Osteopathic medicine (U.S.)

Osteopathic medicine is a branch of medicine based on the premise that the primary role of the physician is to facilitate the body's inherent ability to heal itself. Though practiced mainly in the United States, osteopathic medicine shares a common historical origin with a type of complementary medicine practiced worldwide, known as osteopathy. Physicians who graduate from osteopathic medical schools are sometimes known as osteopathic physicians and hold a doctorate in osteopathic medicine (D.O.), while holders of a similar, but far more common M.D. degree are known as allopathic physicians. The existence of this distinction and of D.O.s as licensed physicians is not widely known.^[1][2]

Founded as osteopathy by frontier physician Andrew Taylor Still as a radical rejection of the prevailing system of medical thought of the 19th century, the profession gradually moved closer to mainstream medicine in its practices, and came to be called "osteopathic medicine" within the United States.^[3] Today, osteopathic medicine is "no longer considered alternative medicine"^[4] and the training of osteopathic physicians is "virtually identical" to that of M.D. physicians.^[5] Osteopathic physicians use all conventional methods of diagnosis and treatment but are trained to place additional emphasis on the achievement of normal body mechanics as central to maintaining good health.^[6] D.O. physicians receive training in Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (OMM), a form of manual therapy shown to be of some benefit for patients with certain musculo-skeletal disorders.^[7] However, this form of therapy is used by a minority of osteopathic physicians in actual practice.^[8] In the United States, osteopathic medicine is considered by some both a profession and a social movement.^[9][10]

Although U. S. osteopathic medical physicians currently may obtain licensure in 47 countries, osteopathic curricula in countries other than the United States differs. D.O.s outside the U. S. are known as "osteopaths" and their scope of practice excludes allopathic medical therapies and relies more exclusively on osteopathic manipulative medicine and other alternative medical modalities.

Discussions about the future of osteopathic medicine frequently debate the feasibility of maintaining distinctiveness within the broader U.S. physician community. More recently, the topic of for-profit medical education has become an issue.^[11]

Additional recommended knowledge

Weighing the right way

Essential Laboratory Skills Guide

Correct Test Weight Handling Guide: 12 Practical Tips

Demographics

From its inception, the osteopathic profession has been smaller in numbers than its allopathic counterpart.^[12] Currently, there are 25 accredited osteopathic medical schools^[13] in 28 locations in the United States and 126 accredited U.S. allopathic medical schools.^[14]  

• In 1960, there were 13,708 physicians who were graduates of the 5 osteopathic medical schools.
• In 2002, there were 49,210 physicians from 19 osteopathic schools.
• Between 1980 and 2005, the number of osteopathic graduates per year increased over 250 percent from about 1,000 to 2,800. This number is expected to approach 5,000 by 2015.^[16]
• In 2007, there were 25 colleges of osteopathic medicine in 28 locations.^[17] One in five medical students in the United States is enrolled in an osteopathic medical school.^[18]
• By 2020, the number of osteopathic physicians will grow to 95,400, say expert predictions, according to the American Medical Association.^[19]

Further information: Comparison of osteopathic and allopathic demographics

Osteopathic principles

  In addition to the Hippocratic oath, Osteopathic medical students take an oath to maintain and uphold the "core principles" of osteopathic medical philosophy. Revised in 1953, and again in 2002, the core principles are:

1. The body is a unit, and the person represents a combination of body, mind, and spirit.
2. The body is capable of self-regulation, self-healing, and health maintenance.
3. Structure and function are reciprocally interrelated.
4. Rational treatment is based on an understanding of these principles: body unity, self-regulation, and the interrelationship of structure and function.^[20]

Significance

There are different opinions on the significance of these principles. Some note that the osteopathic philosophy is akin to the tenets of holistic medicine.^[21] They suggest that osteopathic philosophy is a kind of social movement within the field of medicine, one that promotes a more patient-centered, holistic approach to medicine, and emphasizes the role of the primary care physician within the health care system.^[22][9] Stephen Barrett argues that the American Osteopathic Association's emphasis of the core principles amounts to a form of professional indoctrination, glorifying osteopathic principles while misrepresenting those of the allopathic community.^[23] Still others point out that there is nothing in the principles that would distinguish osteopathic from allopathic training in any fundamental way. One study, published in the Journal of the American Osteopathic Association found a majority of allopathic medical school administrators and faculty saw nothing objectionable in the core principles, and some would even endorse them generally as sound medical principles.^[20]

Further information: Allopathic & osteopathic: Cultural differences

History

A new movement within medicine

  Frontier physician Andrew Taylor Still, M.D., D.O., founded the American School of Osteopathy (now Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine of A.T. Still University of Health Sciences) in Kirksville, MO, in 1892 as a radical protest against the turn-of-the-century medical system. A.T. Still believed that the conventional medical system lacked credible efficacy, was morally corrupt, and treated effects rather than causes of disease.^[24] He founded osteopathic medicine in rural Missouri at a time when medications, surgery, and other traditional therapeutic regimens often caused more harm than good. Some of the medicines commonly given to patients during this time were arsenic, castor oil, whiskey, and opium. In addition, unsanitary surgery often resulted in more deaths than cures.^[25]

He intended his new system of medicine to be a reformation of the existing 19th century medical practices he knew and imagined that someday "rational medical therapy" would consist of manipulation of the musculoskeletal system, surgery, and very sparingly used drugs. He invented the name "osteopathy" by blending two Greek roots osteon- for bone and -pathos for suffering in order to communicate his theory that disease and physiologic dysfunction were etiologically grounded in a disordered musculoskeletal system. Thus, by diagnosing and treating the musculoskeletal system, he believed that physicians could treat a variety of diseases and spare patients the negative side-effects of drugs.

 The new profession faced stiff opposition from the medical establishment at the time. The relationship of osteopathic and allopathic professions was often "bitterly contentious"^[15] and involved "strong efforts" by allopathic organizations to discredit osteopathic medicine.^[26] Throughout the first half of the twentieth century, the policy of the American Medical Association labeled osteopathic medicine as a cult and D.O.s were seen as "cultist." The AMA code of ethics made it unethical for an M.D. physician to voluntarily associate with a D.O.^[27][9]

One notable advocate for the fledgling movement was Mark Twain. Manipulative treatments had purported alleviated the symptoms of his daughter Jean's epilepsy as well as Twain's own chronic bronchitis. In 1909, he spoke before the New York State Assembly at a hearing regarding the practice of osteopathy in the state. "I don't know as I cared much about these osteopaths until I heard you were going to drive them out of the state, but since I heard that I haven's been able to sleep." Philosophically opposed to the American Medical Association's stance that its own type of medical practice was the only legitimate one, he spoke in favor of licensing for osteopaths. Physicians from the New York County Medical Society responded with a vigorous attack on Twain, who retorted with "[t]he physicians think they are moved by regard for the best interests of the public. Isn't there a little touch of self-interest back of it all?" "... The objection is, people are curing people without a license and you are afraid it will bust up business."^[28]

1916-1966, Federal recognition

Recognition by the federal government was a key goal of the osteopathic medicine in its effort to establish equivalency with its allopathic counterpart. Between 1916 and 1966, the profession engaged in a "long and tortuous struggle" for the right to serve as physicians and surgeons in the U.S. Military Medical Corp. On May 3rd, 1966 Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara authorized the acceptance of D.O.s into all the medical military services on the same basis as M.D.s. The first D.O. to take the oath of office to serve as a military physician was Harry J. Walter. The acceptance of osteopathic physicians was further solidified in 1996 when Ronald Blank, D.O. was appointed to serve as Surgeon General of the Army, the first osteopathic physician to hold the post.^[27]

1962, California

In the 1960s in California, the American Medical Association (AMA), sensing increased competition from osteopathic medicine, spent nearly $8 million to end the practice of osteopathic medicine in the state. In 1962, Proposition 22, a statewide ballot initiative in California, eliminated the practice of osteopathic medicine in the state. The California Medical Association (CMA) issued M.D. degrees to all D.O.s in the state of California for a nominal fee. "By attending a short seminar and paying $65, a doctor of osteopathy (D.O.) could obtain an M.D. degree; 86 percent of the D.O.'s in the state (out of a total of about 2000) chose to do so."^[4] Immediately following, the AMA re-accredited the formerly-osteopathic University of California at Irvine College of Osteopathic Medicine as University of California, Irvine School of Medicine, an allopathic medical school. It also placed a ban on issuing physician licenses to D.O.s moving to California from other states.^{[citation needed]} However, the decision proved to be controversial. In 1974, after protest and lobbying by influential and prominent D.O.s, the California Supreme Court ruled in Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons of California v. California Medical Association, that licensing of D.O.s in that state must be resumed.

1969, AMA residencies open to DOs

  In 1969, the AMA House of Delegates approved a measure allowing qualified osteopathic physicians as full and active members of the Association. The measure also allowed osteopathic physicians to participate in AMA-approved intern and residency programs. However, the American Osteopathic Association rejected this measure, claiming it was an attempt to eliminate the distinctiveness of osteopathic medicine. In 1970, AMA President Dwight L. Wilbur, M.D. sponsored a measure in the AMA's House of Delegates permitting the AMA Board of Trustees' plan for the merger of osteopathic and allopathic professions.^{[citation needed]} Today, a majority of osteopathic physicians are trained alongside M.D.s, in residency programs governed by the AMA.^[30]

1976-1987, Principle 3 and Wilk v. AMA

Main article: Wilk v. American Medical Association

Osteopathic medical schools teach a form of manual therapy called Osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM). In the past, the AMA considered manual therapy to be an unproven, unscientific method of treatment. Before 1980, Principle 3 of the AMA Principles of medical ethics stated: "A physician should practice a method of healing founded on a scientific basis; and he should not voluntarily professionally associate with anyone who violates this principle." Also, up until 1974, the AMA had a Committee on quackery that openly challenged what it considered to be many unscientific forms of healing, including OMM and chiropractic medicine. The AMA changed its policies towards osteopathic manipulative medicine largely as a result of a court ruling regarding chiropractic medicine, the Wilk case. In that case, the AMA was convicted of unlawful conspiracy in restraint of trade.^[31] Following the ruling, Principle 3 was removed from the AMA statement of medical ethics.

Non-discrimination policies

  Recent years have seen a professional rapprochement between the two groups. D.O.'s have been admitted to full active membership in the American Medical Association since 1969. The AMA has invited a representative of the American Osteopathic Association to sit as a voting member in the AMA legislative body, the house of delegates.^[32]

2006, American Medical Student Association

In 2006, during the presidency of an osteopathic medical student, the American Medical Student Association (AMSA) adopted a policy regarding the membership rights of osteopathic medical students in their main policy document, the "Preamble, Purposes and Principles."

AMSA RECOGNIZES the equality of osteopathic and allopathic medical degrees within the organization and the healthcare community as a whole. As such, D.O. students shall be entitled to the same opportunities and membership rights as M.D. students.

– PPP, AMSA^[33]

2007, AMA

In recent years, the largest allopathic organization in the U.S., the American Medical Association, adopted a fee non-discrimination policy discouraging differential pricing based on attendance of an allopathic or osteopathic medical school.^[34]

In 2006, calls for an investigation into the existence of differential fees charged for visiting osteopathic and allopathic medical students at American medical schools were brought to the American Medical Association. After an internal investigation into the fee structure for visiting osteopathic and allopathic medical students at allopathic medical schools, it was found that one institution of the 102 surveyed charged different fees for osteopathic and allopathic students.^[35] The house of delegates of the American Medical Association adopted resolution 809, I-05 in 2007.^{[citation needed]}

H-295.876 Equal Fees for Osteopathic and Allopathic Medical Students

Our AMA, in collaboration with the American Osteopathic Association, discourages discrimination against medical students by institutions and programs based on osteopathic or allopathic training.

– AMA policy H-295.876^[36]

Practice Rights from the States

In the United States, laws regulating physician licenses are governed by the states. Between 1901 to 1989, osteopathic physicians lobbied state legislatures to pass laws giving those with a D.O. degree the same legal privilege to practice medicine as those with an M.D. degree. In many states, the debate was long and protracted. Both the AOA and the AMA were heavily involved in influencing the legislative process. The first state to pass such a law was California in 1901, the last was Nebraska in 1989.^[37]

Current Status

Education and training

Main articles: Medical school in the United States and Medical education in the United States

According to Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, "the training, practice, credentialing, licensure, and reimbursement of osteopathic physicians is virtually indistinguishable from those of allopathic physicians, with 4 years of osteopathic medical school followed by specialty and subspecialty training and [board] certification."^[5]

DO-granting U.S. medical schools have curricula identical for the most part to those of MD-granting schools. Generally, the first two years are classroom-based, while the third and fourth years consist of clinical rotations through the major specialties of medicine.

Upon graduation, osteopathic medical physicians may opt to pursue residency training programs. Depending on state licensing laws, osteopathic medical physicians may also complete a one-year rotating internship at a hospital approved by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA). Osteopathic physicians may apply to residency programs accredited by either the AOA or the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). Currently, osteopathic physicians participate in more ACGME programs than in programs approved by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA).^[38]

Further information: Comparison of allopathic and osteopathic medicine

Manipulative therapy

Main article: Osteopathic manipulative medicine

Within the osteopathic medical curriculum, manipulative treatment is taught as an adjunctive measure to other biomedical interventions for a number of disorders and diseases. However, a 2001 survey of osteopathic physicians found that more than 50% of the respondents used OMT on less than 5% of their patients. The survey follows many indicators that osteopathic physicians have become more like allopathic physicians in every respect—few perform OMT, and most prescribe drugs or suggest surgery as a first line of treatment.^[39]  The American Osteopathic Association has made an effort in recent years to support scientific inquiry into the effectiveness of osteopathic manipulation as well as to encourage D.O.s to consistently offer manipulative treatments to their patients. However, the number of D.O.s who report consistently prescribing and performing manipulative treatment has been falling steadily. Medical historian and sociologist Norman Gevitz^[9] cites poor educational quarters and few full-time OMM instructors as major factors for the decreasing interest of medical students in OMM. He describes problems with "the quality, breadth, nature, and orientation of OMM instruction," and he claims that the teaching of osteopathic medicine has not changed sufficiently over the years to meet the intellectual and practical needs of students.^[20]

At the same time, recent studies show an increasingly positive attitude of patients and physicians (allopathic and osteopathic) towards the use of manual therapy as a valid, safe and effective treatment modality. One survey, published in the Journal of Continuing Medical Education, found that a majority of physicians (81%) and patients (76%) felt that manual manipulation (MM) was safe, and over half (56% of physicians and 59% of patients) felt that manipulation should be available in the primary care setting. Although less than half (40%) of the physicians reported any educational exposure to MM and less than one-quarter (20%) have administered MM in their practice, most (71%) respondents endorsed desiring more instruction in MM.^[40] Another small study examined the interest and ability of allopathic residents in learning osteopathic principles and skills, including OMM. It showed that after a 1-month elective rotation, the M.D. residents responded favorably to the experience.^[41]

Professional attitudes

  Recent years have seen an increasingly cooperative climate between the osteopathic and allopathic professions. In 1998, a New York Times article described the increasing numbers, public awareness, and mainstreaming of osteopathic physicians, but said that "some aspects of osteopathic practice can still raise eyebrows among conventional doctors." "Leaders of conventional medicine may no longer use the word quack, but many still look askance at the osteopathic system of medical thought, which they feel lacks the intellectual rigor and the scientific underpinnings of their own practice."^[9]

In 2005, during his tenure as president of the American Association of Medical Colleges, Jordan Cohen described climate of cooperation between allopathic and osteopathic practitioners.

International practice rights

Each country has different requirements and procedures for licensing or registering osteopathic physicians and osteopaths. The only osteopathic practitioners that the U.S. Department of Education recognizes as physicians are graduates of osteopathic medical colleges in the United States.^[42] Therefore, osteopaths who have trained outside the United States are not eligible for medical licensure in the United States. On the other hand, US-trained D.O.s are currently able to practice in 45 countries with full medical rights and in several others with restricted rights.

The Bureau on International Osteopathic Medical Education and Affairs (BIOMEA) is an independent board of the American Osteopathic Association. The BIOMEA monitors the licensing and registration practices of physicians in countries outside of the United States and advances the recognition of American-trained D.O.s. Towards this end, the BIOMEA works with international health organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO), the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) as well as other groups.^[43]

The procedure by which international countries consider granting physician licensure to foreigners varies widely. For U.S. trained physicians, the ability to qualify for "unlimited practice rights" also varies according to one's degree, M.D. or D.O.^[44] Many countries recognize US-trained M.D.s as applicants for licensure, granting successful applicants them "unlimited" practice rights. The American Osteopathic Association has lobbied the governments of other countries to recognize US-trained D.O.s similarly to their allopathic counterparts, with some success.

Criticism

Traditional osteopathic medicine, specifically OMM, has been criticized for unproven techniques such as cranial and cranio-sacral manipulation. Some question the therapeutic utility of osteopathic manipulative treatment modalities. A Harvard medical school reviewed website cites numerous studies demonstrating that there are some ailments for which the benefit of manipulative therapy has "firmly established" scientific support.^[21] Though a New York University health information website notes that "it is difficult to properly ascertain the effectiveness of a hands-on therapy like OM."^[46]

Future of osteopathic medicine

Maintaining distinctiveness

There is currently a debate within the osteopathic community over the feasibility of maintaining osteopathic medicine as a distinct entity within U.S. health care.^{[3][10][47][20][48][49][50][51]} JD Howell, author of The Paradox of Osteopathy,^[4] notes claims of a "fundamental yet ineffable difference between allopathic and osteopathic physicians" are based on practices such as "preventive medicine and seeing patients in a sociological context" that are "widely encountered not only in osteopathic medicine but also in allopathic medicine."^[52] Studies have confirmed the lack of any "philosophic concept or resultant practice behavior" that would distinguish a D.O. from an M.D.^[53][54] Howell summarizes the questions framing the debate over the future of osteopathic distinctiveness thus:  

As the number of osteopathic schools has increased, the debate over distinctiveness has often seen the leadership of the American Osteopathic Association at odds with the community of osteopathic physicians.

For-profit medical education

The accredidation of RVUCOM generated some controversy before the school held its first class. Like all osteopathic medical schools, RVUCOM is accredited by a board of the American Osteopathic Association (AOA). Unlike the other 28 osteopathic and 126 allopathic medical colleges in the U.S., RVUCOM is organized as a for-profit corporation.^[11] Critics claimed the AOA's approval of a for-profit school "erodes creditability" of osteopathic medical schools, especially in comparison to their allopathic counterparts.^[55] The Liaison Committee on Medical Education, which accredits the M.D.-granting (allopathic) U.S. medical schools, has banned for-profit schools.^[56] School officials insist the for-profit status of the school will not compromise the integrity of its educational mission.^[57] AOA president Peter Ajluni responded, "there are many socially minded for-profit companies that contribute time, resources, and profits to their communities" and "for-profit institutions like RVUCOM can further the cause of osteopathic medicine in the United States."^[58]

References

Further reading

• The DOs: Osteopathic Medicine in America, Norman Gevitz, 2004 (2nd Edition), paperback, 264 pages, The Johns Hopkins University Press, ISBN 0-8018-7834-9 (An excellent review of the history and development of ostepathic medicine and medical education in the United States)
• Science in the Art of Osteopathy: Osteopathic Principles and Models, Caroline Stone, Nelson Thornes, 1999, paperback, 384 pages, ISBN 0-7487-3328-0
• An Osteopathic Approach to Diagnosis and Treatment , Eileen DiGiovanna, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, 2004, hardback, 600 pages, ISBN 0-7817-4293-5

See also

• List of Osteopathic Medical Schools

Journals

• Chiropractic & Osteopathy An online journal published by BioMed Central
• International Journal of Osteopathic Medicine
• Journal of the American Osteopathic Association The official journal of the American Osteopathic Association
• Osteopathic Medicine and Primary Care An online journal published by BioMed Central
• [8]The official journal of the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians.

Other links

• The History of Osteopathic Medicine - (American Osteopathic Association)