if someone who never heard of "DO" asks you, what would you say in common and simple language?
How does it different from MD?
I have some trouble answering these questions. I know DO branch off from MD.
Can someone please answer my questions?
this is a cut and paste of a post I made last year on the subject....
If you think the person won't give a $hit what you say...and will have their pre-conceived notions no matter what...then just tell them you do all the same stuff and make the same money (the $$ is what most lay people actually care about...)
If you really want to educate someone..and that someone really wants to listen.....I find that it is best to start out with the similarities and then go into the differences.
I usually start off by stating that
1. most people don't realize that there are 2 medical degrees in the country
2. Both MD's and DO's work side-by-side doing the same jobs and making the same money.
3. DO's have more of a primary care/patient centered focus vs. the research/technology focus of the majority of MD schools, however DO's don't have to be primary care and can/do specialize in whatever they want.
4. DO's learn a form of hands-on musculoskeletal medicine that can be used to treat many common problems such as back pain, muscle pains and headaches. They are also trained from Day 1 to be able to diagnose musculoskeletal problems with their hands.
5. DO's can choose to not practice with the parts that make them distinct from MD's and many do just that...ie their is no distinction in practice with many MD's/DO's. There are certain specialties where the distinct parts of Osteopathic Medicine are really prevalent, ie Sports Med, PM&R and Family Practice.
6. In the end it is up to the individual person how much they follow Osteopathic ideals/techniques...but they, at the minimum, are Physicians and are trained and licensed to do everything that people are used to Doctors doing.
This is the model of "the schpiel" that I have found most effective with people. Some people really won't care what you have to say and will forever believe that only MD's are Doctors....ignorance is bliss for some...not much else you can say....just don't get upset about it. You can recommend to those people that next time they are in the hospital they take a look at the wall where it lists all the Doctors names and next to it (if they list degrees...some just say Doc for MD/DO) they should see some DO's. The best is when people come back to you and say something along the lines of "I had no idea that my Doctor that I've been going to for all these years, and really like, is a DO...I guess they are real Doctors".
Just don't get frustrated....not everyone is as into the healthcare professions as much as us....even I didn't know what a DO was until sophomore year of college....