MD vs. DO

[Shibby]

I am going to be signing up for my benefits with my new job next week. I was looking at the doctors that are providers and there is plenty of options of MD's or DO's. What are your thoughts on the each and what experience have you had if any.

[SonofBone]

I am going to be signing up for my benefits with my new job next week. I was looking at the doctors that are providers and there is plenty of options of MD's or DO's. What are your thoughts on the each and what experience have you had if any.

My GF is a MD. She has told me that she has worked with DO's in the past, & they were just as qualified to do the job. She tells me that there are MD's and DO's that are good/bad, so it may just depend on the individual.

Either way, I believe they both know the anatomy well, & in general, both should be able to do a good job.

Also, just a personal opinion, but she believes Family Practice physicians are good for maintaining wellness, but an Internist may be a little more equipped for trouble shooting & diagnosing things that aren't easily detectable.

Not sure if this is what you need or not, but thought I'd throw you my .02.

[GearTripper]

in part from http://www.mommd.com/whatisdo.shtml...

Both D.O.s and M.D.s typically have a four year undergraduate degree prior to medical training.
Both D.O.s and M.D.s have spent four-years in medical education. Both take the MCAT and are subject to a rigorous application process. Historically, D.O. schools are more open to the non-traditional candidate.
D.O.s, like M.D.s, choose to practice in a specialty area of medicine and complete a residency program ranging from 3-7 years. Some D.O.s complete the same residency programs as their M.D. counterparts.
M.D. students take the USMLE exam and D.O. students take the COMLEX exam . Both must pass a state licensing examination to practice medicine.
D.O.s perform surgery, deliver children, treat patients, prescribe medications and work in the same settings as M.D.s. D.O.s use the same tools, treatments and technologies of medicine as M.D.s.
D.O.s recieve extra training in the musculoskeletal system, which make up the nerves, muscles and bones of a person.

IMO, and past experience... for anything related to sports-training and chemical science, I have had better dealings with D.O.s over M.D.s for wahtever reasons.

[jwoody]

just curious, but what is a D.O.

[Shibby]

Well I guess I am less worried about who I see, maybe I should have asked what type of family practice would be better for my son? (he's 17mths).

[Shibby]

just curious, but what is a D.O.

doctor of osteopathic medicine

[FitnessBrat]

Well I guess I am less worried about who I see, maybe I should have asked what type of family practice would be better for my son? (he's 17mths).

I personally would only go with a pediatrician as opposed to a family practioner - whether they're a DO or and MD.....

[Scrumhalf]

What FB said.... remember a kid weighs maybe a fifth or less of what you do. They are almost another type of organism compared to adults and pediatricians specialize in this area, so you really should get a pediatrician for your son.

Another intangible - pediatricians really know how to work with kids. Even a routine visit to the doctor's office can be scary and traumatic to a kid and pediatricians generally know how to put a kid at ease and make the whole experience as comfortable as possible. The same goes for a dentist- when it is time, look for a pediatric dentistry practice.

[Shibby]

Oh, I thought a family prac specialized in kids and general adult medicine. So that parents and kids could see the same doc.

[FitnessBrat]

A family practitioner is like a "general" doctor. They see "common" things for the most part. Some people use a GP for EVERYTHING. They can do "womens yearly visits", they can see kids, etc. However, they do not specialize in one particular area and I just feel much more comfortable going to a pediatrician for children. As Scrumhalf said - just the bedside manner is so very different because pediatricians wanted to work with children everyday. Excellent point about the dentist too - if you can find a pediatric dentist it makes a world of difference.

[ROCKETW19]

Well I guess I am less worried about who I see, maybe I should have asked what type of family practice would be better for my son? (he's 17mths).

17 months wow where does time go? i remember readin your timer at the bottom of your sig before he was born, it seems like last week.

[Shibby]

17 months wow where does time go? i remember readin your timer at the bottom of your sig before he was born, it seems like last week.

It does fly, it feels like just a little bit ago that we were bringing him home, and now we have even moved to pittsburgh.