Defining osteopathic medicine What is osteopathic medicine? A unified definition is desperately needed Our profession will begin a slow decline if we cannot decide on an explanation of who we are and how we practice. March 1, 2022TuesdayMarch 2022 issue The DO Distinction Brian Loveless, DO Brian Loveless, DO, is the chief medical officer of WesternU Health. Contact Dr. Loveless
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Let me first say that I am DO trained all the way through my general surgery residency. My father was a great physician and a MD. I was heart broken to see that we were not going to have our own residency programs. I know we were smaller but we did good work and were more broadly trained. I went to our own meetings where the DO speakers put down our own specialty programs. I am afraid that the DO will be busted down to a level just above the nurse practioner and will eventually be a referral base for our MD counterparts. Please tell me I am wrong. Mar. 3, 2022, at 9:12 am Reply
Let me start by thanking the author on his visionary ideas and the fact that over the past decades the medical care in the United States have been moving toward osteopathic philosophy of the “whole-patient approach”. I chose freely and consciously to be a DO based on that philosophy and the fact that my training would give me more comprehensive skills to help my patients. More than theories that will be redundant in the actual practice of medicine. Osteopathic medicine will need to integrate into the advances in medical care and delivery, yet continue to show that value to patient who are seeking more than someone who could write a prescription. Osteopathy need to be part of our personality and our commitment to humanity. As a EM trained physician for the past two decades, I still find the time to treat patients who need that specific osteopathic touch. My MD partners are amazed by that skill set and often request that for their own friends and family members. Stay proud and please know that we are not seeking recognition by others but our patients and humanity. Mar. 3, 2022, at 1:33 pm Reply
I am a retired D.O. with 50 years of general-family practice. At the beginning of my practice as well as near the end, I had people asking me what an Osteopath was? The confusion over the name, it seems to me, results from the meaning; Osteopath literally means “bone disease.” Some thought I was an orthopedic doctor, other that I was a chiropractic doctor and I’ve heard D.O.’s referred to as “rubbing doctors.” With PA’s, NP’s, PT’s all petitioning legislators for independent practice rights without physician oversight, we could soon find ourselves several rungs down on the health care ladder. Bless A.T. Still; however, we must realized that times have changed. If you want to do structural medicine or biomechanics, do it without hanging the millstone of nomenclature around our necks. It’s time for a better, less confusing, more modern name. Mar. 3, 2022, at 2:23 pm Reply
Dr. Still said that he derived the word “osteopathy”, from “osteo” and “PATHOS” , to FEEL the Bones. Mar. 4, 2022, at 1:53 pm Reply
During the pandemic all true Osteopaths should have been on the frontlines emphasizing the importance of diet, exercise, proper supplementation with, at least Vitamin D, Vitamin C, Quercetin, and Zinc as well as at least 25 other therapeutics that have been proven to work not only observationally and anecdotally, but also through randomized controlled trials. Unfortunately, most Osteopaths fell in line with the false narrative instead of leading as true Osteopaths. Mar. 3, 2022, at 2:24 pm Reply
DO’s are practicing physicians who receive specific training in therapeutic touch. A common thread across DO curricula is instruction in manual manipulation. Touch can convey powerful emotions and can have soothing, healing properties when applied with the correct knowledge and intent. I agree DO’s have a “holistic approach” however I have always thought that makes for a nebulous definition because any medical practitioner, DO or not, can practice with a “holistic approach.” I personally do not wish to imply that perhaps DO’s are more “patient-centered” than care providers of any other background or degree. Much of what is marketed as “making DO’s unique” is really just … high-character, humanistic qualities that a lot of people strive to embody, regardless of profession. In other words, blanket statements. I do agree that if we can better define ourselves, we can better preserve what is distinct about our osteopathic heritage. I am a third-year osteopathic medical student. Thank you for writing this article, Dr. Loveless – you have spoken gracefully on the meaningful topic of professional identity. Mar. 3, 2022, at 7:46 pm Reply
Some medical textbooks and the NCBI calls the effects of thyrotoxicosis on the eyes a “ophthalmopathy,” the effects on the skin an “dermopathy,” the effects on bone an “osteopathy.” Clearly, the term “osteopathy” is ambiguous and often misleading, except for us insiders who appreciate what Osteopathy really is: a holistic approach to the patient by doctors who have had excellent training in schools of Osteopathic Medicine. We osteopaths understand and appreciate what “Osteopathy” is, but the general public is in large measure confused and mislead by the term. Mar. 5, 2022, at 12:48 pm Reply
Thank you so much for your timely article! You have pointed out that Osteopathy is again at a crossroad for our very survival. We are now on the historical path of Homeopathy which was the preeminent medicine of the late 1800’s. Once Homeopathy joined with the up and coming AMA they were slowly marginalized, denigrated, and now with the closure of Hahnemann University Hospital in 2019, Homeopathy (only in this country) has been relegated to the dustbins of history. Since the 1950’s as the Osteopathic profession sought after “full practice rights,” it achieved this at the expense of Osteopathic Philosophy, practice, and Osteopathic manipulative medicine. The AOA leadership and sad to say much of the DO’s today fully embrace the Allopathic model and marginalizing and denigrating of OMM. So now with the single pathway in ACGME we are at the crossroads of our existence. How does it feel now that many non-physicians (PA, ARNP, OD, ND, etc.) are wanting “full practice rights?” Without prescribing rights and hospital privileges who are we?? As you so rightly stated there was no mention of OMM/OMT in the new “Branding Campaign” which the AOA paid millions of our dues for. As one of my recent students who is soon to graduate stated in this discussion: “If you have to resort to a branding campaign you have lost your identity.” Furthermore it is the constitutional duty of the AOA to educate the public of what Osteopathy is… unfortunately I am out of allowed space…. Mar. 6, 2022, at 8:54 pm Reply
My main concern that is one of the sources of our identity issues is: If you cannot get paid for your services you don’t exist. By federal law which gives the rules under which the CMS (followed by all insurance companies) states that only curative treatments involving the musculoskeletal will be paid for. Meaning that no “maintenance care” will be paid for and the auditors are very watchful of this(personal experience). In my opinion this is very discriminatory for our profession. All chronic care (diabetes, HTN, RA, etc) is chronic care! With the “primacy of the musculoskeletal system” taught in OMM class Osteopathy is done from the start. Furthermore, all body workers are lumped together as equal: DO, DC, PT, etc, are put in the same reimbursement category. Training has nothing to do with competence. Research means nothing as payments are designed to “hold down costs.” I am hopeful that someday DO’s will fight for their right to practice their craft. This includes myself who for 40 years practices Osteopathic medicine. I welcome the opportunity to dialogue with anyone in the profession to reclaim our identity as founded by AT Still, MD, DO. He gave us Osteopathy, it is up to us to move it into its rightful place in the Healing arts and science! Mar. 6, 2022, at 9:48 pm Reply
I too am frustrated with the lack of support for the practitioners in the DO community by the organizations which are tasked with that duty. I’m concerned that the reason we are contorting ourselves to define who we are, as a profession, is that we will not be allowed to exist if we state the obvious objective of our profession. That being: We are a profession dedicated to PREVENTION of disabling maladies. This includes honestly advocating for and educating people about things that are good for us as opposed to treating maladies after they have happened. We take a moral and ethical oath to do precisely this, NO insurance or business entity is so constrained. The ways this can be accomplished are extensive, but is not limited to OMT, healthy diets, exercise, clean water and food, proper sanitation, good rest and ensuring a family environment in which to safely raise children and thus require a broad spectrum of well educated people to educate the population. None of these goals are reimbursable under current coding. This profession must fight for what Still actually advocated: Prevention and the advancement of the healthy human condition. Still was a pioneer. I would also present Dr. John Harvey Kellog of Battle Creek, Mi as one of those pioneers who garnered an extensive following including presidents and business luminaries who subscribed to a preventive and healing concept. he also succumbed, but the principals live on, as does human nature. Is the sky blue? Apr. 13, 2022, at 9:48 pm Reply
I am a fully osteopathically trained family medicine physician. I. fought the battle for recognition (prior to ACGME unification) by the ACGME as a viable faculty member in an allopathic residency program – and won! We, as osteopathic physicians, have a unique position in healthcare to provide our patients with hands-on compassionate mind-body-spirit care founded in science. I am so very grateful for the opportunity to continue to support and fight for my profession. Andrew Taylor Still, MD, DO was a visionary and those of us who follow his vision need to embrace our responsibility to perpetuate it. Oct. 6, 2022, at 8:13 am Reply
After experiencing chronic back pain and seeking alternative treatment options, my friend stumbled upon the benefits of osteopathic care and was intrigued by its holistic approach to healing. Eager to address the underlying causes of their discomfort and improve their overall well-being, they decided to explore the possibility of receiving osteopathic treatment. Thanks for explaining to me that te emphasis on whole-patient treatment, innate health, and structure and function is what distinguishes osteopathic medicine from other specialties. That is really great. https://www.northhobartosteopathy.com Jun. 30, 2023, at 9:24 pm Reply