Defining terms

Editor,

After many questions by several different people, I thought I would help clear up what the difference in a PA (Physician Assistant), NP (Nurse Practitioner: may have different first initial depending on specialty, for instance FNP is family nurse practitioner, PNP is pediatric nurse practitioner), MD (Medical Doctor) and a DO (Doctor of Osteopathy) is.

In basic form: a DO has medical school training including a focus on the muscular and skeletal systems to treat problems throughout the body. They regard the body as an integrated whole, rather than treating for specific symptoms only.

A...