Postgraduate
activities and research
Progression
After success in their final examination, students become a Member of
the London College of Osteopathic Medicine (MLCOM), the post graduate
organisation is the Association of Medical Osteopaths. The General Osteopathic
Council (GOsC) recognises the course for registration purposes.
Most medical insurers, after a variable period of practice post qualification,
accept graduates as medical specialists and as osteopaths.
The course
is recognised by the Society of Apothecaries when assessing eligibility
to sit the Diploma of Musculoskeletal Medicine (DM-SMed) examinatlon.
Increasingly MLCOM and DM-SMed are becoming the relevant qualifications
for posts in the emerging specialty of Musculoskeletal Medicine within
the Health Service.
Courses,
seminars and practice
Apart from the Membership course, the college organises educational activities
for its own graduates and medical practitioners. Seminars are held at
the College for its members. Many members are active educationally in
both under and postgraduate education
Selected
members who temporarily lack the opportunity to practice osteopathy may
be eligible to treat patients in the Clinic thus maintaining both their
level of manual skills and contact with osteopathic colleagues.
By overlapping
memberships, co-operation or congruence of objectives, the College maintains
informal links with the British Institute of Musculoskeletal Medicine,
British Osteopathic Association and Society for Back Pain Research. The
College welcomes, by appointment, medical visitors who wish to see the
clinic functioning and meet trainees and tutors.
Research
Since
1982 Osteopathic Trusts Ltd. has supported several research projects.
A one hundred patient pilot trial of osteopathic manipulation for low
back pain has been completed and served the purpose of confirming the
effectiveness of osteopathic manipulation, refining methodology, and developing
new concepts of progress assessment. Facilities have also been provided
for an assessment of interactions of osteopathic and general practice,
and an investigation of physical examination recording and inter-observer
reliability. Co-operation with the Institute of Human Performance of University
College London in putting on an MSc course over recent years has provided
many opportunities for research initiatives. To date the Trusts has funded
a post-graduate engineer full-time over one year developing apparatus
to measure the mechanical compliance of electrically silent muscle. In
co-operation with the Welsh National School of Medicine a trial of osteopathic
care of low back pain in general practice has been performed supported
by funding from the Trusts.
The College
is a founder member of the Council for Osteopathic Educational Institutions
and the National Council for Osteopathic Research.
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