Family practice physician earns Air Force medical award

by Staff Sgt. Maria Bowman
375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

3/6/2013 - SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- Scott Air Force Base is home to the best company grade, family physician in the Air Force--Capt. Amanda Schaefer--who serves as a family health medical director.

She recently received the 2012 Air Force Medical Service Clinical Excellence Award.

"I enjoy the versatility of family medicine," Schaefer said. "I love my patients. Every patient is an individual with a unique story to tell. As a doctor, I love to fix problems.

"A big part of my job is patient education and guidance. I love that my job is always evolving and changing, which inspires me to a lifetime of learning and teaching."

The doctor has only been in the Air Force for two years, but she has already made the transition from a new service member to a key player in the 375th Medical Group. As medical director, she reviews the quality of all care provided by the clinic, supervises two physicians' assistants and is responsible for 3,150 patients.

On Tuesdays, she volunteers in the Belleville Family Practice Residency program, where she guides and educates the doctors who are working toward certification as family practice physicians.

Schaefer said her mother inspired her to become a doctor because she started college when she was a child and eventually became a family nurse practitioner.

"When I was 15, she opened a rural health clinic in a small town in Texas," she said. "I worked there summers and after school. It was truly an honor to become such an integral part of families and communities."

Some the other duties she has taken on include providing school physicals, peer audits, and helping launch the MiCare portal.

MiCare is a website that provides beneficiaries with tools and information that will eventually enable them to view and give input to their Personal Health Record. It also allows patients to send questions or requests for routine appointments to their health care team.

"MiCare breaks down barriers for communicating between patients and primary care teams," Schaefer said. "That is critical to providing good care."

Communication with her patients helps with providing good care.

"She has a sincere dedication to supporting the wellness of her patients," said Maj. Paul Schroth, Scott Family Health Clinic flight commander. "Her patient satisfaction ratings have remained consistently higher than 98 percent, which is difficult to achieve and even more difficult to sustain."

Working with Schaefer is a pleasure to other physicians at the clinic.

"Dr. Schaefer's leadership and efforts in Scott Family Health have helped the clinic to produce preventative health and continuity of care metrics that are among the best in the Air Force," said Col. Michelle Lavey, 375th Medical Operations Squadron commander. "She is innovative and energetic, and her enthusiasm is catching. You can see her reflection in almost everything the clinic does."

In addition to her work duties, Schaefer focuses on being a productive member of her community.

"I am active in my community, coaching a youth soccer team, helped raise $750,000 for charities and am working toward a cure for cancer," Schaefer said. "I also completed the Aerospace Medicine Primary Training course to become a flight surgeon."

While the doctor feels honored to receive this award, she gives credit to the people she works with.

"An award like this is never earned in a vacuum," Schaefer said. "I have an amazing support staff with the best nurses and medical technicians in the Air Force. This award is really theirs. It is a reflection of their professionalism, dedication and work ethic."