I want to learn OMM and OMT

[MedGrl@2022]

How can an MD medical student/physician learn OMM if they are interested? I was just accepted to my in state MD school and I can't pass up the comparatively less expensive tuition and awesomeness that they have to offer, but I really do want to learn OMM... it is too bad that the DO schools are SO expensive... Can I still learn OMM and how to use my hands and senses as diagnostic tools? I really want to be able to treat my patients as a whole as well. What are my options?

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[Lifschitz]

You're going to be using yours hands and senses as diagnostic tools as an MD student too, whether you like it or not.

Also, I feel that the whole "holistic" aspect is vastly overstated, to put it nicely. Though we're only in our first semesters (and this is a very small sample size), I feel like I'm learning a much more "holistic" approach to the patient interview at my state MD school as compared to my fiancee's DO school. Whereas they have so far been taught to jump straight into questions about symptoms, my school has painstakingly taught us to let the patient speak without interruption, ask open ended questions, and address feelings and concerns.

But... I too kind of feel like I'm missing out on OMM. Until I remember I have enough to study as it is.

 

[MedGrl@2022]

You're going to be using yours hands and senses as diagnostic tools as an MD student too, whether you like it or not.

Also, I feel that the whole "holistic" aspect is vastly overstated, to put it nicely. Though we're only in our first semesters (and this is a very small sample size), I feel like I'm learning a much more "holistic" approach to the patient interview at my state MD school as compared to my fiancee's DO school. Whereas they have so far been taught to jump straight into questions about symptoms, my school has painstakingly taught us to let the patient speak without interruption, ask open ended questions, and address feelings and concerns.

But... I too kind of feel like I'm missing out on OMM. Until I remember I have enough to study as it is.

Do you go to Georgetown? My friend goes there and she says that they teach her a "1 minute pause of silence" to allow the patient to finish speaking. I would like to be able to use OMM in my future medical practice. I also think that it could be well utilized in underserved areas as a treatment and using my hands and senses to help diagnose in lieu of more expensive diagnostic tools. Are their any recommendations as to places I could get this sort of training to improve my ability to serve in underserved areas?

 

[abolt18]

Honestly, OMM is cool, but you could probably spend a few hours with a DO student and learn quite a few more relevant/worthwhile techniques then with additional practice you'd get it down.

Also, the holistic deal is a joke. Pretty sure all medical schools are about the same there.

 

[GUH]

There are OMM CME courses. Just google search "OMM CME" or something like that.

 

[mcloaf]

I really want to be able to treat my patients as a whole as well.

Wow.

 

[hallowmann]

You can go to CMEs/workshops as an MD and learn OMM. That said, you won't be able to bill for it.

Honestly though, who knows what will happen in 10yrs. There might be DO school run OMM courses specifically run for MD students who want to learn it/get certified in it. That summary of surveys of people in the different parts of the AOA made it seem like that was a possibility in the distant future.

 

[gmcguitar4]

Buy digiovani and just check out myofacial releases. Myofacial is basically a $40,000 word for a massage. Then practice these on your gf/bf/spouse and they will love it. The only other stuff that is worth learning are techniques for lower back pain.

 

[cabinbuilder]

You can go to CMEs/workshops as an MD and learn OMM. That said, you won't be able to bill for it.

Honestly though, who knows what will happen in 10yrs. There might be DO school run OMM courses specifically run for MD students who want to learn it/get certified in it. That summary of surveys of people in the different parts of the AOA made it seem like that was a possibility in the distant future.

This is absolutely NOT TRUE. I have a friend who is an IM MD, who took the OMM course in Michigan for CME. She learned muscle energy techniques well and used them on many of her patients. She was not comfortable with HVLA so refrained from that technique. She billed for OMT all the time. These courses for OMM already exist.

http://www.com.msu.edu/CME/History.htm

 

[Lifschitz]

Do you go to Georgetown? My friend goes there and she says that they teach her a "1 minute pause of silence" to allow the patient to finish speaking. I would like to be able to use OMM in my future medical practice. I also think that it could be well utilized in underserved areas as a treatment and using my hands and senses to help diagnose in lieu of more expensive diagnostic tools. Are their any recommendations as to places I could get this sort of training to improve my ability to serve in underserved areas?

Not from Georgetown. That just shows you how patient centered communication seems to have become to norm.

 

[Postictal Raiden]

How can an MD medical student/physician learn OMM if they are interested? I was just accepted to my in state MD school and I can't pass up the comparatively less expensive tuition and awesomeness that they have to offer, but I really do want to learn OMM... it is too bad that the DO schools are SO expensive... Can I still learn OMM and how to use my hands and senses as diagnostic tools? I really want to be able to treat my patients as a whole as well. What are my options?

Congratulations on your acceptance!

 

[Postictal Raiden]

How can an MD medical student/physician learn OMM if they are interested? I was just accepted to my in state MD school and I can't pass up the comparatively less expensive tuition and awesomeness that they have to offer, but I really do want to learn OMM... it is too bad that the DO schools are SO expensive... Can I still learn OMM and how to use my hands and senses as diagnostic tools? I really want to be able to treat my patients as a whole as well. What are my options?

Double post. Annoying!

 

[hallowmann]

This is absolutely NOT TRUE. I have a friend who is an IM MD, who took the OMM course in Michigan for CME. She learned muscle energy techniques well and used them on many of her patients. She was not comfortable with HVLA so refrained from that technique. She billed for OMT all the time. These courses for OMM already exist.

http://www.com.msu.edu/CME/History.htm

I know a couple PM&R docs who have done some OMM CMEs and courses, and they constant talk about how they wish they could bill for it. Maybe its something state board specific. They still use it when they think their patient will benefit, they just always talked about how they can't bill for it (specifically Medicare).

If courses exactly like what I described exist already at MSU, I'm beginning to really question the motivation of "maintaining distinctiveness" and preventing MDs from having access to AOA residencies even if they become certified in OMT.

 

[cabinbuilder]

Well, you don't learn OMT in residency. In the end it's about taking care of the patient.

 

[hallowmann]

Well, you don't learn OMT in residency. In the end it's about taking care of the patient.

I get that, I'm just saying that if MDs can get certified in OMT, why wouldn't they be able/qualified to apply to AOA residencies? It seems strange to me to be OK with them getting certified, and us training in their sites, but not them being able to train in ours.

Obviously, this is a bit off topic, I just found it strange. I always thought MDs being able to get certified in OMT would be the next step, but if that's all ready here...

 

[coolingglasses]

This is absolutely NOT TRUE. I have a friend who is an IM MD, who took the OMM course in Michigan for CME. She learned muscle energy techniques well and used them on many of her patients. She was not comfortable with HVLA so refrained from that technique. She billed for OMT all the time. These courses for OMM already exist.

http://www.com.msu.edu/CME/History.htm

Yep, you can absolutely bill for OMT. It's something that's been explicitly stated to us.

 

[MedGrl@2022]

I suppose that we need to find a list of states that do and do not allow MDs to perform OMM. It definitely depends on what type of specialty that I go into as to if or what types of OMM/OMT I would use. Right now I am thinking pediatrics, family medicine, or pediatric neurology but that is subject to change. Probably if I do dermatology (which I currently have no interest) OMM/OMT would be of little to no use. But please correct me if I am wrong. I definitely have A LOT of learning to do. I loved shadowing a DO physiatrist, I got to see so much OMM/OMT and alternative therapies. I would love to be able to integrate that into my practice.

 

[cabinbuilder]

I get that, I'm just saying that if MDs can get certified in OMT, why wouldn't they be able/qualified to apply to AOA residencies? It seems strange to me to be OK with them getting certified, and us training in their sites, but not them being able to train in ours.

Obviously, this is a bit off topic, I just found it strange. I always thought MDs being able to get certified in OMT would be the next step, but if that's all ready here...

Yes, it's been in place for some time.

 

[AlienHandSyndrome]

You're going to be using yours hands and senses as diagnostic tools as an MD student too, whether you like it or not.

Also, I feel that the whole "holistic" aspect is vastly overstated, to put it nicely. Though we're only in our first semesters (and this is a very small sample size), I feel like I'm learning a much more "holistic" approach to the patient interview at my state MD school as compared to my fiancee's DO school. Whereas they have so far been taught to jump straight into questions about symptoms, my school has painstakingly taught us to let the patient speak without interruption, ask open ended questions, and address feelings and concerns.

But... I too kind of feel like I'm missing out on OMM. Until I remember I have enough to study as it is.

I see you have been doing the Doc Com and/or smith's patient centered interviewing. By the way, how does that make you feel?

 

[Lifschitz]

I see you have been doing the Doc Com and/or smith's patient centered interviewing. By the way, how does that make you feel?

Bingo (both)

 

[DocMonty]

Any MD can learn or take CME courses to learn OMM and in fact the national - AAO (American Academy of Osteopathy) puts on CME training courses all the time and has an annual convocation yearly as well as sponsoring education at the big AOA convention every year as well. ...MD's are invited to sign up also. --just pay a fee.

Here is their link: https://netforum.avectra.com/eweb/StartPage.aspx?Site=AAO

Their courses are very hands on and are very practically oriented and high quality. Also it is Category 1A credit which is the hardest to get overall for DO's. Please PM me if you have questions.

I hope that helps.

 

[MedGrl@2022]

Buy digiovani and just check out myofacial releases. Myofacial is basically a $40,000 word for a massage. Then practice these on your gf/bf/spouse and they will love it. The only other stuff that is worth learning are techniques for lower back pain.

http://www.amazon.com/An-Osteopathic-Approach-Diagnosis-Treatment/dp/0781742935
or
http://www.amazon.com/OMT-Review-Edition-Robert-Savarese/dp/0967009014

 

[MedGrl@2022]

I see you have been doing the Doc Com and/or smith's patient centered interviewing. By the way, how does that make you feel?

Just wondering... Do different medical schools teach different interviewing styles or all of them? Are some better than others?