Is there a difference between a D.O.’s and M.D.’s?

If you’re like most people, you’ve been going to a doctor ever since you were born, and perhaps, were not aware whether you were seeing a D.O. (Osteopathic Physician) or an M.D.(Allopathic Physician). You may not even be aware that there are two types of complete physicians in the United States. The fact is, both D.O.’s and M.D.’s are fully qualified physicians licensed to perform surgery and prescribe medication. There are minor differences between these two kinds of doctors.

• Applicants to both D.O. and M.D. medical colleges typically have a four-year undergraduate degree with an emphasis on scientific courses.
• Both D.O.’s and M.D.’s complete four years of basic medical education.
• After medical school, both D.O.’s and M.D.’s can choose to practice in a specialty area of medicine, such as psychiatry, surgery or obstetrics – after completing a residency program (typically 2 to 6 years of additional training).
• Both D.O.’s and M.D.’s must pass comparable state licensing examinations. D.O.’s and M.D.’s both practice in fully accredited and licensed health care facilities.
• D.O.’s comprise of a separate, yet equal branch of American Medical Care. Together D.O.’s and M.D.’s enhance the state of care available in America. However, it is the ways that D.O.’s and M.D.’s are different that can bring extra dimension to your family’s health care.

What does a D.O. bring extra to medicine?

• Osteopathic medical schools emphasize training students to be primary care physicians.
• D.O.’s practice a “whole person” approach to medicine instead of just treating specific symptoms or illness, they regard your body as an integrated whole.
• Osteopathic Physicians focus on preventive health care.
• D.O.’s receive extra training in the musculoskeletal system – your body’s interconnected system of nerves, muscles and bones that make up two third of its body mass. This training provides osteopathic physicians with a better understanding of the ways that an injury or illness in one part of your body can affect another.

What is a Hospitalists?

Our job as primary care Doctors are to keep our patients healthy and out of the hospital with a pro active approach towards health care. However we realize and understand that our patients sometimes end up at the hospital’s emergency room doors and may need hospital admission.

Subsequently we have hospitalists that are on call for our patients 24 hours a day 365 days a year at Munroe Regional Medical Center, Ocala Regional Medical Center and West Marion Community Hospital. They communicate directly with us, your primary care physician, so that continuity of care is not compromised. As primary care physicians, we are available to you in the office for acute care problems, chronic care and hospital follow ups.

What is OMT?

What is a ARNP vs APRN?

Advanced registered nurse practitioners (ARNP) examine patients, take and maintain patient records and histories, identify health risk factors, make referrals as well as prescribe medications and treatments.

ARNP’s generally tend to focus more on patient wellness and disease prevention than do physicians. Their nursing background provides them a different approach to medical care than a physician. They may provide education services or counselling for patients on how to make healthy lifestyle choices. The goals of these additional services are to help patients avoid long hospital stays and frequent emergency room visits and reduce their overall healthcare costs.

According to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCBSN), NPs are governed by the APRN consensus model—a set of regulations outlining the preparation, accredited education, licensure, and certification required prior to becoming independent practitioners. According to the consensus model, “all ARNP’s are educationally prepared to provide a scope of services across the health wellness-illness continuum to at least one population focus as defined by nationally recognized role and population-focused competencies.”

What is a FNP?

While most NPs will specialize in caring for a particular age group, family nurse practitioners (FNPs) work with patients of all ages and across various specialties.