MD vs. DO: What’s the Difference?
MDs and DOs are both fully licensed physicians. About 11% of U.S. physicians are DOs.
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Guides
Our guides explain how the U.S. health-care system works and how to use public data yourself. Learn what an NPI number is and how to look one up, how to check a doctor’s medical license and board certification, the difference between an MD and a DO, how doctors are paid by Medicare and private insurers, what state license records show, and how to read the government datasets behind our maps. Each guide is written for patients, students, clinicians and journalists, cites its sources, and links to the matching tools on contact.doctor.
Which States Publish Doctors’ License Data? A State-by-State Guide
Eight states publish physician license files with first-issue dates: California, Texas, Illinois, Washington, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware and Vermont. What other states offer, and why many don’t.
How Doctors Are Paid in the U.S.: Salary, RVUs, Bonuses and How to Compare Job Offers
How U.S. physician pay works: salary and productivity models, RVUs explained, signing and relocation bonuses, CME money, malpractice tail, loan repayment and a checklist for comparing…
What Is an NPI Number? How Doctors, Insurers and Pharmacies Use It
The 10-digit National Provider Identifier explained: what it is and isn't, why most doctors' NPI dates are 2005 to 2007, and how doctors, insurers, pharmacies and…