MD's vs DO's and Pediatricians vs Family Physicians?

[rafiki]

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[texasmama]

I like the approach of most DO's. How old are your kids? Kids over the age of 10-12 can be seen very well by a family doctor, but I prefer a pediatrician for kids younger than that since their needs can be pretty specialized.

[lollie010]

our family practice DO is wonderful. He is respectful of the body as a system. He is open and informative about when to go the traditional route and when to go the natural route. My oldest DS had some peculiar medical issues and I appreciated the way that he handled them, much better than the pediatrician. I trust him more than any medical professional I have seen. The only problem is that he is the only doc in the office and he is never on call. If you need something in the middle of the night you go to the emergency room. We haven't had a problem with that, but if you are used to a large ped. office with a 24 hour call schedule it may take some adjustment.

 

Oh and he has always been very supportive of our decisions.

[Dawn in OH]

Do you have any local friends that can give a recommendation? When I found out I was pregnant last year I asked the other local homeschoolers for a midwife recommendation because I didn't like how my previous doctor handled the delivery of our third child. I got 3 good recommendations and fell in love with the first one I interviewed. I couldn't have been happier with my prenatal care and my delivery.

 

As for our pediatrician, I had gotten a doctors name off a list of doctors that are not pushy about rigid vaccination schedules. I was still thinking about him when 3 of the midwives with the practice I chose all recommended him. It turns out he's the most popular pediatrician in the county. We couldn't be happier with him. We had been using a family doctor prior to that and I really didn't care for him much.

[Parrothead]

We have not lived in a town with a pediatrician since dd was 4. She has done fine with family practitioners. A good GP is way better than a bad specialist.

[justlittleoldme]

We have a pediatric DO for the kids, and a family DO for us. We will never (well, will try our hardest) go back to a regular MD. It seems the DOs look more at the whole body, and are more likely to not medicate things away. Hubby's back hurt, and instead of just giving him another bottle of pain medicine, he checked him out thoroughly to make sure nothing was physically wrong with his back, and referred him to physical therapy too. The kid's pediatrician is just incredibly great with them, she's friendly, warm, and great with no/selective vaccinating. We love our DOs, and we've been to a few of them.

[Veritaserum]

We use a DO family practice doctor. We don't see eye-to-eye on everything, but we have a mutual respect for each other's POV. She takes my concerns seriously and I consider her input. She didn't bat an eye that my last four babies were born at home, we homeschool, etc. I've been using her for myself and my kids for the past three years. ETA: I found my DO on the recommendation of my mw. So I agree with asking for a recommendation of someone who shares (or at least understands) your preferences in a care provider.

[Liz CA]

We have a pediatric DO for the kids, and a family DO for us. We will never (well, will try our hardest) go back to a regular MD. It seems the DOs look more at the whole body, and are more likely to not medicate things away. Hubby's back hurt, and instead of just giving him another bottle of pain medicine, he checked him out thoroughly to make sure nothing was physically wrong with his back, and referred him to physical therapy too. The kid's pediatrician is just incredibly great with them, she's friendly, warm, and great with no/selective vaccinating. We love our DOs, and we've been to a few of them.

 

Yes, I experienced a DO to be someone between an MD and a naturopath. Their training is the same as MD but they have to take extra courses for their DO = Doctor of Osteopathy. Their additional training includes manipulative techniques not unlike chiropractic methods.

My favorite doc was a DO.

[Whereneverever]

All of my kids go to a ped. We switched to the ped when my middle developed some pretty serious and ongoing health issues because we had heard that he was good about co-coordinating with specialists. He has been, but I think I'm switching DD1 to a FP doctor soon.

[rafiki]

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[Laura Corin]

We've almost always used a GP and have been very happy. Our GP is very happy to refer us to specialists if necessary.

 

Laura

[FaithManor]

Our former pediatrician became an absolute idiot about the homeschooling, so we fired him! We actually wrote him a rather scathing letter about his unprofessional behavior and made a complaint to the medical board.

 

So, now we are in the hunt for another doctor. There are only two other peds in this area and both have a bad reputation for hating homeschoolers and not listening to parents. I am thinking about taking the kids to the ER doc that treated "Ps" dislocated finger. He was so kind, really funny, and quite relaxed. He works part-time in a clinic not that far from here. I still need to find out what the other doctors are like because it's hard to say to the kids, "don't get sick or injured except on Tuesday and Thursday when Dr. yada yada is there."

 

In college, I injured my ankle quite horribly and both the ER doc plus two other M.D.'s were clueless. I found an old DO (literally, a rather old man here) and he was AWESOME! I walk without a limp because of him. He also saved the life of my piano professor who presented to her doctors with some odd symptoms and they dismissed her claims. She went to him (he was 72 at the time) and he diagnosed her with breast cancer (an unusual kind) that was presently in an uncommon way. She received treatment and was fine. The DO admitted that most M.D.'s would not have made the catch because they refuse to listen to their patients.

 

So, maybe a DO would be better.

 

Faith

[juelle]

We use family practitioners, and often see the DO. We love their approach, respect for our opinions, and the time they spend listening.

[littlebug42]

My first experience with a DO was my OB/GYN. He has now been my doc for about 15 years, delivered both my kids and I love him. He has been the best doc I have ever had.

 

My kids do see a pediatrician but we are getting ready to move to a new one in the practice as I don't care for the one much that we been seeing. I definitely feel more comfortable with a pediatrician for my kids, especially since my youngest has multiple health issues.

[tearose]

I guess I'm in the minority because I prefer MDs because I feel that their training is more rigorous. Plus, some (and I'm not saying all) DOs go the DO route because they couldn't get into medical school. My small-town hospital/clinic has a mix of MDs and DOs, and DH and I have been very happy with the MDs we've seen in pediatrics, family practice, OB/GYN, etc. DS's pediatrician doesn't push medication for every little thing, and I like that.

[jcross222]

Well, I am a DO family physician. When I was practicing, I also delivered babies. I was, therefore, quite capable of caring for children at any age. Some of my collegues did not do OB as part of their practice and didn't feel comfortable taking care of newborns-toddlerhood. I would imagine that with your childrens' ages you should be able to find a family physician for them. It's great, in my opinion, to be able to have your entire family seen by one physician. I loved taking care of whole families!:001_smile:

[MariannNOVA]

My dd30 is in an osteopathic medical school (have I mentioned how proud I am of her? :D) -- and she applied ONLy to Osteopathic school.

 

She selected Osteopathic Medicine intentionally over allopathic medicine as it is her desire to treat the 'whole' patient. Her training is actually more rigorous than the training she would receive in an allopathic medical school - there is somewhere online the amount of additional schooling that DOs go through.

 

My daughter (who has chronic lyme's) sees a D.O. for OMT twice a month - OMT is NOT chiropractic medicine and it thankfully is becoming more known and folks are having the opportunity to become informed about it.

 

I received OMT for an ankle injury and I much prefer it over the muscle relaxers, etc that my orthopod (and I adore him) would have prescribed. My ds9 received OMT for issues he has from torticolis as an infant. OMT is fascinating - every D.O. med student trains in OMT but there are some who excel in it - they truly have a gift and they can be a blessing to someone with pain issues and chronic issues.

 

The OMT that ds, dd and I see has a huge practice and she sees SO many children with autism and other spectrum issues that it is amazing.

 

I will end by saying that my dd31 also sees a Rheumatologist (with a huge practice) (MD) for her chronic lyme's treatment - that MD is waiting for dd to complete school as she knows precisely where my dd will fit into her practice as she has spent years building a practice that treats the whole patient.

[stripe]

I didn't know anything about DOs; this thread has been interesting.

 

I am never happy with doctors, so I wouldn't encourage you to stay with someone who irritates you. Try to meet some of them before choosing, if possible. Some may have "get to know us" appointments or open houses.

[momzilla333]

I guess I'm in the minority because I prefer MDs because I feel that their training is more rigorous. Plus, some (and I'm not saying all) DOs go the DO route because they couldn't get into medical school.

 

I never knew exactly what a DO was, and I'm curious. Can you explain the difference in their training? Besides the extra naturopathy, how is the medical training less rigorous?

[3littlekeets]

My whole family goes to an Internist. We find them to be far more thorough than GPs or Peds, and far more knowledgeable, as well.

[3littlekeets]

I guess I'm in the minority because I prefer MDs because I feel that their training is more rigorous. Plus, some (and I'm not saying all) DOs go the DO route because they couldn't get into medical school. My small-town hospital/clinic has a mix of MDs and DOs, and DH and I have been very happy with the MDs we've seen in pediatrics, family practice, OB/GYN, etc. DS's pediatrician doesn't push medication for every little thing, and I like that.

 

 

I'll join you in the minority tearose. We see an internist because I want the BEST training, and I seek out the Drs. who have the best degrees, residencies, and ongoing training. I have had NO problem finding an interpersonally skilled M.D. with impeccable credentials.

[Forget-Me-Not]

I'm married to a DO family practitioner. The training that MDs and DOs get is exactly the same, except that DOs do some extra classes for manipulation (not naturopathy). They both have the same prerequisites, they both have to take the MCATs to get in, they both have all the same courses during years one and two, and they both take their version of the board exams during med school and residency (DOs take the COMLEX. I can't remember what the MD test is called off the top of my head). The REAL training takes place during clinicals in their third and fourth years, and then residency. For the most part residency programs accept DOs and MDs alike. They can be licensed in every state.

 

I don't think that half or more of my DHs colleagues even realize he is a DO. He get things addressed to "Dr ____, MD" all the time.

 

I know of at least two recent grads that actively sought acceptance at DO schools because they preferred the philosophy. It used to be the case that it was easier to get into DO schools, but they've become progressively more competitive. The new trend for less-attractive candidates is to go to school overseas--esp in the Carribean or the Phillipines.

[dirty ethel rackham]

I prefer a family practitioner over a pediatrician. We have had terrible experiences with pediatricians talking down to us, giving us incorrect advice, poo-pooing concerns and making mountains out of molehills of some minor issues. I really like our family practitioner. He listens, treats me as a partner in my family's health rather than someone I must obey. (If I had a child who had complicated medical issues, I might choose a pediatrician, but only in that case, but only after carefully interviewing them.)

 

As far as an MD or a DO, not all DO's practice in the spirit of Osteopathy. My family practice doc is an MD, but his partner is a DO. I find my MD to be more wholistic in approach that his DO partner. The DO is very quick to write out scrips and does not listen to me.

[Forget-Me-Not]

I'll join you in the minority tearose. We see an internist because I want the BEST training, and I seek out the Drs. who have the best degrees, residencies, and ongoing training. I have had NO problem finding an interpersonally skilled M.D. with impeccable credentials.

 

FTR, DOs can do residencies in every specialty across the board, including internal medicine. They are accepted into top residences and required to do ongoing education just like MDs are.

 

Also, because is this my little pet peeve: Family practitioners are not GPs. I'll say it again. Family practitioners are not GPs. A GP is a doctor who completed his internship year and then did not go on to residency. You almost can't find them anymore because insurance usually won't reimburse unless you're residency trained. Family practitioners are specialists. They specialize in family medicine and the rotations they are required to take during residency are pretty varied. Pediatrics, internal med, radiology, obstetrics and gynecology, endocrinology, etc etc etc. Yes, they do refer out and consult with specialists when they come up against something they feel they can't handle. So does every other specialty. For example, a gynecologist who diagnoses you with PCOS may choose to handle it themselves or they may choose to send you to an endocrinologist.

[stripe]

I wonder if pediatricians are more focused on things like childrearing than other doctors. Because I believe this to be outside the realm of their training or expertise, I find it irritating to be told, say, how my kids should go to sleep at night.

[3littlekeets]

I'm married to a DO family practitioner. The training that MDs and DOs get is exactly the same, except that DOs do some extra classes for manipulation (not naturopathy). They both have the same prerequisites, they both have to take the MCATs to get in, they both have all the same courses during years one and two, and they both take their version of the board exams during med school and residency (DOs take the COMLEX. I can't remember what the MD test is called off the top of my head). The REAL training takes place during clinicals in their third and fourth years, and then residency. For the most part residency programs accept DOs and MDs alike. They can be licensed in every state.

 

I don't think that half or more of my DHs colleagues even realize he is a DO. He get things addressed to "Dr ____, MD" all the time.

 

I know of at least two recent grads that actively sought acceptance at DO schools because they preferred the philosophy. It used to be the case that it was easier to get into DO schools, but they've become progressively more competitive. The new trend for less-attractive candidates is to go to school overseas--esp in the Carribean or the Phillipines.

 

 

I'm sure you DH is an awesome doctor, but bottom line, great institutions don't have D.O. programs, and the highest ranked programs would be nearly impossible to get into by even the best D.O. candidates.

 

 

For me, the difference is similar to a Ph.D. versus an Ed.D. Just because both get called "professor" doesn't mean the requirements or training was the same. Now, of course, I'd rather have an Ed.D. from Harvard than a Ph.D. from Podunk U., but that doesn't exist in the D.O. world.

 

And, from my limited understanding, a D.O. would not be recognized as a "doctor" in many foreign countries.

 

*** edited *** I just spent a few minutes checking out FACULTY at "top" D.O. programs versus "top" Family Practice programs. The credential of the professors/doctors should be worth a look to anyone interested in the issue of educational differences.

Edited August 7, 2010 by 3littlekeets

[littlebug42]

I'm sure you DH is an awesome doctor, but bottom line, great institutions don't have D.O. programs, and the highest ranked programs would be nearly impossible to get into by even the best D.O. candidates.

 

 

For me, the difference is similar to a Ph.D. versus an Ed.D. Just because both get called "professor" doesn't mean the requirements or training was the same. Now, of course, I'd rather have an Ed.D. from Harvard than a Ph.D. from Podunk U., but that doesn't exist in the D.O. world.

 

And, from my limited understanding, a D.O. would not be recognized as a "doctor" in many foreign countries.

 

*** edited *** I just spent a few minutes checking out FACULTY at "top" D.O. programs versus "top" Family Practice programs. The credential of the professors/doctors should be worth a look to anyone interested in the issue of educational differences.

 

Just to point out though, education at a "top" school does not guarantee a top notch doctor. I work with docs every day and have dealt with many specialists for my daughter and there are many "well educated" doctors that personally I wouldn't take a dog to see. It is all hit or miss regardless of the education.

[angela in ohio]

I tried several pedicatricians and hated them all. Then I went to a family doctor, and we have been with her for 13 plus years.

 

As I said in another thread recently, the pediatricians acted like they owned my dc and I was borrowing them. It reminded me of the episode of Seinfeld with the mechanic.

 

Our family doctor treats us a family unit. When one of us is sick, we make one appointment, and we just call if someone else gets the same thing. She caught dd's scoliosis, she has met us at the hospital on a moment's notice when other dd had viral pneumonia. She is like a trusted family friend. She readily recommends specialists when we need them, and she follows up and manages all of our care. She is fine with homeschooling, and she doesn't give me too much grief about delaying some immunizations, and I think it's because she knows me as a patient and a person, too, and not just my dc.

[Outdoorsy Type]

All my favorite doctors have been D.O.'s

[KidsHappen]

Our family practitioner is a D.O. as was my previous one and the one before that. Given the choice, I always seek out D.O.s as I have had much better experiences with them than with M.D.s. The only other medical care pracitioners I have used on a regular basis are midwives, chiropractors, P.A.s, N.P.s and P.T.s. We have had the same doctor for 7 years now. He knows our family well and I know him. I trust him with my family's medical care. I trust that he will resepect my family's choices and keep the best interests of the entire family in mind when treating us. Losing him as a doctor would be extremely traumatic to me. I can't even imagine trying to find a new doctor.

[G5052]

Frankly we've had good and bad experiences with pediatricians, family physicians, internists, and DO's. For a primary care doctor, attitude is everything. Do they return calls? Do they respect your feelings and intuition? Do they just follow the protocols, or are they thoughtful about how they do things?

 

Training may be part of it, but the individual counts too.

[stripe]

As I said in another thread recently, the pediatricians acted like they owned my dc and I was borrowing them.

I remember you said this in another thread, and I couldn't have agreed more.