Earning American Osteopathic Board of Family Physicians Certification

Doctor signing papers 

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A former medical commander for the United States Air Force, Dr. Daniel Skotte practices family medicine at High Desert Family Medicine in Oregon. Active in the professional community, Dr. Daniel Skotte maintains board certification with the American Osteopathic Board of Family Physicians (AOBFP).

Maintained by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA), the AOBFP provides certification opportunities to professionals working in the family medicine industry. This certification ensures professionals continually advance their knowledge and skills, thus improving their individual practices and boosting the quality of family medicine as a whole.

To become certified by the AOBFP, professionals must first be board eligible. According to eligibility requirements, professionals must be graduates of a college of osteopathic medicine that is accredited by the COCA. Further, they must hold an active license to practice, follow the AOA code of ethics, and complete training relating to their subspecialty or specialty. (Assuming professionals meet these requirements, their eligibility lasts for six years following the completion of specialty and subspecialty training.)

From there, professionals must select the specialty they want certification in. The AOBFP offers primary certification in family medicine, along with specialty certifications in such fields as geriatric medicine, sports medicine, and sleep medicine. Depending on the specialty selected, eligibility requirements may vary slightly.

Once professionals pass the examinations relating to their specialties, they receive certification. Subspecialty certifications remain active for 10 years once they are issued, while primary certifications are only good for 8 years.

Basics of Pulmonary Function Tests

A former flight surgeon and chief of aerospace medicine for the United States Air Force, Dr. Daniel Skotte has served as a family physician since 1983. Dr. Daniel Skotte works at High Desert Family Medicine in Sunriver, Oregon, which contains an onsite laboratory for pulmonary function testing.

A pulmonary function test (PFT) can diagnose chronic lung disorders, such as asthma and COPD, or determine the cause of acute lung dysfunction, such as prolonged exposure to air pollutants. Patients with lung issues or heavy smoking habits may require a PFT before they undergo major surgery. 

No matter why a PFT is needed, the procedure itself is relatively fast and painless. Each PFT can help doctors understand a different aspect of lung function. 

Spirometry is a test that determines whether a patient’s lungs are inhaling and exhaling a healthy amount of air. A plethysmograph is an instrument that accurately measures each lung’s capacity. Other tests may be performed to determine if the lungs transfer enough oxygen to the bloodstream. 

While patients may experience slight dizziness or fatigue during and after the tests, lasting effects are minimal. Doctors use the test results to develop a treatment plan or assess already prescribed medication.

Keeping the Aircrew Healthy in the United States Air Force

A retired colonel with nearly 50 years of service in the United States Air Force, Daniel Skotte most recently served as the medical group commander of the 146th Airlift Wing of the Channel Islands Air National Guard Station in California. Daniel Skotte has held other roles in the US Air Force, including flight surgeon and chief of aerospace medicine. 

The US Air Force strives to provide its members with quality health care. To that end, the Air Force recruits healthcare professionals who are qualified to treat routine medical problems as well as special problems. Flight surgeons and aerospace medicine specialists are specifically trained to prevent, identify, and manage physiological problems that can occur in people who travel in air or space.

To become a flight surgeon or aerospace medicine specialist, a physician must undergo accredited postgraduate training that emphasizes the significant physical challenges that can result from radiation exposure, G-forces, hypoxic conditions, and time in microgravity. Additionally, specialists are responsible for evaluating aircrew members to ensure that they are always in peak physical condition. 

Each year, all aircrew members must undergo physicals to maintain their credentials. To build and maintain trust between crew and physician, flight surgeons and aerospace medicine specialists log flight time each month and are considered key members of every aircrew.