These are some of our Frequently Asked Questions – if you have a question or two of your own, email us from the home page form or call.
What’s an osteopath (DO)?
The National Institute of Health describes it well: Like allopathic physicians (or MDs), osteopathic physicians complete 4 years of medical school and can choose to practice in any specialty of medicine. However, osteopathic physicians receive an additional 300 – 500 hours in the study of hands-on manual medicine and the body’s musculoskeletal system.
Osteopathic medicine is dedicated to treating and healing the patient as a whole, rather than focusing on one system or body part. An osteopathic physician will often use a treatment method called osteopathic manipulative treatment (also called OMT or manipulation) — a hands-on approach to make sure that the body is moving freely. This free motion ensures that all of your body’s natural healing systems are able to work unhindered.
What’s the difference between osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) and chiropractic manipulation?
There are subtle and not-so-subtle differences. Both engage hands-on manipulation, but a DO generally guides your body back into its natural functional state, whereas a DC is trained to align the body in straight planes.
An informative and entertaining (at least we think so) article explaining some of the differences was written by David Tio, DO, click to read it.
When should my kids stop seeing their pediatrician and start seeing a family practice doctor?
Some parents choose to not engage a pediatrician and see a family practice doctor right from baby’s birth. Some keep their kids with the pediatrician until they feel it’s more convenient to bring the whole family to one doctor, or the child feels “too old” to visit a pediatrician. There’s no age or reason to choose one over the other. You and your children should be comfortable with whomever you visit.
What insurance plans do you accept?
We accept most major medical insurance plans, including Medicare. As of November 18, 2011, we accept the following list of insurance companies. However, please contact your insurance provider to be sure your specific plan is covered by Boulder Peak Family Practice/Dr. Mark Wisner so you don’t incur unexpected costs or rejected claims. Patients are responsible for all related visit charges.
Anthem BCBS
Aetna
Beech Street
BCBS
Cigna
Cofinity
Coventry
Exempla Health Care
Evolutions Health Care Systems
First Health/Coventry
Galaxy Health Network
GEHA/PPO USA
Geisinger Health Plan
Great West
Health Info Net
Health Management Network
Humana-Choice Care
Medicare
Midlands Choice
Multi Plan Private PHCS
National Providers Network
Pacific Care
Rocky Mountain Healthcare
Three Rivers
Tricare
USA Managed Care
United Health Care
UPREHS Union Pacific Railroad