D.O.s Vote to Add Clinical Skills Testing to Osteopathic Medical Licensing Exam

7/21/2003

From: Mike Campea of the American Osteopathic Association, 312-202-8043 or 800-621-1773, ext. 8043

CHICAGO, July 21 -- The American Osteopathic Association (AOA) House of Delegates voted recently to support adding a clinical skills assessment to the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination (COMLEX), the exam all graduates of osteopathic medical schools take to qualify for licensure.

This addition to COMLEX would help to ensure the health and safety of patients under the care of osteopathic physicians by evaluating, in a realistic setting, the patient management and communication skills of osteopathic medical students. "Focusing on the whole patient, not just the symptoms, is at the heart of our osteopathic philosophy. Asking our graduates to take this clinical skills exam gives them an opportunity to demonstrate just how well they've embraced this philosophy," said Darryl A. Beehler, D.O., president of the American Osteopathic Association.

Osteopathic medical schools graduate approximately 3,000 D.O.s annually.

The AOA represents approximately 49,000 D.O.s, promotes public health, encourages scientific research, serves as the primary certifying body for D.O.s, and is the accrediting agency for all osteopathic medical colleges and health care facilities. The AOA's House of Delegates, comprised of more than 500 D.O.s and osteopathic medical students from across the country, meets annually in July to set organizational policies and elect new officers.