Hey George

Is osteopathy itself evidence based? I doubt it. But the fact is that most osteopaths' field and scope of practice is no different from any MD's. That's basically what you said, though.

https://edzardernst.com/2019/03/new-review-confirms-osteopathy-is-not-evidence-based/

https://skeptics.stackexchange.com/questions/6166/is-osteopathic-medicine-evidence-based

Would I go to an osteopath to deliver my kid, give me an anesthetic, treat my hypertension? Sure.

Spinal manipulation? If it makes me feel better (like a chiropractor), why not?

Treat my asthma, hypertension with spinal manipulation? Nope.

jon-nyc

Ok, I've still been thinking about this.

So the colleges of osteopathy teach (being a little snarky) 'real medicine with a side of astrology'.

Even assuming the 'real medicine' part is equal, wouldn't there still be some self-selection going on? IOW that the med students applying for real medicine with the side of astrology differ in fundamental ways from the people that apply to the school that just teaches real medicine?

Loki

The average osteopath make over 150k a year. Our healthcare system has decided they are not quacks.

Loki

@Loki said in Hey George:

The average osteopath make over 150k a year. Our healthcare system has decided they are not quacks.

That is more than a nurse, an NP, a Physicians Assistant and a Pharmacist. Would be interesting to care to a family practice doc.

George K · "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08

Good points, all.

As I said, the osteopathic schools are easier to get into than medical school, so there's that part of the selection process. I don't think the "astrology" part has anything to do with the decision making.

As the old joke went, "Why yeah, osteopathic school was my first choice."

If you're desperate to get into medicine, you'll explore anything that'll get you there. Look at the people going to medical school in the Caribbean or Mexico, hoping to secure a spot in a residency that's US based.

Loki

Because Osteopaths are less expensive I have to believe they would accelerate like Zoom in a single payer system. But even then you would most likely see NPs, Physician Assistants and insourced clinicians from abroad.

Jolly

The NP's are killing it right now. I know some family practice docs who have multiple urgent cares staffed by NP's only.

Copper

I had an annual physical yesterday, a PA did most of the work, then I chatted with the MD for a while.

George K · "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08

The AOA responds.

Consider the source, of course:

https://thedo.osteopathic.org/2020/10/osteopathic-medical-profession-fights-back-after-major-news-outlets-mischaracterize-dos/

The New Coffee Room

Hey George