DOs to address a patient's musculoskeletal issues.
What's the difference between a Doctor of Medicine and a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine?
Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) and Doctors of Medicine (M.D.) are both full-fledged physicians trained in the United States who attend four years of medical school and are eligible to specialize in any field of medicine after residency training. Additionally, both DOs and MDs may sit for board certification examinations and each type of physician has the same legal and medical responsibilities such as prescribing medications, performing surgery, working in the hospital, medical diagnosis, etc. The difference between a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine and Doctor of Medicine is a slight one-Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine, in addition to the standard medical curriculum, receive 300-500 hours of instruction in a form of manual therapy known as osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM). This form of therapy is another approach sometimes used by DOs to address a patient's musculoskeletal issues.
2 What is the difference between a Doctor of Medicine and a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine?
Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) and Doctors of Medicine (M.D.) are both full-fledged medical physicians trained in the United States who attend four years of medical school and are eligible to specialize in any field of medicine after residency training. Additionally, both DOs and MDs may sit for board certification examinations and each type of physician has the same legal and medical responsibilities such as prescribing medications, performing surgery, working in the hospital, medical diagnosis, etc. The difference between a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine and Doctor of Medicine is a slight one-Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine, in addition to the standard medical curriculum, receive 300-500 hours of instruction in a form of manual therapy known as osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM). This form of therapy is another approach sometimes used by DOs to address a patient's musculoskeletal issues.
What did a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine study?
Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) and Doctors of Medicine (M.D.) are both full-fledged physicians trained in the United States who attend four years of medical school and are eligible to specialize in any field of medicine after residency training. So, to answer your original question, Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine study medicine! Additionally, both DOs and MDs may sit for board certification examinations and each type of physician has the same legal and medical responsibilities such as prescribing medications, performing surgery, working in the hospital, medical diagnosis, etc. The difference between a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine and Doctor of Medicine is a slight one-Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine, in addition to the standard medical curriculum, receive 300-500 hours of instruction in a form of manual therapy known as osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM). This form of therapy is another approach sometimes used by DOs to address a patient's musculoskeletal issues.
What is the difference between Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine and Doctors of Medicine?
Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) and Doctors of Medicine (M.D.) are both full-fledged physicians trained in the United States who attend four years of medical school and are eligible to specialize in any field of medicine after residency training. As an aside, the term "allopath" or any derivative of that term is usually discouraged since some physicians find its use offensive and the correct term is Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine (not Doctors of Osteopathy or Osteopathy Doctors). Additionally, both DOs and MDs may sit for board certification examinations and each type of physician has the same legal and medical responsibilities such as prescribing medications, performing surgery, working in the hospital, medical diagnosis, etc. The difference between a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine and Doctor of Medicine is a slight one-Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine, in addition to the standard medical curriculum, receive 300-500 hours of instruction in a form of manual therapy known as osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM). This form of therapy is another approach sometimes used by DOs to address a patient's musculoskeletal issues.
What does a osteopathic doctor study?
Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) and Doctors of Medicine (M.D.) are both full-fledged physicians trained in the United States who attend four years of medical school and are eligible to specialize in any field of medicine after residency training. To answer your initial question, Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine study medicine. Additionally, both DOs and MDs may sit for board certification examinations and each type of physician has the same legal and medical responsibilities such as prescribing medications, performing surgery, working in the hospital, medical diagnosis, etc. The difference between a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine and Doctor of Medicine is a slight one-Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine, in addition to the standard medical curriculum, receive 300-500 hours of instruction in a form of manual therapy known as osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM). This form of therapy is another approach sometimes used by DOs to address a patient's musculoskeletal issues.
What is osteopathy?
Osteopathy was founded in 1874 by Dr. Andrew Taylor Still in the USA and has now branched into two fields: osteopathic medicine (in the United States) and osteopathy (outside of the United States). Osteopathy is an established internationally recognized manual medicine system of diagnosis and treatment, which lays its main emphasis on the structural and functional integrity of the musculoskeletal system. Osteopaths use a variety of hands-on physical treatments. These include soft tissue techniques, joint mobilization & manipulation, muscle energy treatment and functional (strain and counter strain) techniques. These techniques are normally employed together with exercise, dietary, and occupational advice in an attempt to help patients recover from pain, disease and injury. European style Osteopaths do not prescribe medications or perform surgery, while American osteopathic physicians (Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine-D.O.) are medical physicians who are trained and licensed (depending on specialty of course) to practice osteopathic medicine (not osteopathy) and diagnose illness, perform surgery, and prescribe medications as well as using osteopathic techniques in managing a patient's condition.
What can a doctor of Osteopathic medicine do?
Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) and Doctors of Medicine (M.D.) are both full-fledged physicians trained in the United States who attend four years of medical school and are eligible to specialize in any field of medicine after residency training. Additionally, both DOs and MDs may sit for board certification examinations and each type of physician has the same legal and medical responsibilities such as prescribing medications, performing surgery, working in the hospital, medical diagnosis, etc. The difference between a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine and Doctor of Medicine is a slight one-Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine, in addition to the standard medical curriculum, receive 300-500 hours of instruction in a form of manual therapy known as osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM). This form of therapy is another approach sometimes used by DOs to address a patient's musculoskeletal issues.
