OMM Training Qs

[Qi Whiz]

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I'm interested in knowing about when/where/how OMM training is obtained. While I see that all the DO schools include OPP in the curriculum, I've also seen references to Fellowships and even a residency (MSU), and I've found references to physiatry, rehabilitative medicine, and sports medicine. So can one not hold oneself out as practicing OMM/OMT after only completing a DO and a one-year rotating internship? Can someone help clarify these issues?

 

[drusso]

Basically, there are two kinds of residencies in OMM: A two year program that prepares one to be a specialist in manipulative medicine, and a one-year program for DO's who have already completed a residency in some other specialty and want added OMM skills. These can be viewed at:
http://opportunities.aoa-net.org/residencies/omt/omt.htm
http://opportunities.aoa-net.org/residencies/omm+1/omm+1.htm

There are also 1-year predoctoral fellowships available in OMM (I'm completing a predoctoral research fellowship in OMM at TCOM now).

MD's and DO's can also learm OMM on a continuing medical education basis, but this can get expensive:
http://www.gst.net/~sfimms/

All DO's (and MD's) are qualified to practice OMM within their level of comfort and expertise just as other doctors can prescribe psychiatric drugs without doing a residency in psychiatry, or do certain surgical procedures without completing a residency in surgery. The problem is with reimbursement. Having added training (such as a residency or fellowship) allows doctors to better document their need to be reimbursed for what they do from third party payors.