I used the search buttom but i could not find what i was exactly looking for. So if you are a DO you are a doctor correct? You can work at any hospital and be a doctor just like an MD? Why is it much easier to get into a DO school then an MD school? do DO's make just as much money and benefits as an MD? I would hate to graduate from a DO school and go to a hospital that favors MD's more then DO's. thanks for your time!
So if you are a DO you are a doctor correct?
Yes.
http://stats.bls.gov/oco/ocos074.htm
MDs & DOs are legal equivalents. They are currently the only full scope of practice physicians in US. Some states license NDs as primary care docs. However, they have a limited scope of practice.
You can work at any hospital and be a doctor just like an MD?
Yes, but this will be harder to prove to you. Visit a hospital's website and search through the staff pages. You'll probably see DOs on staff. Keep in mind that MDs overwhelmingly outnumber DOs. Also, you can check physician recruiting announcements. Often they use the wording, "applicant must have MD degree or equivalent, BC/BE eligible."
Why is it much easier to get into a DO school then an MD school?
This question has no easy pat answers. First--it's challenging to get into any school of medicine because there are more people interested than spots available. Second--it isn't necessarily easier to get into all DO schools. Some are more difficult than others. Third--some DO schools are easier to get into than MD schools for many reasons. One is that the MD is a "universal" medical degree. DOs are less well-known in some places--better in others.
do DO's make just as much money and benefits as an MD?
I've never seen a side-by-side comparison. Most salary surveys probably group MDs/DOs together. Since DOs are legal equivalents, they will earn the same from insurance and government reimbursements. The question is if an MD and a DO have similar practices side by side on a busy street and each only accept cash--who will earn more? The answer will be whoever has the best skill, personality and business sense.
I would hate to graduate from a DO school and go to a hospital that favors MD's more then DO's.
There is definitely some bias in areas--though most of it is probably unfamiliarity with what a DO is. Some bias may come from an elitist perspective. In some hospitals you may be the only DO. In others you may have many DO colleagues. As a fully licensed physician, you can certainly choose where you want to practice and you don't have to practice in an organization critical to DOs. The upside is that the DO profession is over one hundred years old and many, many men and women have made their living as a DO. You can, too.
