Knowing Your Medical Professionals and What Their Titles Mean – M.D. vs D.O.

When you go to your doctor’s office, chances are you’ve seen the initials after their name: Dr. So-and-so, M.D., or even Dr. Whosit, D.O. And when you get treated at the practice, you’re probably going to be seen by an N.P. or even a P.A.

But what do all of these letters mean? What are the differences between and MD and a DO? You know what a nurse does, but is that PA qualified to perform your physical exam? Can that NP really prescribe you antibiotics for your infection?

MD vs DO: What is the Difference?

We can and will answer all of these questions. Let’s start off with the doctors. That is, the ones who have gone to medical school and suffered through a residency. For starters, MD stands for Doctor of Medicine, and DO stands for Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine.

At their heart, both types of doctors have your best interests in mind. Your doctor, no matter if they are an MD or a DO, wants to help you be the healthiest you can be. However, there is a difference in the way that they are taught to help you.

An MD is taught allopathic medicine. This is a fancy term for the classic method of treating a patient by focusing on the treatment and diagnosis of disease. On the other hand, a DO is taught osteopathic medicine. Osteopathic medicine is based on the philosophy that all of the body’s systems are intertwined and focuses more on preventive medicine.

When it comes to education, both types of degrees require four years of college and then four years in medical school. After this, both go through a residency in their chosen specialty.

What does that mean to you as a patient? Not much unless you’re heading overseas. Because osteopathic medicine is relatively new – it was established in 1874 – a doctor with a DO will not be able to practice legally in many countries. On the other hand, an MD has full licensing rights internationally. In the United States, however, both kinds of doctors are trained to treat you and any injury or disease you might have.

There has been a stigma attached to being a DO for some reason, with many people thinking that becoming a DO requires less schooling. As you can see, this is incorrect. The difference is in the types of courses they are taught in their respective medical schools.

What is a PA?

PA is short for Physician’s Assistant. A PA is a licensed health care professional who works under the supervision of a licensed doctor. They are highly educated, with a post-graduate degree required for licensing. Additionally, at least 2000 hours of practical experience is required. That translates to roughly three years. Most PAs gain this experience while working as a CNA, paramedic, or an EMT. Additionally, after getting their bachelor’s degree, they complete a 2-year Master’s degree program.

You will see physician assistants doing nearly everything that a doctor does. This includes performing physical exams, ordering lab tests and discussing those results with patients. PAs also assist in surgeries, suture wounds, and can give injections.

Just like doctors, a physician assistant can choose to work in different specialties. When you go to your local clinic, chances are that your PA has chosen a primary care specialization. Other PAs might choose to specialize in surgery, dermatology, oncology, or even pediatrics.

So when you get treated or seen by a physician’s assistant, don’t worry that you’re not getting full care. The PA that is treating you has gone through the training and schooling necessary to give you a full level of care. And should they run into something that they aren’t sure of, they have their supervising doctor to fall back on.

About Nurse Practitioners

The last type of medical professional you will probably see at your doctor’s office or clinic is a nurse practitioner or NP. Nurse practitioners are very similar to a physician’s assistant, but with a few key differences.

Much like a PA, an NP’s education starts with a bachelor’s degree. However, the nurse practitioner gets their bachelor’s degree in Nursing instead of a general bachelor’s degree in a pre-med course. After that, the nurse practitioner must get their Master’s Degree in nursing. Recently, there has been a move to require NPs to get their doctorate (DNP) before being allowed to become a Nurse Practitioner. However, the nursing shortage in the United States has made this infeasible at the current time.

After a nurse practitioner has finished with their school, they can choose to focus on an area of specialization. These can include pediatrics, neonatal care, psychiatric care, or women’s health. As part of their job, they can perform numerous medical duties, much like a PA. NPs assist in surgery, prescribe medication, counsel patients, perform physical exams, and other tasks in their day to day activities.

The main difference between an NP and a PA is that nurse practitioners are able to practice independently of a doctor in many states. While there are still limits on what an independent NP can do – for example, they cannot perform surgeries – they are able to provide quality health care within their scope.

When you visit a clinic or a hospital, you are sure to encounter a wide variety of health care professionals. While the acronyms can be confusing, this primer on the four primary types of people you will see during a routine visit should put your mind at ease.