General medicine vs Internist

[infinite monkey]

From Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compari..._United_States

In the United States, there are two types of physicians that practice medicine. Most physicians hold the Doctor of Medicine degree (M.D.), while osteopathic physicians hold the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree (D.O.).[1] Other than teaching osteopathic manipulative medicine, the medical training for an M.D. and D.O. is virtually indistinguishable. D.O. physicians complete conventional residencies in hospitals and training programs, are licensed in all states, and have rights and responsibilities, such as military service, that are identical to M.D. physicians and surgeons.

In 2005, Jordan Cohen, the president of the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) stated:


After more than a century of often bitterly contentious relationships between the osteopathic and allopathic medical professions, we now find ourselves living at a time when osteopathic and allopathic graduates are both sought after by many of the same residency programs; are in most instances both licensed by the same licensing boards; are both privileged by many of the same hospitals; and are found in appreciable numbers on the faculties of each other's medical schools.

The AMA's current definition of a physician is "an individual who has received a 'Doctor of Medicine' or a 'Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine' degree or an equivalent degree following successful completion of a prescribed course of study from a school of medicine or osteopathic medicine."

Some authors describe less quantifiable distinctions between the two medical professions. Avery Hurt writes, "In actual practice, the variations between the two types of physicians are often so slight as to be unnoticeable to patients, and a day in the life of each can appear indistinguishable. But the differences are there, subtle but deep."[16] Several studies have investigated these differences. One study compared the patient interactions of DOs and MDs. The study found that "osteopathic physicians were more likely to use patient's first names and to discuss the social, family and emotional impact of illnesses." For example, "66% of DOs discussed a patient's emotional state compared with about one-third of MDs." The same study found that MD qualified "physicians scored higher in discussing literature or scientific basis of treatment."[17] Another study analyzed 341.4 million patient visits to general and family medicine specialists in the United States, including 64.9 million visits to DOs and 276.5 million visits to MDs. It found that there was no significant difference between DOs and MDs "with regard to time spent with patients and preventive medicine services."

I hope this sets your mind at rest, Lola, and I hope you're as happy with your physican as I have been for longer than my entire adult life.

[Lola Bunny]

I will come back on Wednesday to tell y'all about my experience with the doc.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk

[sexobon]

If they do any imaging, get copies to post in the NSFW thread.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Originally Posted by orthodoc

Rereading my post from last night, my statement early on that there are very good DOs gets lost in the story about the charlatan.

Sounded a little like you were describing DOs as you would a family member. Love them, respect them, but they do have one tiny annoying habit.
As you said, the bigger difference is the quality of the school they attended.

[Lola Bunny]

Let's see. The doctor I made the appointment with earned her medical degree from Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2001. I googled the school but couldn't tell if that's a good school or not. She completed her Family Medicine internship and residency at ​Memorial Family Practice Residency Program.

Originally Posted by sexobon

If they do any imaging, get copies to post in the NSFW thread.

I intend to get a mammogram. Is that the image you would like to see?

[Lola Bunny]

I see what Infinite Monkey mean by a DO doc treating the patient as a person. The doctor was really nice and sweet. Not much going on with annual check-ups, I guess. Doc: Do you smoke? What? Do you smoke? How much? What's stressing you? Is it recent or long time ago? Then she gave me advice and consoled me on my personal problems.

Anyways, I felt comfortable with her, and I liked the facility. I need to come back for my well-woman check-up and mammogram. Waiting on the results of my blood work.

[sexobon]

I hope your blood worked well.

[infinite monkey]

Lola! I'm so glad it worked out for you.

Being proactive about your health is important. When you get that clean bill of health it's a moment of relief.

[Lola Bunny]

Originally Posted by sexobon

I hope your blood worked well.

Thanks. I'm still waiting on the results. I'm going to give them a week before I nag them.

Infinite Monkey: Thanks for your opinion. It was really helpful.

[Big Sarge]

LB - I'm glad you are pleased with your D.O. I think the VA has me seeing a DVM. They don't have that great of a bedside manner, but they give really big doses of meds.

[BigV]

Panda-sized, no doubt.

[Griff]

I don't know, in my experience veterinarians seem to have more empathy than people docs.

[orthodoc]

You just have to find the right doc. MDs have as many mad skillz as any others, plus the odds are better that they actually know what they're talking about.

I'd back veterinarians over DOs or DCs or midlevels any day, however.

[Lola Bunny]

Originally Posted by sexobon

I hope your blood worked well.

I forgot to come back here when I received the results. The doc gave me a comprehensive blood work, including thyroid. According to the doctor, everything, including lipids, is normal, no diabetes, anemia, thyroid problem. Great. However, my cholesterol is 259. When I asked the doctor about it, she said it is only a slightly elevated number for a person my age. Eat healthy, and come back in 3 months to recheck my lipids and thyroid. Oh, okay. Am I coming back in 3 months? Nah, I don't think so. My cholesterol has been that high for years, and I don't have any symptoms of thyroid problem. What is going to change in 3 months when I'm not going to be doing anything different? If I'm "healthy" now, what does the doctor expect for me to do differently? Anyways, I personally don't feel my lipids is normal especially when I noticed my LDL level (bad cholesterol) is way over the range level. I'll deal with my cholesterol and come back next year for the annual check-up. Or not? Maybe come back in 3 years.

[xoxoxoBruce]

The 3 month check is to make sure what the lab reported is a steady level, which she feels is acceptable, and you're not trending.