What is Osteopathic Medicine?
In the United States, osteopathic medicine is a system of medical care with a philosophy that combines the needs of patients with the current practice of medicine and surgery. Osteopathic philosophy has an emphasis on internal relationships of structure and function, with an appreciation of the body’s ability to heal itself. Osteopathic physicians [D.O.s] attend unique medical schools; they receive the traditional four year comprehensive medical education with an additional emphasis on disease prevention and treatment of the total person, rather than their disease alone — because of their total-person philosophy, many osteopathic physicians specialize in primary care fields such as family medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics and emergency medicine. However, it’s not just their philosophy that sets osteopathic physicians apart from their allopathic (M.D.) colleagues. D.O.s are also specially trained in manual medicine for treatment of musculoskeletal disorders.
Osteopathic medicine is a distinctive form of medical practice in Canada and the United States. The practice of osteopathic medicine utilizes all available modern medical technologies to assess and treat injury and disease. It also offers the added benefit of hands-on diagnosis and treatment through a system of therapy known as osteopathic manipulative medicine. Osteopathic physicians understand how all the bodys systems are interconnected and how each one affects the others. When indicated, they focus special attention on the musculoskeletal system, which reflects and influences the condition of all other body systems. D.O.s know that the bodys structure plays a critical role in its ability to function. They can use their eyes and hands to identify structural problems and to support the bodys natural tendency toward health and self-healing. What services does an Osteopathic Physician provide? D.O.
A1: There are presently two complete systems of medicine utilizing all available medical treatments (i.e., medicine, surgery, etc.). They are allopathic medicine which grants the M.D. (Medical Doctor) degree and osteopathic medicine which grants the D.O. (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine ) degree. Both are licensed in all 50 states, both serve in all branches of military service, and both are equal in the eyes of the law. Both have their own accreditation organizations: the American Medical Association for allopathic medicine and the American Osteopathic Association for osteopathic medicine. Osteopathic medicine was founded in 1874 by an American named Andrew Taylor Still, M.D. Still was a physician who was disgusted with the medical treatment practiced by allopathic physicians. He served in the Civil War as a soldier first and, after being wounded, then performed the duties of a surgeon in the Union hospitals. It was here where he grew disgusted at the ineffectiveness of physicians who
Osteopathic physicians (D.O.s) learn and use all the same methods of treatment as allopathic physicians (M.D.s). In addition, they place special emphasis on the body s musculoskeletal system and use osteopathic manipulative techniques to diagnose and treat patients. Osteopathic physicians have, traditionally, been very interested in primary care medicine–though graduates of osteopathic medical schools are qualified to train in all medical specialties. There are 19 osteopathic medical schools across the country. (The Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine is located about 15 minutes from Bryn Mawr.) We encourage all students to investigate osteopathic medicine as it has a special philosophy which appeals to many people.
