Anyone else notice that most Urgent Care Facilities are owned by DO's and not MD's

[Anonymous]

Almost every urgent care facility I've utilized has been owned/operated by a Doctor of Osteopathy and not MD. Anyone want to weigh in as to why?

[Anonymous]

Don't know, but my father's physician's assistant opened an urgent care clinic.

[Anonymous]

Is it a cash cow?

[Anonymous]

Righttime Medical Care is owned by a DO and I think he now has 4 or 5 outlets. High volume at $200 per patient minimum.....

[Anonymous]

What's the difference between a DO and an MD? I hadn't even heard of it until a couple years ago.

[Anonymous]

Yes, but they have MDs who staff them and work there, right?

[Anonymous]

A DO is an MD with additional training (osteopathy). My best friend is an MD and her husband a DO. In a hospital/clinic setting, they are interchangeable. Some DOs choose to focus solely on osteopathy and tend to be more in the integrative/holistic health realm in private practice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A DO is an MD with additional training (osteopathy). My best friend is an MD and her husband a DO. In a hospital/clinic setting, they are interchangeable. Some DOs choose to focus solely on osteopathy and tend to be more in the integrative/holistic health realm in private practice.

This is not correct. DOs are not MDs with additional training. DOs attend a different type of school - osteopathic instead of medical. Osteopathy is more holistic. Some DOs go to that type of school because they believe in a integrative approach, but a fair number go to DO school instead of medical school because they weren't able to be admitted to an MD program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A DO is an MD with additional training (osteopathy). My best friend is an MD and her husband a DO. In a hospital/clinic setting, they are interchangeable. Some DOs choose to focus solely on osteopathy and tend to be more in the integrative/holistic health realm in private practice.

This is not correct. DOs are not MDs with additional training. DOs attend a different type of school - osteopathic instead of medical. Osteopathy is more holistic. Some DOs go to that type of school because they believe in a integrative approach, but a fair number go to DO school instead of medical school because they weren't able to be admitted to an MD program.

This.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A DO is an MD with additional training (osteopathy). My best friend is an MD and her husband a DO. In a hospital/clinic setting, they are interchangeable. Some DOs choose to focus solely on osteopathy and tend to be more in the integrative/holistic health realm in private practice.

No. DO's are not MD's. They have the same residency training but med school for MD's is nitbthe same as osteopathic school (or whatever it's called for OD's).

[Anonymous]

90% of the time Im seen by a PA or NP and not a doctor at urgent care facilities.

my theory is that many DO's can't survive in a stand alone practice with the shingle hanging outside their practice that says "John Doe, DO." Hence, I think they hide within the urgent care facilities as a way to survive....

[Anonymous]

DOs and MDs have slightly different training at the med/osteopathic school level, but DOs who are admitted to regular residency/training programs after they complete their degrees are very qualified. In my experience, DOs who are in primary care have a more holistic/whole body/wellness approach. I like them!

[Anonymous]

I've noticed that the DOs at a given group practice tend to be the only ones with whom you can get an appointment! Well, one particular medical group I was hoping to get into, turns out only 3 physicians were accepting patients at the time: 1) a fairly young looking (probably recently graduated) DO female; 2) an Indian male doctor (not recently graduated); and 3) another recent grad, female MD.

The DO's bio mentioned she's into the holistic treatments.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've noticed that the DOs at a given group practice tend to be the only ones with whom you can get an appointment! Well, one particular medical group I was hoping to get into, turns out only 3 physicians were accepting patients at the time: 1) a fairly young looking (probably recently graduated) DO female; 2) an Indian male doctor (not recently graduated); and 3) another recent grad, female MD.

The DO's bio mentioned she's into the holistic treatments.

OT but is this a red flag to stay away from docs like this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've noticed that the DOs at a given group practice tend to be the only ones with whom you can get an appointment! Well, one particular medical group I was hoping to get into, turns out only 3 physicians were accepting patients at the time: 1) a fairly young looking (probably recently graduated) DO female; 2) an Indian male doctor (not recently graduated); and 3) another recent grad, female MD.

The DO's bio mentioned she's into the holistic treatments.

OT but is this a red flag to stay away from docs like this?

I'm the one you quoted ... Sorry, wasn't trying to hijack the thread. Yes, I think so, those to me were big red flags. I just didn't feel as comfortable going with one of those three.