What does an osteopathic physician do?
The philosophy of an osteopathic physician is that the body has intrinsic healing mechanisms and that the promotion of health can be obtained by treating the whole person – health is an expression of spiritual, psychological, physical, and environmental factors. Osteopathic physicians may use manipulation of bone or soft tissues to promote health because they believe that structure and function are interrelated. An osteopathic physician can take patient histories, order laboratory tests, read x-rays, diagnose illness or the extent of an injury, and prescribe medications. They have also completed hands-on training in an area of specialty that gives them license to perform a variety of tasks specific to their residency or fellowship training (i.e., surgery). Osteopathic physicians can do a residency in any medical specialty that they choose (and get accepted into) such as family practice, cardiothoracic surgery, orthopedics, pediatrics, etc. In a clinical setting, it would be difficult t
