Dear Sirs,

I am writing to request that American Board of Surgical Assistants (ABSA) be added to the list of approved credentialing bodies that will be recognized by the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Regulation and registration is very important when it comes to providing standardized patient care in the healthcare industry. The requirement to credential Surgical Assistants is worthwhile and can have major impact on defining the role of these individuals. The absence of not including the nationally recognized ABSA as a credentialing organization affects the profession, hospitals and surgeons who rely on these educated, exceedingly qualified surgical assistants. ABSA has been a respected leader with a long history for credentialing highly qualified surgical assistants throughout the United States. ABSA has certified thousands of surgical assistants (SA-C) and is recognized in the few states (TX, IL, DC) that have legislation that require registration and/or licensure adds to the rationality that ABSA also be recognized as one of the approved credentialing bodies in Virginia. 

Thank you for the opportunity to voice my concerns in regards to this legislation.

Shannon W. Freyling

National Healthcare Training, LLC.