What is Osteopathic Medicine?

Answer 1

Osteopathic Medicine is practiced by Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) with a philosophy of treating people, not just symptoms or diseases. This has sometimes been referred to as Holistic Medicine, meaning treatment of the whole person, with regard to their bodies and symptoms (just like Doctors of Medicine (MD)), and also with regard to their home, jobs, and environment to make a full assessment of their health and wellness.

Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine take additional courses on diagnosing musculoskeletal dysfunctions in their patients on top of the same types of classes that MDs take, and they are trained to use some forms of Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT) that is not taught to MDs.

It is one of the two types of study and practices of doctoral level medicine licensed in the US. The other type of medicine is practiced by Doctors of Medicine and is often defined as the treatment of symptoms and disease using traditional medical therapies. This is sometimes also referred to as "allopathic medicine", however, it is not a term that is accepted by all MDs, since it was originally coined by critics of traditional medicine and was used with a negative connotation.

MDs and DOs share more similarities than differences in the scope and practice of their work. Both MDs and DOs are licensed to provide identical services to patients including surgery and other specialties. Their studies and training are equal at all levels and in all areas (except as noted above).

They must both pass comparable examinations to become licensed to practice medicine in the states in the US. They are also typically equally paid to perform the same functions and give the same levels and quality of care.

Answer 2

Osteopathy is an approach to healthcare that emphasizes the role of the musculoskeletal system in health and disease. In most countries osteopathy is a form of complementary medicine, emphasizing a holistic approach and the skilled use of a range of manual and physical treatment interventions (osteopathic manipulative medicine, or OMM in the United States) in the prevention and treatment of disease. In practice, this most commonly relates to musculoskeletal problems such as back and neck pain. Many osteopaths see their role as facilitating the body's own recuperative powers by treating musculoskeletal or somatic dysfunction. According to the American Osteopathic Association, the difference between an osteopath and an osteopathic physician is often confused.[1] In the United States, Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.s) are fully licensed medical physicians and surgeons, practicing in all clinical specialties along with their M.D. colleagues. Just like M.D.s, D.O.s practice the full scope of medicine. Osteopathy is an approach to healthcare that emphasizes the role of the musculoskeletal system in health and disease. In most countries osteopathy is a form of complementary medicine, emphasizing a holistic approach and the skilled use of a range of manual and physical treatment interventions (osteopathic manipulative medicine, or OMM in the United States) in the prevention and treatment of disease. In practice, this most commonly relates to musculoskeletal problems such as back and neck pain. Many osteopaths see their role as facilitating the body's own recuperative powers by treating musculoskeletal or somatic dysfunction. According to the American Osteopathic Association, the difference between an osteopath and an osteopathic physician is often confused.[1] In the United States, Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.s) are fully licensed medical physicians and surgeons, practicing in all clinical specialties along with their M.D. colleagues. Just like M.D.s, D.O.s practice the full scope of medicine.

Answer 3

Osteopathic means of, or relating to Osteopathic Medicine.

In the past this term was used when speaking either of "osteopathy" (practiced outside the US) or "osteopathic medicine" which is medicine practiced by "osteopathic physicians" in the US. The US osteopathic physicians have earned a DO (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine) degree, which is essentially equivalent to an MD (Doctor of Medicine) degree. The extent of the training and limits of practice differ between the different licensing and training programs of osteopathy outside the US and US osteopathic medicine. Use in the US of the terms osteopath, osteopathy and osteopathic have been confusing.

To help clarify the differences in the present use of these terms, the American Osteopathic Association has provided the press with these definitions and descriptions to use in reporting:

Osteopathic physician (DO) should be used when referring to a fully licensed physician who graduated from an accredited osteopathic medical school in the United States who can prescribe medication and practice in all specialty areas including surgery.

Osteopath describes a health care provider trained outside of the United States who does not qualify for licensure for the unlimited practice of medicine.

Osteopathic medicine should be used instead of osteopathy when referring to medicine practiced by osteopathic physicians who graduate from accredited osteopathic medical schools in the United States.

Osteopathy should only be used when referring to the occupation of osteopaths trained outside of the United States who do not qualify for licensure for the unlimited practice of medicine.

Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine is the proper name for the degree granted by osteopathic medical schools in the United States and is represented by the acronym DO. Do not use Doctor of Osteopathy, which is an outdated term for the degree. DO also may be used in place of osteopathic physician.

The philosophy and practice of Osteopathic Medicine has been described by the American Osteopathic Association as:

Practiced by osteopathic physicians (DOs), osteopathic medicine is a complete system of medical care with a philosophy that combines the needs of the patient with the current practice of medicine, surgery and obstetrics; that emphasizes the interrelationship between structure and function; and that has an appreciation of the body's ability to heal itself. DOs are fully licensed to prescribe medicine and practice in all specialty areas including surgery. They are trained to consider the health of the whole person and use their hands to help diagnose and treat their patients.