Grande Ronde Hospital | Life & Health | Summer 2018

A JOURNAL DEVOTED TO HEALTHFUL LIVING SUMMER 2018 Grande Ronde Hospital (GRH) is expanding the number of primary and specialty care providers to keep pace with the demands and needs of our patients. We have seen a significant increase in nurse practitioners, as well as physician assistants, medical assistants and more. As these providers become main- stream across the nation, more of them are also coming to La Grande to work for a thriving, small rural health system. Once in a while, we get questions from the community about this diverse workforce and what the credentials stand for that go beyond the traditional MD and RN. We hope to explore a few at a time in upcoming issues of Life and Health . What is a doctor of osteopathy? Most physicians you see have “MD” after their name. But there’s another type of physician that is also fully trained and qualified. These are osteopathic physicians, known as DOs. DOs complete four years of medical school and 3 to 10 years in internships, residencies and fellowships. There are DOs in all types of settings and in every medical specialty. Like MDs, they must pass state licensing examinations. About 7 percent of physicians in the U.S. are DOs, and that number is rapidly rising. Today, about 1 in 5 medical students is attending an osteopathic medical school. When you see a DO, you can expect the latest in medical techniques and services. DOs diagnose and treat illnesses and prescribe medicine, and some perform surgery. They also are trained to treat the patient as a whole person and to emphasize wellness and healthy lifestyles. DOs receive extra training in the musculoskeletal system. They practice a hands-on system of gentle pressure, stretching and resistance to move muscles and joints. FIND YOUR FIT For more information on all of our providers, visit our online Provider Directory at grh.org . What’s in a name? MD, DO, PA, NP—find out what it all means for your care —Continued on the back page

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