instance_of commission on osteopathic college accreditation
A physician , medical practitioner , medical doctor or simply doctor is a ___MASK49___ who practises ___MASK62___ , which is concerned with promoting , maintaining , or restoring health through the ___MASK42___ , diagnosis , and treatment of disease , injury , and other physical and mental impairments . Physicians ___MASK86___ focus their practice on certain disease categories , types of patients and methods of treatment  known as specialities  or they ___MASK86___ assume responsibility for the provision of continuing and comprehensive medical care to individuals , families , and communities  known as general practice . Medical practice properly requires both a detailed knowledge of the academic disciplines ( such as anatomy and physiology ) underlying diseases and their treatment  the " science " of ___MASK62___  and also a decent competence in its applied practice  the art or " craft " of ___MASK62___ . The American Osteopathic ___MASK44___ ' s ( AOA ) Commission on Osteopathic ___MASK51___ Accreditation ( COCA ) accredits medical schools granting the Doctor of Osteopathic ___MASK62___ ( DO ) degree in the United States . The US Department of Education lists the Commission as a recognized accreditor . Doctor of Osteopathic ___MASK62___ ( D . O .) is a ___MASK49___ doctoral degree for physicians and surgeons offered by medical schools in the United States . A D . O . degree graduate ___MASK86___ become licensed as an osteopathic physician , having equivalent rights , privileges , and responsibilities as a physician who has earned the Doctor of ___MASK62___ ( M . D .) degree . D . O . physicians are licensed to practice the full scope of medicine and surgery in sixty five countries , and all fifty states in the US . D . O . physicians constitute seven percent of all U . S . physicians . In 2015 , there were more than 96 , 000 osteopathic medical physicians in the United States . ___MASK62___ ( British English ; American English ) is the science and practice of the diagnosis , ___MASK84___ , and prevention of ___MASK13___ . The word " medicine " is derived from Latin " medicus ", meaning " a physician ". ___MASK62___ encompasses a ___MASK21___ of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and ___MASK84___ of illness . Contemporary medicine applies biomedical sciences , biomedical research , genetics , and medical technology to diagnose , treat , and prevent injury and ___MASK13___ , typically through pharmaceuticals or surgery , but also through therapies as diverse as psychotherapy , external splints and traction , medical devices , biologics , and ionizing radiation , amongst others . The American Osteopathic ___MASK44___ ( AOA ) is the representative ___MASK27___ ___MASK33___ for the more than 123 , 000 osteopathic medical doctors ( D . O . s ) and osteopathic medical students in the United States . The AOA is headquartered in Chicago , Illinois , and is involved in post - graduate training for osteopathic physicians . Beginning in 2015 , it ___MASK99___ begin accrediting post - graduate education as a committee within ACGME , creating a unified accreditation system for all DOs and MDs in the United States . The ___MASK33___ promotes public health , encourages academic scientific research , serves as the primary certifying body for D . O . s overseeing 18 certifying boards , is the accrediting agency for osteopathic medical schools through its Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation , and has federal authority to accredit hospitals and other health care facilities , through its program , the Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program . ___MASK79___ of ___MASK62___ ( meaning " teacher of ___MASK62___ ," abbreviated M . D .) is a terminal medical degree for practitioners of ___MASK62___ . The meaning of the degree varies between different countries . In countries that follow the United States system , the M . D . denotes a first ___MASK49___ graduate degree awarded upon initial graduation from medical school . In countries that follow the tradition of the United Kingdom , the M . D . denotes a research doctorate , higher doctorate , honorary doctorate or advanced clinical coursework degree restricted to medical graduates . In those countries , the title of the equivalent first ___MASK49___ degree is Bachelor of ___MASK62___ , Bachelor of Surgery . ___MASK57___ ( from the " cheirourgik " ( composed of  , " hand ", and  , " ___MASK20___ "), via , meaning " hand ___MASK20___ ") is an ancient ___MASK75___ that uses operative manual and ___MASK30___ techniques on a patient to investigate and / or treat a pathological condition such as disease or injury , to help improve bodily function or appearance or to repair unwanted ruptured areas ( for example , a perforated ear drum ). The Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program ( HFAP ), is a not - for - ___MASK29___ ___MASK33___ meant to help healthcare organizations maintain their standards in patient care and comply with regulations and the healthcare environment . Headquartered in Chicago , HFAP is an accreditation ___MASK33___ with authority from Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services . HFAP provides accreditation programs for hospitals , clinical laboratories , ambulatory surgical centers , office based surgery , and critical access hospitals . HFAP also accredits mental health and physical rehabilitation facilities and provides certification for primary stroke centers . HFAP is a program of the American Osteopathic Association , a medical ___MASK33___ representing osteopathic physicians .