Becoming an osteopathic physician is a great option for returning service members who are interested in medicine. As an osteopathic doctor, you’ll have the chance to treat patients holistically and from the perspective of the individual, therefore assisting them in taking charge of their health. It takes a lot of time and effort, but you can become an osteopathic doctor if you set your mind to it.
The cost of medical school might make the decision to become a doctor seem overwhelming at first. Veterans, you’re in luck: the Department of Veterans Affairs offers a wide range of educational advantages that can significantly reduce the overall cost of your higher education or vocational training. In this post, we’ll walk you through every step of the process, from deciding on a school to using your VA benefits to become an osteopathic doctor, so you can make an informed decision about your future career. Read on to find out what it takes to start a new and interesting medical profession as an osteopathic doctor.
What Is Osteopathic Medicine?
The American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine reports that despite osteopathic medicine’s long history (it was first practised in the 1800s), it is currently one of the fastest growing medical specialties in the United States. It’s more than simply a way to manage individual symptoms; it’s a method of caring for the full person. To practise Osteopathic Medicine (OM), you must view the human body and mind as a unified whole. You won’t be treating just one portion of the body, but rather the whole organism as a whole. A patient with neck or back discomfort, for instance, can benefit from a full-body application of stretching or muscular energy treatments.
Your ultimate objective is to assist patients in leading the best possible lifestyles. To help people stay well and avoid being sick in the first place, you’ll be treating them holistically and teaching them how to do so. You’ll have a collaborative relationship with your patients, helping them to improve their health and ward against sickness. You will teach them the fundamentals of health, from diet to exercise, and how to take preventative measures against disease and harm.
How is Osteopathic Medicine Different?
Together with their MD counterparts, DOs are full-fledged medical practitioners with the authority to prescribe drugs and conduct surgery in all 50 states. However, DOs provide something unique to the field of medicine: a focus on the patient as a whole. DOs are generalists who may choose to specialise later in their careers. Most doctors of osteopathy do primary care, primarily for families. Many DOs provide care for extended families and communities in rural and suburban locations.
Common Services Provided by Osteopathic Physicians
General Practise-
When it comes to common medical issues like high blood pressure, diabetes, and respiratory infections, osteopathic doctors are typically the first point of contact for patients. They also provide wellness checkups and annual physicals.
Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT)-
Osteopathic manipulative therapy (OMT) is a hands-on approach used by osteopathic doctors for diagnosis, treatment, and injury prevention. In order to enhance overall performance and facilitate healing, this method employs the application of pressure, stretching, and resistance to the affected muscles, joints, and tissues.
Pain Management-
Medication management, injections, and non-pharmacologic therapies like physical therapy and acupuncture are just some of the pain management tools at an osteopathic doctor’s disposal.
Athletic Training-
Specialised care for athletes, including the diagnosis and treatment of sports-related injuries and advice on injury prevention and rehabilitation, is available from osteopathic physicians who have completed extra training in sports medicine.
Osteopathic Treatment of Children-
Osteopathic paediatricians are trained to treat children of all ages, from newborns to teenagers. They utilise OMT to identify and treat illnesses specific to children, such as colic, asthma, and ear infections.
Surgery-
General, orthopaedic, and cosmetic surgery are just few of the many options available to patients of osteopathic surgeons. In order to improve the success of surgical procedures and hasten recovery, they employ OMT methods and their expertise of the musculoskeletal system.
Steps to Become an Osteopathic Physician
1.Get the training and education you need.
Getting the training and knowledge you need to practise osteopathic medicine is the first step. To become an osteopathic physician, one must first get a bachelor’s degree and then, from a recognised osteopathic medical school, a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree.
2. Acquire Real-World Medical Experience
After finishing the academic requirements, getting some hands-on experience in a clinical setting is next on the list. This calls for finishing a residency programme, which can take anywhere from three to seven years depending on the chosen field. Training in your chosen medical specialty under close supervision.
3. Get Your Permits in Order
To begin working as an osteopathic physician, you will need to first get a licence to do so in the state in which you intend to do so. Licencing procedures differ from state to state, but often entail an application, a background check, and an examination.
Performing a History Check
Applicants for medical licences in most states are subject to a background check that involves verification of their educational and training qualifications as well as a review of their criminal past.
The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) specifies that applicants must use a DBPR-approved supplier for electronic fingerprinting services in order to satisfy this requirement. One of the most often utilised authorised suppliers is the Florida Electronic Fingerprinting Service.
Obtaining a Licence Application
After passing the background check, you can apply to the state licencing board for your licence. In addition to the application cost, you may be asked to provide specifics about your education, training, and job experience.
Preparing for a Test
If your application is accepted, the next step is to take and pass a licencing examination. Anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, and medical ethics are just few of the many medical disciplines that could be tested.
U.S. medical licencing candidates take the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Knowledge Examination Series (COMLEX-USA), which consists of three exams. A refresher course, study tools including textbooks and internet resources, and sample questions and practise examinations are all good ways to be ready for the exam. Keep in mind that you’ll need to take and pass each successive exam level in order.
In order to sign up for the COMLEX-USA, you must first create a profile with the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners (NBOME). The NBOME website has comprehensive test details, including application deadlines and costs.
Obtaining Your Licence
If you pass the required exam, the state where you applied will issue you a licence to practise osteopathic medicine. Take all necessary steps, including enrolling in continuing education classes, to guarantee that your licence is valid at all times.
4. Focus on a Niche
After finishing your residency, you will need to enrol in a fellowship programme if you want to specialise in a particular area of medicine. Depending on your field of study, this might take anywhere from one to three more years of schooling.
Final Takeaway
In conclusion, studying to become an osteopathic doctor is a noble endeavour that pays off handsomely. Veterans can fulfil their aspirations of becoming community-minded healthcare providers with the help of VA education benefits. Veterans interested in becoming licenced and practising osteopathic physicians can do so by following the processes indicated in this article.
The need for osteopathic physicians is likely to rise in tandem with the expansion of the healthcare sector, making this an attractive field of study for people who are motivated by a desire to serve others. Veterans may make their dreams come true with the help of VA education benefits and have a significant influence on the lives of their patients.
