To: Department of Health Professionals and Board of Medicine for the State of Virginia

Dear Sirs and Madame’s:

First let me thank you for the opportunity to comment on the VA registration law. I have been board certified through both NSAA, and ABSA. It appears that those surgical assistants holding the SA-C credential as awarded by the American Board of Surgical Assistants (ABSA) have been barred from Surgical Assistant registration in Virginia. I am puzzled as to the rational for this conclusion.

Since 1987, The ABSA has credentialed 4122 candidates, with 2344 shown as active. Of the Total candidates certified, 80 are shown in Virginia with 53 listed as active. ABSA is the only credentialing organization requiring documented clinical performance, along with continuing medical education, and CPR or ACLS or PALS (if pediatric facility). American College of Surgeons supports ABSA.

 The goal of the Virginia Health Workforce Development Authority lists the ABSA as a professional resource of Virginia Surgical Assistants or those looking to become surgical assistants. (see http://www.vhwda.org/healthcare-careers/medicine/surgical-assistant/).

By barring ABSA, the surgical assistants which are certified as SA-C will not consider Virginia as a consideration to work in that state. Please realize that by pushing for changes in your state, then the idea to push in other states could follow. It would look more like a personal agenda or business, then professional. This would affect thousands of surgical assistants, which work hard and are proud to hold the title of SA-C such as myself and fellow colleagues. I urge you to reconsider, and allow ABSA members to register in your state.

Sincerely

Oscar Flores CSA/SA-C

Arlington TX