DO VS MD: Which Is Best for Senior Health Care?
Written by TYE Medical on Jun 27th 2023
How much do the letters behind your doctor’s name matter? When it comes to level of care, there is little to no difference between a DO (doctor of osteopathic medicine) and MD (doctor of medicine). But there are differences in approaches to treatment and how they are trained.
A new study found that quality or level of care for senior patients was the same when treated by MD or DO. This research used scientific methods to bring any debate to an end. Whether you are seeing a DO or MD, you can be assured that there is no difference in quality or even cost of care. However, differences can exist between individual doctors, but it won’t be because of the designation behind their name.
Here is a summary of the research findings and a breakdown of the similarities and differences between a doctor of osteopathy (DO) and an allopathic doctor (MD).
DOs and MDs Provide Same-Level Care to Seniors
Researchers from UCLA Medical School examined over 300,000 medical records of people 65 and older who were hospitalized and treated by either an MD or DO. They found that patient outcomes were almost identical when it came to death rate, readmissions, length of stay, and patient spending.
Previously, questions about differences in the level of care went unanswered due to a lack of evidence. The absence of research and the recent rise in the number of DOs prompted the study. Since 2010, the number of DOs has increased 72%.
What Is the Difference Between a DO and an MD?
MDs are doctors of medicine who practice allopathic medicine. Allopathic medicine is considered conventional, mainstream medicine. This means they use conventional tools like surgery, prescriptions, and diagnostics like x-rays to treat patients.
ODs are doctors of osteopathic medicine who use the same conventional methods of medicine as their MD counterparts. But DOs have additional tools in their arsenal. They also incorporate holistic care and emphasize prevention. A holistic health approach focuses on all parts of a person including mind, body, and emotions. Some DOs use hands-on treatments similar to a chiropractor, performing muscular and skeletal manipulations and adjustments.
While more than half of DOs choose to go into primary health care, MDs tend to be more diverse in their specialties. Aside from primary care, MDs and some DOs choose to specialize in:
- Surgery
- Specific body parts or organs
- Psychiatry
- Geriatric medicine
- Pediatrics
Like MDs, DOs can perform surgery and prescribe medications. They have the same rights and responsibilities as MDs and are “medical doctors”.
What Is the Difference In Training for DOs and MDs?
The educational path of DOs and MDs is nearly identical, although they attend different types of schools. DOs attend a college of osteopathy rather than an allopathic medical school. But both must earn a four-year undergraduate degree and usually take pre-medicine classes before attending a school of osteopathy or allopathy (types of medical schools).
After this, both DOs and MDs complete an internship and residency for on-the-job training and supervision by more experienced doctors. Once the residency is finished, some will continue with a fellowship program to learn more about a specialty of their choice. These residencies and fellowships include DOs and MDs working side-by-side. Both must take a licensing exam before practicing professional medicine.
Another difference between a DO and MD training is that most medical students in the U.S. choose to pursue an MD and attend a school of allopathic medicine. While only 25 percent of medical students choose a school of osteopathy.
Also, DOs have about 200 additional hours of education. These hours are spent learning osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM). OMM is otherwise known as osteopathic manipulative technique (OMT).
DOs also learn how bones, nerves, and muscles work together to impact your health. The OMT methods are used to help relieve various pain in areas like the back, neck, and specific muscles.
Do DOs and MDs Treat Patients Differently?
An MD is going to look at your symptoms and pursue treatments that target those issues. Your symptoms and diagnostic testing will be their primary guides in determining a treatment plan, which usually includes medications or surgical procedures.
DOs, on the other hand, will consider your symptoms but also look at your overall health and the big (holistic) picture. They will want to know about more than just your symptoms to help determine treatment and also to prevent additional or exacerbated symptoms. You’re more likely to get a prescription for a lifestyle adjustment from a DO.
Even though some MDs include more of a holistic approach to patient care, holistic health defines osteopathy. This means all DOs will take this approach and look at your health holistically. DOs are closely associated with integrative medicine.
Which Type of Care is Right for You?
You can rest assured that you can get quality care from either a doctor of osteopathy or a doctor of medicine. This means it comes down to preference. If you prefer a traditional, streamlined, targeted approach to health care that looks largely at symptoms and tests, then you might be more comfortable with an MD.
But if you’re concerned about your overall health and wellbeing you might consider a DO. A DO is best if you are open to talking about your life beyond your symptoms and are willing to make suggested lifestyle adjustments to improve your health. DOs will still treat your symptoms, but they don’t stop there.
Both DOs and MDs are highly trained and qualified professionals that are well-suited to treating your health needs.
