M.D. vs D.O. (United States)

[strawberry]

I need some opinions. Another thread talked about a cardiologist saying another doctor was "just an electrophysiologist." Which made me think to bring up something I've been wondering about. I made an appointment at a cardiologist practice that I've heard great things about. The woman doctor I saw was knowledgeable, educating, and treated me seriously. Then I saw on her card she is a D.O. I looked her up and she's the head of echocardiology and did her residence in cardiology like any other. Everything she said is in line with the guidelines I've read. I heard some comments the other day about how D.O's aren't real doctors, blah blah. They have to pass the same exams for licensing, etc., don't they? Would you guys trust a D.O. less than an M.D.? Thanks!

 

[momshell7]

I go to a DO

I go to a DO

Hi, I go to a DO and I totally trust her. From the research I have done, DO's actually do some additional schooling beyond the MD. They are real doctors. They have medical degrees just like MD. They are able to perform surgeries, prescribe meds etc. DOs aren't as common, at least in my area, so it may be that since people don't know a lot about them they dont' think they are valid. There are websites you can go to and look up different licenses. I have looked up all our doctors. It shows their birthday, schools attended, date their licenses it valid until and if there have been any disiplinary action taken against them. Pretty neat! Hope this helps.
Just my thoughts!

Michelle

Here is a website that has links for all the states. I dont' know if they all work or not but it is worth a shot to look.

http://www.fatrat.com/medical_license_lookup.htm

 

[momshell7]

Here is a link

Here is a link

Here is a link for Pennsylvania.

http://www.publicrecordfinder.com/states/pennsylvania.html

 

[strawberry]

Thanks, guys! That's a great link Momshell! Hey I ran a cross country race in Bowling Green once in high school. Ironic huh. Ohio that is. Anyway, guys I really liked this doctor. She said my myxomatous valves probably weren't the only wacky connective tissue in my body and asked me about other ones which I do have: a kidney that falls down, a rib that pops out of place, a dented sternum, and a recurring ganglion csyt that apparently is mucoid. Good grief. It came in handy for gymnastics though. I think this whole body thinking probably comes partly from her osteopathic background.

So I really did like her and I appreciate your answers.

 

[Rich]

We had a DO for many years and he was great.
It was tough when he retired, now everyone we go to is an MD.
But they don't have a clue as to how to fix my back when I'm hurting,I really miss that part.
In many offices around here these days there are combinations of MD's and DO's.
I'm sure they are all equally qualified.

 

[bvdr]

My first cardiologist was a D.O. and the reason I no longer see him is because of his attitude not because I thought less of his credentials. He was board certified in cardiology.

 

[Karlynn]

My board certified cardiologist is a DO and I just love her. She is the one that diagnosed my son's asthma this last month, when other doctors just kept shuttling him around to another specialist when they couldn't find the reason for his SOB. She basically does a whole physical on me when ever I go to see her. Other than my annual PAP (which she would probably do if I asked her to) she does a thorough check. Her explaination to me when I first asked her about her DO status, as apposed to MD was that while her specialty is cardiology, her training recognizes that heart issues can effect other aspects of our health and vice versa and that she is trained to look at the total picture. Kind of like the doctors of old. If she does find other issues she will diagnose them, or try to first and then refer to another specialist. It saves her patients a lot of running around.

 

[hensylee]

Just an electrophysiologist! Wow, that's a dumb statement coming from a cardiologist, no less. I might change doctors if this one doesn't know how important and knowledgable an EP has to be.

As to D.O. we have one here - her husband is a M.D. Both of them are great.

 

[Harrybaby666]

As for The DO's that I have had...

As for The DO's that I have had...

In my area right now, MD's are in short supply...I don't know why, but they are, and the last two doctor's that I have had were DO's. The first one I had, Dr. Kouros, was great...he has a terrific sense of humor, and he was always concerned when something with me popped up, and he made sure that it was taken care of...The second one that I had (I had to switch due to lack of transportation problems) Dr. Donovan, I have to say that he is the worst doctor that I have ever had. When I was "examined" all he would do is sit in front of his computer and type, and not even put one finger on me to examine me. This coming from a Dr. that told me that there was nothing more that any doctor could do for me, and that I was only going to go downhill from there-which of course I already knew anyway. Not to mention his nurse Kathy was very rude, indifferent and very argumentative about alot of things. She argued that it WAS NOT THERE JOBS TO FIND OUT FROM THE SPECIALISTS WHAT WAS WRONG WITH ME. So needless to say, I left their "quality care" and now am seeing an MD in the next town over and I am thrilled to pieces with their attitude and care. Harrybaby

 

[Marty]

When I graduated with an MD in 1952 DO's were still second class citizens in the medical world ( a little like chiropracters today). I am happy to report this era has passed and they are now completely "kosher".

 

[Karlynn]

If we were to judge a profession or degree by a bad experience, we probably could collectively shut down just about every part of the medical field!

Whether DO or MD, if you find a good one - keep 'em!

 

[strawberry]

Karlynn,
Your Do sounds a lot like mine. She was very interested in all of my present and past issues. And it's not a short list. From my appendix and cysts and kidney issues and thyroid, and wacky rib, and PDA she thought I was a great "specimin" I think. Seriously she really was interested in everything. It's true I've been to MD urologists who I swear were trained at the University of Sadism.

P.S. GO EAGLES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[McCln]

JUst like my pcp is just more than md. She is of ostepathic, which she had to get more training and knows abit about everything. She is great, packed when I am there, and listens to my complaints. Keep your doctor if you feel great with this person. A good one it hard to find. Have a great week.

 

[RCB]

DO vs MD

DO vs MD

Although their respective have a SLIGHTY different way of looking at pt. care, there is no real difference in the first four year of schooling- they all read the same basic science text books and all go through a rotation at a hospital. When they all graduate, they both have to go through the exact same residency process. Any differences in between a DO and an MD, can be attributed to difference in people. As Marty said, years ago there was a wide margin, but today there more differences in the schools than the degree.

 

[Shine_on_Syd]

I work in a hospital and recruit physicians. In fact a good share of our docs are DO here in Maine. There is no degree of difference in quality of medical training and education between and MD or a DO. They are of equal caliber, a D.O. does have more holistic and manipulative training but by no means to be confused with a Chiropractor.
There are four classifications of cardiologists that are pretty seamless to the patient. A electrophysiologist tends to specialize in telemetry, echocardiograms, arrhythmia, pacemakers, etc. if the dr. is a good cardio it doesn't make on lick of difference that he/she is a electrophysiologist. Its just a degree of specialization in cardios