Distinctiveness

[Goofyone]

I posted this in the pre-allo form as a reply to another poster, but I really thought it should be posted here to.

The thread was about a few studies that show the lack of distinctiveness of osteopathic medicine.


quote:
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Originally posted by DocWagner
Personally I see the use of OMT as being MUCH MUCH MORE than simple manipulation!! A narrowed definition will produce poor results.

Osteopathic philosophy and practice may lead one to refer to PT earlier than allopathic counterparts...or to encourage movement post-op in a timely manner! How is "getting up out of bed to encourage the passing of flatus" different than " the placement of hands on the abdomen to promote visceral manipulation for flatus production" different???
Get my point?

I see the graying of the lines between Osteopathic Medicine and Allopathic Medicine more of the uptake of MD's to the DO way of thinking!!
It is quite clear that only 20 years ago, MD's were very reductionist in thinking...while today, openness to movement therapies/body-mind-health connections are in EVERY aspect of hospital care!!

I certainly don't see the Osteopathic Philosophy as disappearing...more like catching on!

I certainly don't need to "rack and crack" to practice OMT!!!
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I hear what you're saying Doc. I totally agree. I don't see what the big deal is.

I've asked this question before, and I'll pose it to you all again: why can't two virtually identical types of medical education coexist?

There are multiple telephone companies to choose from. Whether you use sprint, MCI or whatever you're getting the same thing. What's the difference? Who cares? In fact, the companies have to compete with each other, which results in a better service!

What's the big deal if there is no difference between MDs and DOs, as long as we are all "doing it right?"

And don't give me any crap about there being too many doctors in this country, because 26% of all allopathic residency positions are held by FMGs (Iserson's Getting into a Residency, 6th Ed).

If we admit that the benefits of manipulation are overstated, what are the consequences of that? Are the 20 osteopathic medical schools just going to vanish into thin air?

Perhaps I just don't "get it." Maybe someone can explain it to me. What is everyone so afraid of?

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[Old brain]

I was just reading about this here...

http://www.du.edu/~mheldt/DOvsMDessay.html

Symptoms may be local of a generalized problem, it may be easier to treat the symptoms than the problem one may view that if you treat the symptoms the problem goes away or is managed, the other considers that if you treat the problem the symptoms go away or become managed.

I don't know much but thought I should say something.

 

[raptor5]

I've asked this question before, and I'll pose it to you all again: why can't two virtually identical types of medical education coexist?

I find this interesting because most people have no clue what degree their dentist has. DDS or DMD. There is no difference between the two and maybe that is why there is no problem. Plus nobody will say either is inferior due to the fact that DMD was first and I believe harvard issues a DDS degree.

Maybe it is kind of like taking a person from the northeast to Cali and having them eat at a Fastfood place and asking them to choose betweem McDonald's or Jack in the Box or Carl Jr. They say "what the hell is jack in the box? No thanks I will take McDonald's." Then you have a small portion of McDonald's saying that Jack in the Box is inferior and they suck.

I don't know I am just babbling.

 

[Goofyone]

I think you guys totally missed what I'm asking here. Maybe my post didn't make sense, so I'll reexplain what I meant.

There are a lot of people who are worried about the declining rate of use and interest in OMT (when I say OMT I'm talking specifically amount manual therapy). They also think that if we as DOs dont increase our use of this one thing, OMT, if DOs don't have some sort of a distinguishing sign on us, that the profession will not survive.

I don't believe this to be the case. Who is going to force DO schools to close? I think it's an unfounded fear.

As you mentioned Raptor, patients usually don't even know who they're seeing. Many don't know even a doctor from a nurse practitioner unless they happen to see it on their door or whatever, so I doubt patients are going to be up in arms about DOs not being seen as distinctive from MDs.

 

[Buster Douglas]

Originally posted by Goofyone
There are a lot of people who are worried about the declining rate of use and interest in OMT (when I say OMT I'm talking specifically amount manual therapy). They also think that if we as DOs dont increase our use of this one thing, OMT, if DOs don't have some sort of a distinguishing sign on us, that the profession will not survive.

I don't believe this to be the case. Who is going to force DO schools to close? I think it's an unfounded fear.

It's hard to fully take in what you guys were talking about with the quote out of context, but I kinda agree with what DocWagner was saying, "I certainly don't see the Osteopathic Philosophy as disappearing...more like catching on!"

I wouldn't neccessarily call having the "Why don't they just call themselves 'MDs'" attitude 'fear'. I'd call it 'normal'. OMT has its place in only a few specialties. As more DOs continue to branch outside of primary care, less will find OMT of use in their practices (anesthesia, radiology, dermatology, pathology, etc.). Making a distinction in these circumstances seems pointless. Maybe if a person is seeking an orthopedist, physiatrist, or OMT specialist I could see why a distinction would want to be advertised.

I don't see DocWagner's attitude toward osteopathic medicine as an indication of "unfounded fear" but as a sign of increasing respect towards the profession.

 

[Goofyone]

Originally posted by Buster Douglas
It's hard to fully take in what you guys were talking about with the quote out of context, but I kinda agree with what DocWagner was saying, "I certainly don't see the Osteopathic Philosophy as disappearing...more like catching on!"

I wouldn't neccessarily call having the "Why don't they just call themselves 'MDs'" attitude 'fear'. I'd call it 'normal'. OMT has its place in only a few specialties. As more DOs continue to branch outside of primary care, less will find OMT of use in their practices (anesthesia, radiology, dermatology, pathology, etc.). Making a distinction in these circumstances seems pointless. Maybe if a person is seeking an orthopedist, physiatrist, or OMT specialist I could see why a distinction would want to be advertised.

I don't see DocWagner's attitude toward osteopathic medicine as an indication of "unfounded fear" but as a sign of increasing respect towards the profession.

No, I wasn't disagreeing with DocWagner, quite the opposite.
Sorry, I see now that my post was immensely confusing, even as I go back and read it.
Sorry!