What's in a name???

[texdrake]

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Often I have tried to explain to others what a DO is and how we are different than an MD. Several of my friends and I at my instituition generally agree that a DO is an MD + manipulation and DO philosophy. Likewise we all agree that DO is confusing to patients. An "MD" is another name for doctor. Patients vistit webMD, not webDO. Most of us think it would be less confusing to the patients and fellow health care workers if our accronym reflected the belief that we are complete MD's plus we are trained in manipulation and ustilize a different philosophy.

So here is my question. Would you like to see the D.O. changed to O.M.D. or M.D.O.

Personally I like the latter. I think it reflects that we are an MD plus osteopathy and I think patients (especially with a good advertising blitz) with make a stonger connection between MD and MDO then with MD and DO. To many associate DO with eye doctors (OD) or with "bone doctors" (chiropractors?....orthopedics?)

 

[Dr JPH]

This is not a new argument on SDN or on the national level.

Personally, I think it is the dumbest idea that has ever been taken this seriously.

Why change?

Is it going to affect the way you treat patients? Is it going to increase your patient load? Are you going to make more money? Will it make MD DMEs all over the country say "ok, let him in"? NO

Give me the name of ONE DO who has had difficulty establishing or mainttaining a practice because he is a DO.

Seems that this argument is only perpetuated by DO students who are not happy with the fact that they will be DOs (and nto MDs or MDOs or DOMs or whatever).

Why change when we have made such great strides over the last 100 years? The last 50 in particular.

Give me a break.

 

[texdrake]

Good feed back JP. Although I think your argument of "that this argument is only perpetuated by DO students who are not happy with the fact that they will be DOs " is a little of base.

Personally I like the idea of being a DO and I enjoy studying osteopathic medicine. My argument was that it would be easier for the public to make the connection.

I just think that if I say I am an MDO and people ask "what is that". I could reply, "its an MD with extra training in....." and it would make more sense then "its a physician who has all the training of an MD but also has training in ..... " because that is usually followed up with "oh...like a specialty?....so why isn't it just an MD with a specialty?"

I guess I just get tired of answering the same question. It would be a moot point if the AOA and DO's in general did better advertising.

 

[DD214_DOC]

I think it might do some good to include, "medicine" in the degree somewhere. Instead of maybe, "Doctor of Osteopathy" they change it to "Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine" (DOM) or try to make a latin form, "Osteopathicae Medicinae Doctor" OMD. Yes, I know "osteopathicae" isn't really the latin translation. I doubt there is one.

"osteopathy" may look too simlar to "naturopathy", the ND people. *shudder*

 

[Rev. Horace]

DOM = Doctor of Oriental Medicine

I don't quite understand why it would be good to change the acronym for the name. You think a patient is going to understand OMD better than DO?? I don't think so. Maybe MDO, but really, you still have to expain what it is so what's the point??

 

[DD214_DOC]

Well, the problem is that the degree is in "osteopathy" not, "osteopathic medicine". Osteopathy may sound too similar to quakery like Naturopathy or Homeopathy for some people.

When I first saw DO in my school's premed handbook, under "Allied Health Profession", I thought it was another stupid natural healing quackery crap. Fortunately, I read some more.

Also, I still don't know why they consider osteopathy as an, "Allied health" field.

 

[Lions Pride]

actually the degree we receive now at osteopathic school is a "Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine". It used to be "doctor of osteopathy" up to a few years back, not sure how many, but anyway they changed it. And if you graduated before the switch you can somehow get a new diploma w/ the correct degree...if you care.

 

[daveyboy]

Can we change it to "Doctor of Love" or "Doctor of Evil"? I'd really like one of those.
If I could say, "Yeah, Im Satan Devil, D.E. and I will be servicing you today" or "Yeah Im Ron Jeremy, D.L. and I will be servicing your calored, inflammed area". Oh yeah, that would really further my educational goal.

I would like to personally thank the OP for posting a truly original, enlightening, novel, brand new, never before seen idea. Thank you! Thank you!😍 Thank you ! Thank you!

Oh, and did I say!!!!! Thank YOU!!!!! YOU RULE!!!!!!

 

[drusso]

Your diploma will read "Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine." Your letters behind your name will be D.O.

Changing the degree (debated several times before on SDN) will not improve the public's recognition of D.O.'s. OMD is already reserved as "Doctor of Oriental Medicine" and that looks a lot like the proposed "MDO." If I had to choose between being confused with a optometrist or an oriental medicine practitioner, I'd choose the former.

This is how I handle situation of "degree confusion" and maybe it can serve as a role model for others: Whenever I get anything inadvertantly addressed to me as --"M.D." I cross out the "M" and put a "O" behind it. If I know the clerical person who made this error I point it out to them. Whenever I need to sign forms that automatically tack on the "M.D." suffix, I do the same. I've never had anyone call me on it.

Finally, there is the little issue of historical tradition. Now, I'm usually not a big stickler for tradition and consider myself otherwise very progressive, but old A.T. did want his graduates "distinguished" in a particular way. Also, like it or not, osteopathic medicine is also a social movement in health care. Part of being in a social movement means "being visible" or "sticking out a little." If you're the only one on rounds who makes the "biopsychosocial" connection, then it should be appropriately attributed to your "osteopathicness." Conversely, if you're the only on who shows up unprepared, disheveled, unaware of what's going on with your patients, and generally rude and ill-mannered then please feel free to use the "M.D." suffix.

 

[texdrake]

Well said, and funny too, drusso. I think I may try to apply your practice to my own life.

 

[Fat Chick]

It doesn't seem to me that the whole MD DO thing actually matters to anyone but premeds and med students. Patients pick their docs out of the insurance book (where we are all listed together) or get whatever they get at the doc in a box or community health center. The only patients that actually know the difference have been manipulated and like it. Heck, they LOOK for the DO. Why would I want to change my letters (once I get them)?

WE MAKE THE DIFFERENCE WHEN WE MANIPULATE!!! Be a manipulating DO and make the difference. Rant concluded. Thank you.

-Fat Chick

 

[DoctorInSpace]

I chose to go to school to be a DO. That's what I want after my name. I WANT people to ask me what the difference between an MD is and a DO. I have friends and family members ask me all the time, and I love explaining to them how wonderful the philosophy of mind/body/spirit connectedness is woven into our education, so that we learn to treat the patient as a real person. I want to educate as many people as possible about osteopathic medicine, both the philosophy and the practices of manipulation.

At NSUCOM, in your first year, you go to a doctor's office every other Friday, for shadowing and learning. Every time I have been there, at least one patient asks exactly what a DO is. My doctor has a flyer already printed out and ready to go, but will also answer any questions that are posed. I see how he fields the questions and I am looking forward to being in his shoes.

I understand that questions might get repetitive, but think of it as an opportunity to teach people about the history of our profession as well as the philosphy and practices that distinguish us from other physicians.

My vote.....keep it as DO.

 

[DD214_DOC]

Originally posted by drusso
If you're the only one on rounds who makes the "biopsychosocial" connection, then it should be appropriately attributed to your "osteopathicness."

MD's employ the BPS model as well you know.

 

[JJF]

Allopathic chould be - MDA
Osteopathic could be - MDO

Perhaps that would help make the general public realize that they are both valuable Medical Doctor's with difference, but Medical Doctors just the same. 🙄

 

[Darth Vader]

MDO looks weird. Once you see a bunch of DO's,you will get used to the DO name. I don't even think twice about it anymore.

 

[Goofyone]

I used to feel that we needed a name change, and I agree in principle.

But first, we can't expect MDs to change their name to jive better with ours. Ain't gonna happen.

I looked up 'medicine.' Webster says:

1 a : a substance or preparation used in treating disease b : something that affects well-being

2 a : the science and art dealing with the maintenance of health and the prevention, alleviation, or cure of disease b : the branch of medicine concerned with the nonsurgical treatment of disease

I think the best definition is 2a.

So, this means that we ARE 'medical' doctors. Medicine, by this definition, is a means of curing disease, whether by drugs (allopathy), surgery, or osteopathy.

MDs don't call themselves "doctors of allopathy," so why do we call ourselves "doctors of osteopathy?" It is a remnant of what the profession USED to be, and nothing more, since osteopathy is only one facet of medicine.

HOWEVER, I know that some of you will say that osteopathic medicine encompases more than just manipulation, and you're right. BUT, like someone already said, our acronym doesn't jive with our name--doctor of osteopathic medicine. It should be DOM.

Ultimately, while I agree in principle that a name change is in order, I think it would probably cause more confusion than it's worth.

We are D.O.s by CONVENTION, so it doesn't have to make sense. Just like a 10d nail is actually a 10 penny nail, and it doesn't make any sense. It doesn't have to, because it's by convention.

So, I just don't care anymore.

 

[JJF]

When I said:
MDA for allopathic doctors, and MDO for osteopathic doctors, I wasn't referring to an actual name change on licensing credentials.

My mom is a civil engineer. Many of her coworkers are Electrical engineers. They all use the same license titles P.E., Professional Engineer. Their area of expertise has nothing to do with the initials after their name.
MD should be the professional initials used for all doctors that carry a medical license. Their area of concentration and expertise should not be a part of their lecense designation, as they are legally equal in the license arena in most states.

Allopathic and Osteopathic should both be "MD" with a different concentration and focus. Just a thought.