Recently licensed OB, ok?

volksringo · July 2014

I setup my first appt last week. Funnily enough, it was tougher than I had anticipated.
When I was able to get through a phone tree and talk to a person about scheduling, she asked if I'd been referred to any specific Dr. I said, "No." She responded, "Ok. Well, we'll put you with Dr. X ." I readily obliged and was excited just to have scheduled an appointment! yay! right?

Then, I googled Dr. X. She finished her residency in Oct. 2013. She's younger than me. Should I care? My husband wants me to have someone who is more experienced and Board Certified. I told him that it should be ok for the first appointment, then if we get a weird vibe (whatever that may be) we can find another.

Any opinions or similar experience/situations?

Thanks

elephantsonpatrol · July 2014

That means she's been out of med school and practicing in the hospital -- 4 to 5 years. Not to mention she will know more of the most current practices that older docs might not know.

Allegralbc · July 2014

Younger can be much better when it comes to doctors. They are more up to date. That said, you may want to ask her how many babies she typically delivers. Just to get an idea of her experience.

Mommalawyer · July 2014

My two cents. Make sure she's an "M.D" and not the imposter "D.O." I've had horrible, horrible experiences with "D.O." One so bad that he botched my knee surgery so bad that I've now had 2 since to repair his mistakes. And that's not all I'm going to have to have.... You want someone that went to real medical school.

amt0312 · July 2014

volksringo said:

I setup my first appt last week. Funnily enough, it was tougher than I had anticipated.
When I was able to get through a phone tree and talk to a person about scheduling, she asked if I'd been referred to any specific Dr. I said, "No." She responded, "Ok. Well, we'll put you with Dr. X ." I readily obliged and was excited just to have scheduled an appointment! yay! right?

Then, I googled Dr. X. She finished her residency in Oct. 2013. She's younger than me. Should I care? My husband wants me to have someone who is more experienced and Board Certified. I told him that it should be ok for the first appointment, then if we get a weird vibe (whatever that may be) we can find another.

Any opinions or similar experience/situations?

Thanks

Yes! Go for it! Residents usually complete their training at the big teaching hospitals where they learn all of the most cutting edge and up to date medical knowledge and see a wide variety of patients. Just remember, OB residents have probably delivered hundreds of babies by now, so they are extremely competent in their practice.

jovencita1224 · July 2014

A D.O. IS a real doctor. Who went to a medical school as an MD. Most physicians hold the Doctor of Medicine degree (M.D.), while osteopathic physicians hold the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree (D.O.). Other than teaching osteopathic manipulative medicine, the medical training for an M.D. and D.O. is virtually indistinguishable. D.O. physicians complete conventional residencies in hospitals and training programs, are licensed in all states, and have rights and responsibilities, such as military service, that are identical to M.D. physicians and surgeons.

Sorry you had a bad experience, but that is a bad doctor. Period. Not bad because it was a DO and not an MD or because you think a DO is not a real doctor. They are. I have had some very good doctors that are DO, who were family doctors/general practice. Please do not disparage the entire profession because your doctor was bad, or spread false information that a DO is not the same training or requirements as an MD. Was he a board certified orthopedic surgeon? That is a pretty specific specialty, and knees are complicated.

There is a focus on the whole body and all of the factors that create illness. I would say that a DO is a fantastic philosophy for a general practitioner. I have never personally met a DO that specialized in anything else, though I am sure there are plenty out there.

Allegralbc · July 2014

jovencita1224 said:
A D.O. IS a real doctor. Who went to a medical school as an MD. Most physicians hold the Doctor of Medicine degree (M.D.), while osteopathic physicians hold the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree (D.O.). Other than teaching osteopathic manipulative medicine, the medical training for an M.D. and D.O. is virtually indistinguishable. D.O. physicians complete conventional residencies in hospitals and training programs, are licensed in all states, and have rights and responsibilities, such as military service, that are identical to M.D. physicians and surgeons.

Sorry you had a bad experience, but that is a bad doctor. Period. Not bad because it was a DO and not an MD or because you think a DO is not a real doctor. They are. I have had some very good doctors that are DO, who were family doctors/general practice. Please do not disparage the entire profession because your doctor was bad, or spread false information that a DO is not the same training or requirements as an MD. Was he a board certified orthopedic surgeon? That is a pretty specific specialty, and knees are complicated.

There is a focus on the whole body and all of the factors that create illness. I would say that a DO is a fantastic philosophy for a general practitioner. I have never personally met a DO that specialized in anything else, though I am sure there are plenty out there.

Thank You!!

Mommalawyer · July 2014

@jovencita1224‌ - it is in fact a different program. I know this because I have spoken to friends who are both MD and those who are DO. Traditional medical school is much harder to get into. The majority of people go to DO school either a) didn't get accepted into traditional medical school or b) couldn't get into traditional medical school, so they went the DO route. This is what both MD and DO have told me. My experience wasn't solely one bad DO, it was several, including an OB-GYN. I am sensitive in this subject matter and pretty much find out everything I can about a doctor that I go to. I think everyone should do that. But for me personally, based on my experience, a DO is a deal breaker as a patient for me. I'm glad you've had positive experiences.

I do agree fully with the younger could be better analysis. My first OB-GYN for DD was like 90 years old & super old school & all he did was reprimand me for gaining weight, not wanting an unnecessary c-section, ect. (Yup. He was an MD.) Realistically, you want a great hospital with great nurses. Cause outside of prenatal care, on delivery day, they are only really there when baby is on it's way out!

Biscotto · July 2014

My OB is young, maybe my age or just a little older. She and her husband run an office, he's probably my age as well. They are great and I prefer that they are young. I wouldn't be concerned.

smg2302 · July 2014

Mommalawyer said:

@jovencita1224‌ - it is in fact a different program. I know this because I have spoken to friends who are both MD and those who are DO. Traditional medical school is much harder to get into. The majority of people go to DO school either a) didn't get accepted into traditional medical school or b) couldn't get into traditional medical school, so they went the DO route. This is what both MD and DO have told me. My experience wasn't solely one bad DO, it was several, including an OB-GYN. I am sensitive in this subject matter and pretty much find out everything I can about a doctor that I go to. I think everyone should do that. But for me personally, based on my experience, a DO is a deal breaker as a patient for me. I'm glad you've had positive experiences. I do agree fully with the younger could be better analysis. My first OB-GYN for DD was like 90 years old & super old school & all he did was reprimand me for gaining weight, not wanting an unnecessary c-section, ect. (Yup. He was an MD.) Realistically, you want a great hospital with great nurses. Cause outside of prenatal care, on delivery day, they are only really there when baby is on it's way out!

This couldn't be farther from the truth. It may apply to some people, but they are different mentalities towards practicing medicine. I know many people who have chosen the DO path because it's a more holisitic approach to medicine. Both types of doctors are able to be licensed and qualified to do their job. One bad experience with a DO should not in any way belittle an entire feild of medicine.

elephantsonpatrol · July 2014

smg2302 said:

Mommalawyer said:

@jovencita1224‌ - it is in fact a different program. I know this because I have spoken to friends who are both MD and those who are DO. Traditional medical school is much harder to get into. The majority of people go to DO school either a) didn't get accepted into traditional medical school or b) couldn't get into traditional medical school, so they went the DO route. This is what both MD and DO have told me. My experience wasn't solely one bad DO, it was several, including an OB-GYN. I am sensitive in this subject matter and pretty much find out everything I can about a doctor that I go to. I think everyone should do that. But for me personally, based on my experience, a DO is a deal breaker as a patient for me. I'm glad you've had positive experiences. I do agree fully with the younger could be better analysis. My first OB-GYN for DD was like 90 years old & super old school & all he did was reprimand me for gaining weight, not wanting an unnecessary c-section, ect. (Yup. He was an MD.) Realistically, you want a great hospital with great nurses. Cause outside of prenatal care, on delivery day, they are only really there when baby is on it's way out!

This couldn't be farther from the truth. It may apply to some people, but they are different mentalities towards practicing medicine. I know many people who have chosen the DO path because it's a more holisitic approach to medicine. Both types of doctors are able to be licensed and qualified to do their job. One bad experience with a DO should not in any way belittle an entire feild of medicine.

They are similar, but not quite the same. For a GP or OB-GYN either can work. As with any field there are good doctors ... and not so good ones.

In general, it comes down to what type of treatment you want. A DO will give you more holistic care where an MD would give you a more traditional treatment. (Not sure I'd do a DO ortho surgeon though)

Research your doc. Talk to your doc. If you are not comfortable with her/him, then its time to switch.

amt0312 · July 2014

Mommalawyer said:

@jovencita1224‌ - it is in fact a different program. I know this because I have spoken to friends who are both MD and those who are DO. Traditional medical school is much harder to get into. The majority of people go to DO school either a) didn't get accepted into traditional medical school or b) couldn't get into traditional medical school, so they went the DO route. This is what both MD and DO have told me. My experience wasn't solely one bad DO, it was several, including an OB-GYN. I am sensitive in this subject matter and pretty much find out everything I can about a doctor that I go to. I think everyone should do that. But for me personally, based on my experience, a DO is a deal breaker as a patient for me. I'm glad you've had positive experiences. I do agree fully with the younger could be better analysis. My first OB-GYN for DD was like 90 years old & super old school & all he did was reprimand me for gaining weight, not wanting an unnecessary c-section, ect. (Yup. He was an MD.) Realistically, you want a great hospital with great nurses. Cause outside of prenatal care, on delivery day, they are only really there when baby is on it's way out!

Medical school is more difficult to get into because there is more funding for those programs thus more people want to attend those (who doesn't want cheaper tuition?!?) and are not as insanely expensive as DO programs which do not have scholarships coming out of their asses. DO and MD are BOTH medical doctors. And anyways, plenty of people go to medical school in the Caribbean because they couldn't get in stateside and end up with an MD as well. I've heard some sketch things about medical schools in the Caribbean, but there are also some reputable ones, too. You need to look at the quality of the school and program itself rather than the title behind the name.

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