Choose a Doctor That's Trained to Listen - Doctors That DO

Disclaimer: Compensation was provided for this blog via Momtrends. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions of American Osteopathic Association or Momtrends.

A good primary care physician can be hard to find. I lucked out with my doctor as he was assigned to me when I became a new patient at a local medical group. At first I was a bit suspicious because he was the only physician in the group with a DO after his name instead of an MD. I had to do some research to see what that meant, and it turned out that he was a doctor of Osteopathic Medicine — a distinct branch of medical practice in the U.S. that emphasizes a whole-person approach to treatment and care.

I’ve been with my primary care DO for almost eight years now and I have no plans of seeing anyone else— he’s simply the best! What makes my doctor so great is that he LISTENS to my concerns. The practice is booming, and yet I still feel I get one-on-one attention even when he’s pressed for time. I think a lot has to do what the fact that DOs believe there’s more to good health than the absence of pain or disease. Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine are trained to listen and partner with their patients to help them get healthy and stay well.

Here are a few more facts about DOs:

• The profession is one of the fastest growing segments in health care today, with one out of every four medical students enrolled in an osteopathic medical school.
• The number of women DOs under the age of 45 rose 62% between 2010 and 2015, and 48% of DOs in active practice less than 10 years are female.
• 55% of all DOs practice in a primary care field (such as pediatrics or family medicine).
• DOs focus on prevention by gaining a deeper understanding of your lifestyle and environment, rather than just treating your symptoms.

Before you talk to a doctor, choose one trained to listen.

My husband is with the same medical group as I am, but sees a different doctor, who happens to be an MD. When he comes home from his appointment his experience is like night and day to mine. He often says that she’s quick to give a prescription, rather than listening and getting to the root of a problem— he also feels rushed at appointments. I’ve been telling him it’s time to switch, and even if he doesn’t see the same doctor as me, there are now other DOs in the practice that would be a better fit.
Your health should be of the utmost importance, that’s why it’s essential to see a doctor who’s willing to listen to your concerns and treat you as a person, rather than a number.

Find a DO in your area at DoctorsThatDO.org.

Have you ever seen a DO – What was your experience?

Disclaimer: Compensation was provided for this blog via Momtrends. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions of American Osteopathic Association or Momtrends.