The term osteopathy is derived from the Greek words osteo meaning structure, because of the emphasis on the musculoskeletal structure -- the bones, muscles, tissues and nerves which comprise 2/3 of the body -- as a single, organic source of wellness, and pathos, meaning empathy or feeling for.
Osteopathic medicine focuses on the total person, with an appreciation for the interrelationship of the various systems of the body working harmoniously together to maintain health and prevent illness and disease.
Osteopathic medicine was first introduced in America in the late 19th Century by Missouri physician Andrew Taylor Still, M.D., who advocated a whole-person approach to diagnosis, treatment, and disease prevention.
D.O.s are "complete" physicians; they can prescribe medication, perform surgery, and are found in all branches of medicine. D.O.s have similar academic training, internship, residency, and licensing requirements as M.D.s. Thus, a D.O. designation simply means that a physician has additional education in osteopathic medicine, and is not practicing a "different" kind of medicine.
There are 45,000 D.O.s currently in the U.S.; they comprise about 6 percent of the physician population. There are D.O.s on staff at about half of the nation's hospitals.
About 20 percent of D.O.s are women.
D.O.s log 100 million patient visits each year.
Osteopathic medicine is the fastest growing medical field in the U.S., according to the U.S. Bureau of Health Professions. D.O.s are expected to number 52,700 by the year 2010. The D.O. population is growing at a rate of about 1,300, or five percent, per year.
Most (64 percent ) D.O.s are in primary care, which includes general family practice, pediatrics, and obstetrics and gynecology. D.O.s also are found in all branches of medicine, including specialties such as geriatrics, cardiology, psychiatry, ophthalmology, and emergency medicine.
Some 15 percent of D.O.s practice in remote or rural areas with populations of 10,000 or less. They are the front-line health care providers for people who might otherwise lack access to care.
From 1971-1990, there was a 103 percent increase in the number of D.O.s serving areas with populations of 10,000-25,000 people.
There are 19 colleges of osteopathic medicine in the U.S., with some 8,250 students enrolled.
Minorities (African-Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, Asian Pacific Islanders) constitute about 20 percent of osteopathic medical college graduates.
D.O.s comprise about 10 percent of all physicians in the U.S. military and serve in the Public Health Service and the Veteran's Administration. Currently the Surgeon General of the Army is a D.O..
D.O.s are the team doctors for a number of professional sports squads in hockey (Detroit Red Wings), football (San Diego Chargers), basketball (Phoenix Suns and Detroit Pistons), and baseball (Seattle Mariners).
A D.O. is the attending physician for dancers in the New York City, Joffrey, and Feld Ballet companies.
Former President George Bush's personal physician was a D.O..
Sources: Tucson Osteopathic Medical Foundation, American Osteopathic Association
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