Osteopathic medical profession fights back after CNN, MSNBC mischaracterize DOs

You have your right to go to. DO first. I have known some terrible MRs and some excellent DOs and have no preference over which is better. I will take issue with APRNs. I think they have their place seeing routine things with close supervision by a physician. They are in no way on par with a physician. APRNs have a bachelors degree plus 1 1/2 years or so of additional training. I have 7 years of training last my bachelors degree. There is simply no comparison. I have a friend that just got her NP. She proudly told me she is ready to practice because she has had 750 hours of clinical instruction. and hat would be a about 2 months odd the 3 rd year of medical school with 5 years more to go to finish medical school and the shortest residency. Sorry but they are not even close to the same

Yeah, I know. Heard this over and over from a married couple when the doctor’s wife got her NP. (The marriage survived)

During the Vietnam War, there were med schools (I think Ohio State, not positive), that did not require residencies. I think it had something to do with shortages combined with anti-war stances, but I knew a now-retired physician who went to med school to avoid the draft and picked the easiest one and proudly told the story for decades.

As a patient, even in individual practices, we are almost always seen these days by a PA, then maybe by an NP and then, perhaps, a couple weeks later, by the physician. And what about places where the NP is permitted to carry a pad of signed scripts in her pocket? (have seen this with charge RNs, too) The institution and the supervising physician allow that, so they have confidence in the NP to a further degree than the 750 hours, right? Or is it just about staffing costs and institutional budgets?

The tale I hear about medical education is that the medical schools limit entry, while the osteopathic schools do not or not to the same degree.

Of course, individuals vary in all professions(...the old joke about what do you call the person who graduated at the bottom of their med school class.....), but the best medical practitioner I ever had was that former Army nurse who was the ER charge nurse. And what is the present ‘reparations’ climate going to further do to the medical profession? How do we patients know who never took a SAT, let alone passed entrance exams, required courses or clinicals with respectable scores?

I’ve heard the gripes, so I know it already is galling to the MDs who took the time-honored route and did well.

Back in the day, it was so competitive to even be admitted to med school, let alone complete the education, that we patients could trust the physician had competence. It is not reassuring to need to see an MD and be confronted with a very young PA.

It’s a mess. currently I think MDs and DOs are about equal depending on training after graduation. I have seen good and bad in both sides. NPs and PAs have their place but need physician supervision. Unfortunately the way laws are now at least NPs can set up independent practice and do not need physician supervision ever (legally). It will take some real disasters for the pendulum to swing back the other way I’m afraid. Even in hospitals and ERs PAs and NPs are seeing patients without direct supervision. I’m not impressed with the quality of care and often have to clean up the mess....

Yep.

I’m old. Starting seeing this maybe 25+ years ago and it’s accelerated. My personal providers have retired or left clinical practice for teaching. The MD we trust the most keeps on working in retirement, but because of PC, he was denied admitting privileges when hospital administrations changed. What did he do? He carried openly. Old administration valued him enough, they allowed it. New administration was susceptible to PC pressure, mostly from RNs, but some MDs, as well. He did find a smaller hospital that needed him, so still has privileges there.

I avoid hospitals and MDS, to be frank. I pray we don’t _need_ medical care, but as we age, the choices become stark.

Appreciate your honesty. Good docs will leave as things get worse.

DH retired 3 years ago and I retired this past March. Found a place progs don’t want (yet). Much smaller place with way less work and taxes.

I am now able to explore media/techniques I had no time for while working. Setting myself challenges with no time or client constraints. It’s harder for my husband. He doesn’t do change well and is currently consumed with the political environment and his own resultant anger. Wish I could help him more, but he _wants_ to be where he is, emotionally, so it’ll just have to run its course.

The kids have to fight this, now. Unfortunately, it’s their world. In my case, the culture won. Actually, it’s consumed both sides of our entire families.

Enjoy retirement. It can be liberating.

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