MD vs DO - advice on first pediatrician's visit needed

Does anyone have any experience with a DO?

I need some advice.

I'm home with my DD who is 6 days old. We have our first pediatrician appt. scheduled tomorrow. We selected a Dr. who was highly recommended at a very reputable practice. He is out of the office on vacation all week. When we called from the hospital to schedule our first appointment, they told us that we can see another dr. for the first visit and that Dr. Gelman would be our regular dr. after that. So, we did. I just looked on the website and saw that this random Dr. we scheduled with is a DO, not an MD, and has only 1 year of experience. I am freaking out. There is another MD who is available on Tuesday, would you wait the day to see the MD, or go to the scheduled appointment?

TIA

Re: MD vs DO - advice on first pediatrician's visit needed

Our pediatrician is a DO and we adore him!

ready2ttc posted this info a while ago:

Doctor of Osteopathic medicine.

What Makes DOs Different?
DOs can perform surgery, child delivery, treat patients, and prescribe medications in hospitals and clinic settings.


DOs look at the "total person." Osteopathic physicians focus on preventive care. Instead of just treating specific symptoms or illnesses, they look at the whole body.


DOs receive extra training in the musculoskeletal system, which is comprised of the nerves, muscles, and bones. This training gives DOs a better understanding of how an injury or illness in one part of the body can affect another part of the body; therefore, DOs have a therapeutic and diagnostic advantage.


DOs use what is called osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT). OMT is a technique in which the DOs use their hands to diagnose injury and illness, giving special attention to the joints, bones, muscles, and nerves. Manipulations improve circulation, which in turn, creates a normal nerve and blood supply, enabling the body to heal itself.



ETA: we were seeing an MD when DS was first born and at the 1 year marked switched to our current doctor. Nothing different in the way the regular visits went...very much the same. I trust him completely and he has never let us down...even saved us a trip to the ER when DS smaked his head on brick and had a gash in his head...clean surface cut and our doctor took us right away...glued it up and it healed wonderfully.

Message edited 12/27/2009 8:35:22 PM.

Re: MD vs DO - advice on first pediatrician's visit needed

I don't think it matters much. i believe it harder to get into an MD program than a DO program but they all have to go through residency at the end. If your DC has anything serious, you'll be sent to a specialist anyways.

Most all DH's friends are MDs but he has one friend who is a DO and he seems equally competent to me.

Re: MD vs DO - advice on first pediatrician's visit needed

Re: MD vs DO - advice on first pediatrician's visit needed

My GP is a DO and he is a great doctor. My cousin is also a DO and is a radiologist at Sloane-Kettering in Manhattan. DO's receive just as much training as MD's. Nothing to freak out about.

Re: MD vs DO - advice on first pediatrician's visit needed

My OB who delivered my son is a DO and he is amazing!

Re: MD vs DO - advice on first pediatrician's visit needed

I'm an MD and I can tell you there really is no difference. DO school is slightly different than MD school since you get extra training on osteopathic manipulation (simliar stuff to what chiro's do).

However, the reality is is that you really don't learn medicine until residency and DOs and MDs go to the same residencies.

Now, NPs are different than both MDs and DOs. They have their role in the healthcare system but a visit to an NP is not always equal to a visit to a MD or DO.

Re: MD vs DO - advice on first pediatrician's visit needed

Our practice has 2 of each, I feel like we get the best of both worlds. The doctor I like the best is an MD, but I feel that they are all professional and competent.

Re: MD vs DO - advice on first pediatrician's visit needed

Thank you ladies!!!!!!
I was totally freaking out especially because this is the first appointment ever.
The fact that she only has 1 year of experience didn't make me too happy either.

I just talked to my sister, who has 2 DS's and she reassured me as well. She said the first appt is routine just to get weighed and measured, etc.... and that the nurse does most things first and then the dr. comes in. Has that been your experience as well?

Re: MD vs DO - advice on first pediatrician's visit needed

Re: MD vs DO - advice on first pediatrician's visit needed

The DO vs. Md wouldn't bother me but, the only 1 yr experience does. At my peds office there is one ped who has about that and I only see her if I absolutely have to - and, often go back for another opinion if necessary. It's just that they go strickly by the book and often go to the extreme to cover themselves (with prescribing things) - so I would MUCH rather see our regular ped with 30+ experience whose judgement I 100% go by.

Re: MD vs DO - advice on first pediatrician's visit needed

I would trust a DO 100%, and in fact would probably prefer a DO. My best friend/cousin is in med school to become a DO and I trust her completely. I like that she focuses on overall wellness and looks at the WHOLE body to diagnose/evaluate.

Re: MD vs DO - advice on first pediatrician's visit needed

thank you everyone. I'm going to keep the appointment. You've all made me feel better.

I didn't mention that I have an appt. with my OB tomorrow afternoon after the pediatrician to get my C-section staples removed. I want to take care of DD before myself, in case I am infected and need them to open me up again - wish me luck!

Re: MD vs DO - advice on first pediatrician's visit needed

DO's are just as good as MDs... there really isn't any difference. My sister is a pediatric neurologist and is a DO. We have a DO in our practice, I don't think of her any differently as I think of a MD. They both go to Med school. Actually, my sister had to take I believe an additional 500 hours in Med school to get her DO.

Re: MD vs DO - advice on first pediatrician's visit needed

Re: MD vs DO - advice on first pediatrician's visit needed

There were DO's a-plenty in the NICU when Abby was at Schneider after her birth and I entrusted them with her life.

A DO gave us 3 more years with my mother by diagnosing her heart disease and making sure she had surgery.

No difference in expertise - difference in approach. I'd have NO problem taking my child to a DO.

In terms of youth versus experience...the office that we use for pediatrics has MANY doctors in it. There are a couple that are younger than I am and a few that are old enough to be my parents. The approaches are vastly different, but I do prefer youth (not talking fresh out of med school) at times. Sometimes, they are a drop more current.

One big thing I have noticed though...I find that younger doctors often cover their tails differently in terms of diagnostics and follow up. Older doctors have less to lose - at least in my experience. Nowadays they are so worried about being sued and I find that very sad.

Re: MD vs DO - advice on first pediatrician's visit needed

Well honestly for the most part there is not a huge difference in day to day practice - but a DO is more holistic. I personally prefer MDs but that is my personally opinion and others out there don't agree and like the DOs.

If you are not comfortable seeing a DO I would wait until I could see the MD. I would have a problem seeing a DO however for one visit or two but my personal taste I prefer an MD for my major care.

Re: MD vs DO - advice on first pediatrician's visit needed

Re: MD vs DO - advice on first pediatrician's visit needed

There are 2 DOs in our practice. DS's primary doctor is an MD, but we've seen everyone in the practice mainly for sick visits. One of the DOs referred us to specialists for some monitoring and the other dealt with DS when he had bronchiolitis. We were really happy with both doctors and would have no problem seeing them again.