could an OD get an MD?

[Be'You]

Hello all,

Is there any way an OD could get into a medical school to earn an MD? or any specialty in optometry that has an MD option?

Thanks for your opinion in advance!

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[xmattODx]

The only way for an OD to get an MD is to go to medical school. I am not aware of any med schools that give advanced standing to optometrists. The educations, despite what you may have been told, are extremely different. Optometry should not be viewed as a shortcut to a medical degree, nor in my opinion should it be viewed as a "medical" degree.

 

[HighlyFanatic]

mattOD beat me to the punch...couldnt have said it better

 

[Reality check]

There is a 3 year program on the island of Antigua for optometrists to earn the MD degree. University Health Sciences Medical School in Antigua. I would not attend this school if tuition was waived for me. Bogus curriculum and I know of no one having completed this quack program and gotten licensed in USA.
Why do some optometrists in NJ and in the NorthWest of our country call themselves "optometric physicians" even though they have not gotten a medical degree?
Can any one on this forum optometrists, students ophthalmologists answer my simple question.
Thank you.

 

[cpw]

In some states the Optometric Physician title makes it easier for ODs to get onto 3rd part insurance plans to get reimbursed for medical eye visits. (red eyes, foreign body removal, etc) I'm sure there are other reasons, but this is the one I keep hearing over and over.

 

[Caffeinated]

Ohio State University has an independent study program. Some students with prior experience in the health sciences may pursue the independent study program at an acclerated pace, and some have been able to complete the degree in 3 years.

I speak from first-hand experience when I say that although there is some overlap in the course work, none of the medical school courses can be "waived" by course work attended during optometry school. Med school after an optometry school is still hard work, but the anatomy, physiology, pathology, and pharm background make it much more manageable. However, getting an OD degree before going to med school is a very nonlinear and roundabout pathway.

Regards,
Caffeinated, OD (a 30 year old med student)

 

[Richard_Hom]

Originally posted by Reality check
There is a 3 year program on the island of Antigua for optometrists to earn the MD degree. University Health Sciences Medical School in Antigua..."

Concerning this program, only certain states (if any) will recognize the onsite program and none will recognize the "online program". In most states, the medical license provisions require onsite lecture and laboratory programs.

In some states, you might not even say you have an MD degree next to your name if you cannot qualify for the basic license in that state.

Richard

 

[MPS]

Originally posted by Reality check
There is a 3 year program on the island of Antigua for optometrists to earn the MD degree. University Health Sciences Medical School in Antigua. I would not attend this school if tuition was waived for me. Bogus curriculum and I know of no one having completed this quack program and gotten licensed in USA.
Why do some optometrists in NJ and in the NorthWest of our country call themselves "optometric physicians" even though they have not gotten a medical degree?
Can any one on this forum optometrists, students ophthalmologists answer my simple question.
Thank you.

Optometrists pursue the title "physician" for the same reason that they pursued the title "doctor" - kudos. I'm sure that MD's will search for a unique title once all optometrists have won the right to call themselves "physicians".

It's interesting that surgeons here in the UK go back to being called "Mr." once they have finished their training. And yet they enjoy a great deal of prestige. Perhaps optometrists should take a leaf out of surgery?s book and put its collective time towards something that will advance the profession beyond that of titles.

 

[rpames]

I don't want to get in to this, but the OD is a doctoral level program. That is why we get the title Doctor, just like Ph.Ds, DDS, DO, and even MDs.

As far as the optometric physician title. A lot of it is insurance payment problems. There are so many procedures that insurance companies won't pay ODs for, but will pay MDs for. It is not because ODs are not trained or not legally allowed to do the procedure, it is just because they are ODs. Sometimes the MD will get payed MORE for the same procedure the OD gets payed for.

 

[HighlyFanatic]

Originally posted by rpames
It is not because ODs are not trained or not legally allowed to do the procedure, it is just because they are ODs. Sometimes the MD will get payed MORE for the same procedure the OD gets payed for.

😱

 

[MPS]

Originally posted by rpames
I don't want to get in to this, but the OD is a doctoral level program. That is why we get the title Doctor, just like Ph.Ds, DDS, DO, and even MDs.

As far as the optometric physician title. A lot of it is insurance payment problems. There are so many procedures that insurance companies won't pay ODs for, but will pay MDs for. It is not because ODs are not trained or not legally allowed to do the procedure, it is just because they are ODs. Sometimes the MD will get payed MORE for the same procedure the OD gets payed for.

Do you honestly think that an insurance company can't see beyond titles? I think they're more aware of what's going on than you'd give them credit for. To suggest that optometrists pursue the physician title for the reason that insurance companies will be more willing to agree to pay them "physicians fees" is disingenuous.

Why is it a surprise that MD's get paid more for carrying out the same procedure as an OD? This has always been the case. One of optometry's advantages, in terms of clawing further privileges, (and certainly one that insurance companies appreciate) is that it is cheaper.

 

[TomOD]

Originally posted by MPS
Why is it a surprise that MD's get paid more for carrying out the same procedure as an OD? This has always been the case. One of optometry's advantages, in terms of clawing further privileges, (and certainly one that insurance companies appreciate) is that it is cheaper.

Not true.......at least not anymore. Pariety is the word. Most, if not all 3rd parties now are required to pay OD's equally for equal work.

Medicare reimburses both professions equally (as it should be).

Now some idiot OD's choose to charge much less........but that's another story🙄

 

[MPS]

Originally posted by TomOD
Now some idiot OD's choose to charge much less........but that's another story🙄

And I'm sure that they'd consider those who charge the same as MD's as the idiots. And, on principle, I can appreciate their point of view.

 

[HighlyFanatic]

Originally posted by MPS
And, on principle, I can appreciate their point of view.

just out of curiosity, have you lived and worked in the US? 🙂

 

[MPS]

No. Why do you ask?

 

[TomOD]

Originally posted by MPS
And I'm sure that they'd consider those who charge the same as MD's as the idiots. And, on principle, I can appreciate their point of view.

Not sure what you're trying to say MPS??

 

[MPS]

Healthcare isn't free. I think that you'd have to agree, that by definition, cheaper services are more financially attractive than expensive services. (Some people naively think that it doesn't matter how much you charge, because the insurance company will cough up. I'm not one of them: the rules of economics apply to every healthcare system in the world, regardless of the source of funding.)

Historically, optometry has been able to gain privileges because it has been able to offer more affordable services than medicine.

 

[jholtod]

Right, the FDA has given most U.S. states optometrests DEA #'s and privleges to Rx through SIII drugs because it's "cheaper" - your logic makes perfect sense!

 

[MPS]

I'm always amazed at how economically naive those involved in the most commercial healthcare system in the world can be. Nobody is denying that there are many arguments for the granting of prescribing rights to optometrists. You're completely failing to see the bigger picture.

 

[r_salis]

Originally posted by MPS
I'm always amazed at how economically naive those involved in the most commercial healthcare system in the world can be. Nobody is denying that there are many arguments for the granting of prescribing rights to optometrists. You're completely failing to see the bigger picture.

I get what you're saying. Economics has a lot to do with a lot of healthcare policy. It's analogous to the the MD/Nurse Practitioner debate. It's a lot cheaper to my medical plan to allow an NP to do my comprehensive physical than to have an MD perform it. Of course the NP has to be educated properly and qualified to do it, but the bigger picture is that it costs less to my insurance plan.