DO or MD for Primary Care Doc

I need to switch docs for my primary care and am wondering about the differences. I've always gone to an MD; not on purpose, it just worked out that way. However, I've heard good things about those who go to a DO too. Supposedly, from what I've read, the DO looks at the body more as a whole, and focuses on wellness of the entire body, whereas the MD tends to focus just on "the issue at hand."

Do any of you see a DO as your primary care doc? Why did you choose a DO over an MD? What have your experiences been like? Any ragrets? (Know what I'm sayin'?) Is your doc male or female? Does it make adifference? I've had both.

Thanks for any info you canshare.

 

I go to a Nurse Practitioner. I enjoy it because they are more patient focused and less worried about the bottom line. It’s a small practice and they know me, my issues and always answer the phone. Rarely can they not work me in , and if I’m really bad sick they fit me in or stay over. She is a female, and I feel more comfortable speaking with them from a compassion standpoint.

 

As a DO myself… the only real difference is training in OMM, which is osteopathic manipulative medicine. Like chiropractic techniques blended with more traditional medicine.

That being said, if they don’t do manual medicine stuff there isn’t a difference. I’ve met MDs that trained in OMM style techniques doing a PM&R residency, and some DOs that are neurosurgeons or pathologists that have zero use for OMM.

 

Be better. Don’t get sick. Problem solved.

 

^^^ 100% agree.

I think that depending on your age and comormidities the residency training the MD/DO you look for might matter more than their medical school education.

I’ve trained next to MD/DO combined internal medicine, DO only family medicine and MD/DO combined family medicine residency programs (it was a larger hospital system that housed multiple residency programs that cross trained) finding the medical school training to be less relevant.

Here is what you might consider depending on your health issues (this generally speaking):

Internal Medicine: older patients with heart disease, endocrine diseases (diabetes/thyroid/etc), liver disease, kidney disease, cancers, etc. Lots of times co-manages patients with specialists (cardiologists, nephrologists, etc).

Family medicine: all of the above (depends on the comfort of the provider) plus children and women’s health/contraception. Younger/healthier patients in some practices. Have more training in musculoskeletal problems than that internal med.

DO specific Family Medicine residency: all of above plus sports medicine/PM&R. Lots of these guys are trained to do joint steroid injections to help with different pain syndromes. May have some understanding of therapy maneuvers to improve joint/muscle issues.

Geriatrics: internal/family medicine plus elderly persons needing management of age related diseases. Long term care (nursing home) patients. Has further training in medication side effects in the aging population, dementia management, and end of life care just to name a few.

NP/PAs (advance practice providers) are an entirely different discussion. I’ve met some outstanding individuals that I would see myself and my own family. It is also heavily dependent on the type of practice they work in (see above), curiosity level and how often they see someone like you (you could say the same for the MD/DO folks).

Sometimes all it takes is asking a buddy that looks like you if they’re happy with their provider. You might find one you might like that way. Because in the end we all have access to the same guidelines and clinical studies by which we base our clinical decisions on.

Good luck!