Amount paid for DO's?

[Student247]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I would appreciate any insight anyone might have on this issue.

I'm aware that Osteopathic physicians receive the same respect and responsibilities as their counter parts, MD's. However, do DO's get paid the same amount right after residency? I ask because I suspect, and maybe wrongly so, that they do not get the same amount. Thank you for your insight. Further, if anyone has a website where I may look at financial stats for DO's I would appreciate it.

Regards,
Student247

 

[nathan]

I suspect you are new in your quest for becoming a doctor, so, I will brighten your day in regards to the osteopathic profession. DOs make the exact same as MDs in residency and afterwards. The only reason you may think DOs make less is because DOs tend to be more family docs in rural areas, thus, their salaries would appear to be smaller than their counterparts. However, DOs who specialize or live in more populated areas and are family docs make just the same amount as MDs. MDs who are family docs in rural areas make the same amount of money as DOs. The trend of more DOs being in the rural areas is changing- more and more of them are specializing and living/practicing in more populated areas. That's what happens when the public is being informed more and more that DOs are the same as MDs (different than the 1970s and beyond). DOs are being more and more sought after, so you may someday say "show me the money" when in competition with an MD for a job offer. Take care!

-Nathan (UHS-COM '05)

 

[Student247]

I appreciate your reply. You are quite right I just recently--about a year now--decided to persue medicine. I'm still undecided which degree DO or MD fits me better, although DO has some desirable skills, (e.g. OMT etc). Anyway, I thank you for your response.

Regards,
Student247

 

[Dr JPH]

Although I do not agree with Nathan's "show me the money" prediction, I do know of some D.O.'s who have lengthy wait lists where patients must schedule appointments several months in advance.

These are generally the OMM physicians.

Choose DO or MD not only on which "philosophy" you like the best, but what school fits you best.

I think more people are putting the letters behind the name second, and placing the reputation and the experience of the school itself number one.

Both MD and DO schools will give you a similar education, with slight variances among them.

Good luck to you in the future!

 

[jhug]

just to echo what has been said- much depends on which field of medicine you go into. A pediatrician(MD) came to one of my jobs and his brother(DO) ENT receives more than he does! He told me his DO brother is in practice with 5 MD's and no one-- docs or patients think differently of the guy.

 

[Whisker Barrel Cortex]

Just a side note on income in rural areas. Instead of making less money in rural areas, most physicians, especially family practice docs, actually make more money in these parts of the country. The reason for this is twofold.
1. They are in demand. Many people want to live in or near urban centers which drives the physician income down. For example, in California, FPs make 80-90K to start, wheras in rural Wisconsin some make as much as 300,000.

2. They have to see more patients and do more. The patient population in rural areas is often very large for the few doctors in that area, so these physicians get a lot of business.

 

[Amra]

In summary.... we (MD and DO) use the same billing codes..