Osteopathic medicine is a health care practice that not only addresses your physical ailments but also emphasizes preventive care, patient education, and community wellness.
Doctors of osteopathic medicine (DOs) are at the forefront of a movement to foster stronger, healthier communities through comprehensive and individualized care. Discover how the community-focused approach of osteopathic medicine is transforming lives and building a more resilient society.
What Is Osteopathic Medicine?
Osteopathic medicine is a branch of medical practice that emphasizes a whole-person approach to health care. By addressing health beyond the physical symptoms, osteopathic physicians can provide a more comprehensive and individualized approach to care. This helps to manage chronic diseases, improve patient outcomes, and enhance overall quality of life.
According to the American Osteopathic Association, osteopathic medicine is one of the fastest-growing health care segments with one out of every four medical students currently enrolled in an osteopathic medical school.
DOs also receive additional training in osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT), a hands-on method to diagnose, treat, and prevent illness or injury. This form of treatment provides innovative and noninvasive options for managing pain and improving function.
By viewing the patient holistically, DOs can identify and address the root cause of health issues, leading to more effective and sustainable health outcomes. This approach contributes to a healthier community with reduced health care costs and improved well-being.
A Comprehensive Approach and Preventative Care
Because osteopathic medicine looks at the whole person, DOs will evaluate various factors such as the patient’s lifestyle, environment, and emotional well-being. This perspective allows the physician to identify any underlying health issues and develop a treatment plan that supports the body’s natural healing process.
“We are committed to providing exceptional programs that produce forward-thinking, empathetic health care leaders,” says Tiffany Masson, Psy.D., president of Kansas Health Science University (KHSU). “At KHSU, we continue to build on our foundation of collaboration and partnerships to address the unique health care needs of Kansans and the nation.”
An important factor of this type of medicine is an emphasis on preventive care. Osteopathic physicians focus on preventing illnesses before they occur by promoting a healthy lifestyle and providing education on disease prevention. This can include advising their patients on nutrition, exercise, and other lifestyle modifications that can improve their health. By working so closely and proactively with patients, DOs can provide the tools and support necessary to make sustainable changes. This preventative approach to health care is cost-effective, helps reduce the occurrence of chronic diseases, and enhances the overall quality of life.
With osteopathic medicine being patient-centered, DOs are trained to treat people—not just their symptoms. They spend time getting to know the patient, building deep relationships, and listening to and understanding their health goals. This approach is crucial for effective health care delivery. Patients who feel more comfortable with their physicians and engaged in their treatment plans are more likely to adhere. This personalized care often leads to better health outcomes and fewer unnecessary tests and procedures, further driving down health care costs.
Accessibility and Community Outreach
While DOs can practice in all areas of medicine, they often serve as primary care providers, playing a critical role in delivering health care to underserved communities. In Kansas, 85 counties are considered underserved, meaning there are not enough physicians to care for the number of people within the community. DOs frequently fill the gap in these areas and are well-equipped to manage the diverse and complex health needs of people within these communities. By focusing on the whole person, DOs can build strong relationships and effectively manage prevalent conditions within underserved communities.
DOs lead various community health programs and outreach efforts aimed at improving health outcomes and accessibility to care. These initiatives are now recognized on National DO Day of Service. On this day, medical students and current osteopathic professionals give back to their communities across the country. They may organize health education workshops on topics such as nutrition, exercise, mental health, and disease prevention, which empower community members with the knowledge and skills needed to make healthier lifestyle choices.
DOs also often volunteer at free clinics and community health fairs to provide blood pressure checks, diabetes screenings, and vaccinations. This is particularly important in areas where residents may lack access to these services. The community is at the center of everything KansasCOM does. Whether that is hosting a health fair or entering into joint partnerships to place medical students in underserved areas and hospitals, community outreach is ongoing.
Recently, first-year osteopathic medical students took part in a Community Action Poverty Simulation (CAPS). “It was a very eye-opening experience to see where our potential future patients are coming from and the situations they’re put in,” says Collin Garota, a student doctor. “It’s important to realize these realities when treating patients, to include their background in their treatment, and to be aware of getting them the resources they really need.”
Osteopathic physicians receive extension training to address the needs of diverse populations. This education includes a strong emphasis on cultural competence, enabling them to understand and respect different cultural backgrounds, genders, and health beliefs.
By actively engaging in community health programs and outreach efforts, osteopathic physicians can make a significant impact on residents living in underserved communities not only by addressing their immediate health needs but also by fostering a healthy, more resilient community.
Educational Contributions
The Kansas College of Osteopathic Medicine plays a pivotal role in training the next generation of osteopathic physicians.
KansasCOM provides a comprehensive education that combines new technology, artificial intelligence, ethics, entrepreneurship, and diverse principles such as gender and racial disparities. As the first osteopathic college in Kansas, KansasCOM’s goal is to help grow health care resources for underserved populations across the state and beyond. Graduates are prepared to lead with compassion and address the needs of diverse communities everywhere.
Clinical clerkships or clinical rotations are crucial components of osteopathic medical training. KansasCOM provides students with worthwhile opportunities to gain hands-on experience with real patients in rural and urban settings. Currently, KansasCOM is partnered with close to 100 local physicians, hospitals, and clinical systems. These placements span a wide array of settings and focus on supporting community health in different ways. For example, placements include:
- Abay Neuroscience Center — specializes in the treatment of back and neck pain relating to neurological conditions of the brain, spine, spinal cord, and nerves.
- The Center for Counseling and Consultation — cares for you and your family’s mental health, substance abuse issues, crisis and emotional support, and much more.
- Pawnee Valley Community Hospital — leads rural health in its community, providing convenient access and high-quality services for its patients.
- Vision Surgery Consultants — provides personalized eye care you deserve in a safe environment.
- See the full list of partners here.
These partnerships have a significant impact on the community. By training in these areas, future DOs are more likely to remain and practice in these communities, helping to alleviate health care shortages and improve access to care. It also provides an opportunity for students to work with diverse populations to better inform their work wherever they choose to practice. By investing in robust clinical clerkships, KansasCOM can ensure that its graduates are highly skilled and dedicated advocates for community health.
Looking to the Future of Medicine
The mission of the Kansas College of Osteopathic Medicine is to train the osteopathic physician of the future to provide effective, empathic, and innovative care to optimize the health of patients and their communities.
By emphasizing preventative care, DOs can focus on lifestyle changes and patient education to prevent illness, promote long-term health, and reduce health care costs. Focusing on a strong doctor-patient relationship can lead to enhanced trust, collaboration, and patient engagement. In underserved areas, osteopathic physicians play an important role in improving access to health and addressing health disparities.
As health care continues to evolve, the emphasis on preventive care and a patient-centered approach to treatment will become more crucial in addressing the complex health needs of diverse populations. Osteopathic physicians are trained to lead community health initiatives and innovate in medical practice.
With an ongoing commitment to education and training at institutions like the Kansas College of Osteopathic Medicine, the next generation of DOs will be ready to meet future challenges and make a significant impact on community health.
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We are committed to building more effective, empathic, and innovative health care. If you are too, we invite you to learn more about the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine program at KansasCOM.