Chapter 531, states that in order to register as a registered surgical assistant, the applicant must present satisfactory evidence that he holds a current credential as a surgical assistant or surgical first assistant.  This credential is to be issued by the following credentialing bodies:

The National Commission for the Certification of Surgical Assistants

The National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting

The National Surgical Assistant Association.

The surgical technologist is held to the same requirements and is credentialed by the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting.

If we are required to be certified by these credentialing bodies, to become registered, it should also be required that we maintain that certification in order to renew our registration.  The absence of this requirement, upon renewal, was noted in the Economic Impact Analysis by the Virginia Department of Planning and Budget.

To maintain our credentials of CSA (Certified Surgical Assistant), CSFA (Certified Surgical First Assistant), CST (Certified Surgical Technologist), we are required to maintain a certain amount of continuing education credits in a designated time frame, or we lose our credential.  Holding this credential ensures the patients that we take care of in the operating room, that we are current in our education and training and can offer them a higher standard of care.

Once we are recertified by our credentialing body, a certificate is issued to us and this could also be submitted to the Board of Medicine for the initial registration and future registration renewals, documenting that we are current with our credentialing bodies.  

Those who are not currently certified by a credentialing body, are being grandfathered to register by July 1, 2015.  It should be required that they become credentialed by one of the listed credentialing bodies, when it is time for them to apply for renewal.

I am strongly in favor of the legislation that the Virginia General Assembly passed last year allowing for the Registration of Surgical Assistants; however, I also believe that it is extremely important that the Board of Medicine impose regulations or specific requirements along with the privilege to be recognized by the state that are in the best interest of all surgical assistants and the public safety of the people in the Commonwealth.

Chapter 531 of the 2014 Acts of the Assembly, Chapter 160 sets forth regulations for registration of surgical assistants that in order to register in Virginia as a Registered Surgical Assistant; the applicant must present satisfactory evidence that he/she holds a current credential as a surgical assistant.  The credentialing bodies that the state recognizes are the National Commission for the Certification of Surgical Assistants and the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting. Both credentialing bodies require Continuing Education as a condition for recertification. These requirements are intended to encourage professionals to expand their foundations of knowledge and stay up-to-date on new developments affording them the opportunity to continuously improve their practice and ultimately their care of patients. These principals should carry over to the regulations imposed on Virginias Registered Surgical Assistants and mandate that maintaining the certification required for initial state registration a condition for registration renewal.

As the profession of surgical assisting lacked regulation in the past, there will be many who plan to register with the state who do not hold one of the required certificates and who may even lack formal training. Although I support a “Grandfathering Clause” for initial registration as Chapter 531 states, I strongly urge the Medical Board to require all those who are granted state registration to obtain either of the two recognized certifications prior to re-registering as a surgical assistant in Virginia.

Respectfully submitted,

David Jennette, CSA

i do think all medical personel should continuously pursue education, but i also think we all should.

on that note, the state should create an open college for medical education (and the continue along the lines for most vocations), where any, and all citizens can educate themselves, while earning open badges/diplomas/etc, proving their continued educational success!

i also highly encourage the medical industry within the commonwealth to do some heavy inflection whilst they debate about plastic surgery and titles in their caste. the hippocratic oath seconds this.

As a practicing Surgical Assistant for the last 18 years, I have seen many examples of people who have let their skills drop by not having to keep up with their credentialing. This is not in the best interest of public safety. I also feel that the board should keep credentialing as a part of staying registered.

Kevin Edwards CSA

As a current student at Eastern Virginia Medical School in the Masters of Surgical Assisting program, I believe anyone delivering direct patient care, especially in surgery, should have to acquire specific training and maintain their credentials while applying for state registration. Therefore, I am strongly in favor of Chapter 531 of the 2014 Acts of the Assembly, Chapter 160, which sets forth regulations for the registration of surgical assistants in the Commonwealth of Virginia.   

The medical field is an evolving industry, which is constantly producing new forms of technology and improving upon surgical/medical techniques. The primary goal of healthcare is delivering the highest quality of care to all while ensuring patient safety by having a team of professionals who are educated and able to adapt to the above changes. The "Grandfathering Clause" is a way of giving those who lack formal training time to acquire it or a certification and I feel the Medical Board should require all those who are granted state registration to obtain the stated recognized certifications prior to re-registering. The healthcare reform act will continue to buckle down on healthcare institutions and this legislation will strengthen these institutions within the Commonwealth of Virginia.   

I look forward to helping people by completing my training, becoming certified, and registering to practice as a Certified Surgical Assistant. It will be my honor to continue my education and maintain my registration/credentials to ensure the safety and health of the people.  

Respectfully submitted,

Stephanie Bullock, SSA 

There is no mention of having the American Board of Surgical Assistants(ABSA) SA-C (surgical assistant certified) credential as part of a nationally recognized certification.  Most states that license, register or certify surgical assistants in the US recognize this professional designation and the omission in  Virginia is not consistent with the standards of certification that have been in the industry since the late 1980's.  

As President of the Association of Surgical Assistants (ASA), I am writing to express the Association of Surgical Assistants’ support for the Regulations Governing the Registration of Surgical Assistants and Surgical Technologists as set forth by the Board of Medicine, Department of Health Professions, 18 VAC 85-160-10.  These regulations implement Chapter 531 of the 2014 Acts of the Assembly, Virginia Code § 54.1-2956.12 and § 54.1-2956.13 and establish requirements for surgical assistant and surgical technologist registrants. 

ASA and the American College of Surgeons support the position that surgical assistants should meet national standards and be credentialed by appropriate authorities. ASA supports the credentialing bodies set forth in the law. 

The Association of Surgical Assistants believes that education and certification of surgical assistants protects patients.  We, as professional surgical assistants, are willing to pay the $75 registration fee because we believe this registration is important in forwarding patient safety in operating rooms throughout Virginia.  ASA requests the regulations be approved as written.

Dear Sirs, 

The requirements for credentials for surgical first assistants are worthwhile qualifications are essential for our industry to endure. I applaud the Virginia legislature wanting to establish credential requirements for surgical assistants as well as delineate the vital job functions and duties performed by these highly trained clinical specialists.

Note that there are three national credentialing bodies for surgical assistants in the U.S.:The American Board of Surgical Assistants (ABSA), The National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA) and The National Commission for the Certification of Surgical Assistant (NCCSA). All three provide comprehensive certifying exams to maintain a level of surgical professionalism; however, the ABSA is not included in the Virginian proposed regulation. Was this overlooked or is it a biased decision?

Florida and Illinois have established surgical assistant associations and both recognize the ABSA as a certifying body. In fact, the Virginia Health Workforce Development Authority website features information about the surgical assistant career and lists the ABSA as valid source. The state of Texas has the largest concentration of surgical assistants in the nation and not only recognizes SA-C, CSA and CSFA credentials but also the LSA (Licensed Surgical Assistant) credential, which are governed by the Texas Medical Board. 

Again, I commend the State of Virginia for identifying the importance of the surgical assistant role, but I strongly advise including all three organizations as accepted certification bodies in order for Virginian assistants to be considered on par with other nationally recognized clinical professionals.

Respectfully,

Mary C. Valentine, CSA, LSA

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ABSA neglected

The American Board of Surgical Assistants(ABSA) SA-C (surgical assistant certified) credential is not mentioned as part of a nationally recognized certification.  Most states recognize the SA-C from ABSA since 1980li, 's and a lot of Surgical Assistants in Virginia hold the SA-C. These people shouldn not be neglected.

Duo Li,   Surgical First Assistant, Inova Health System.

A SERIOUS INSTITUTION WITH SO EXTRICT VALIDATION CAN NOT BE OMMITED IN VIRGINIA, BEING THAT IS CONSTITUTED BY RENOWNED SURGEONS AND PHYSICIANS THAT WORK OVER THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF PRACTICE AND RIGOROUS TRAINING TOWARDS THE BOARD CERTIFICATION

ABSA  national certification for surgical assistants cannot be  bypassed  in Virginia.

It is known that Regulations are very important in Medicine as we need to give the utmost and standardized care to clients. Every health professional should abide by those regulations and continue to do our Job. I know that the american board of surgical assistants is doing a magnificent job in certifying and recertifying surgical assistants and helping the health care standard of the country. There are a lot of foreign trained surgeons who were given a chance to work as a surgical assistant by ABSA in addition to the students who graduate from surgical assistant schools. I am writing this message to respectfully ask the regulatory body to consider ABSA as a very good certifying agent and give it a recognition. If there are things that they need to improve, the ABSA officials are very open and i am sure they will be very happy to engage in a constructive discussion.

Thank you very much

Yonas Raru

Boris Feldman, SA-C, ABSA Certified

I have been serving Inova Fairfax Hospital more than 15 years, assisting in over 10,000 surgeries, most of them high risk Cesarean Sections. I have built trust and confidence with my surgical assisting services throughout the Inova Health System and with over 100 surgeons during this time. Many of my colleagues are ABSA Certified and are successfully providing similar services for Inova and other hospitals and health systems in Virginia.  

 In accordance with Chapter 531 of the 2014 Acts of the Assembly, Chapter 160 sets forth regulations for registration of surgical assistants that define and limit our registration in Virginia as a Registered Surgical Assistant. Unfortunately this new regulation will exclude many highly qualified, skilled and well educated surgical assistants for reasons having nothing to do with their skill or expertise. Most of them have substantial surgical background (I was a Pediatric Thoracic Surgeon in Russia). Their decision to certify with American Board of Surgical Assistants (ABSA), a nationally recognized certifying body, may lead many of these to lose their employment and Virginia State. 

ABSA has since 1987 professionally provided Certification, education and credentialing process for 4089 surgical assistants in the USA more than 2300 of whom are currently active and successfully in their practices. ABSA has not been a static certifying body; it is constantly raising the bar of educational requirements in order to promote safety and public protection. It is affiliated with multiple training and educational programs (eg Surgical Skillz, Ace Surgical Assisting, School of Allied Health Professions and others). Like myself, many ABSA Certified surgical assistants hold Doctor of Medicine degrees from prestigious universities around the world.  ABSA SA's are recognized by all Virginia State Hospitals and Surgery Centers as for hospital services and private practice  and by most of the States in the US.

.  The exclusion the ABSA and ABSA Certified Surgical Assistants from VA Surgical Assistants Registration has no legitimate safety, regulatory, or professional rationale. The reasons are political and economic, and do not serve the public interest.  As a consequence of this decision many highly trained and skilled SA's may no longer be recognized by the State and many long-standing professional relationships will be broken.  

In the interest of fairness to the certified surgical professionals and the patients and families they serve, the American Board of Surgical Assistants must to be included in the list of credentialing bodies recognized by the State of Virginia.

Respectfully, 

Boris Feldman

It is extremely important that ABSA holders should include the VA license. I have been serving in HCA Reston Hospital Center for the past 16 years as an a Surgical Assistant, my record in the hospital speaks it self. I have been certified with ABSA since 2008, this organization have rigid academic and continue education requirement.

To exclude ABSA in VA registration and licensing process ha no regulatory, professional, or legislative purpose, on behalf of many ABSA holders who serve VA patients, please include ABSA the VA credential and Licensing registration process. Thank you and we appreciate you kindly reconsidering.

Dear Sirs:

The American Board of Surgical Assistants hereafter referred to as ABSA has always supported certification, registration and or licensure of surgical assistants. We also believe it vital to maintain one’s certification along with registration and or licensure. We fully support the regulation and registration of surgical technologists and surgical assistants in the State of Virginia. There are three nationally recognized credentialing organizations for surgical assistants, the ABSA, NBSTSA and NCCSA, however, the omission of the ABSA from the legislation appears to have exhibited a definite negative bias.

The American Board of Surgical Assistants was founded in 1987 as an independent national testing and credentialing organization for surgical assistants (www.absa.net). During the past two years it has become both a national and international credentialing organization, for surgical assistants.

1. The ABSA is in its 28th year as an independent testing and credentialing organization for surgical assistants and issues the credential: Surgical Assistant – Certified (SA-C).
2. Since 1987, the ABSA has credentialed 4122 candidates, with 2344 shown as active.
3. Of the total candidates certified 80 are shown in Virginia, with 53 listed as active.
4. The ABSA requires formal training of all candidates, for certification.
5. For recertification, the ABSA is the only credentialing organization requiring documented clinical performance, along with continuing medical education and CPR or ACLS or PALS (if pediatric facility).
6. American College of Surgeons (ACS) – Statement on Principles (excerpted), relating to Surgical Assistants; Section G. Surgical Assistants states:
   The first assistant during a surgical operation should be a trained individual who is able to participate in and actively assist the surgeon in completing the operation safely and expeditiously by helping to provide exposure, maintain hemostasis, and serve other technical functions. The qualifications of the person in this role may vary with the nature of the operation, the surgical specialty, and the type of hospital or ambulatory surgical facility.
   
   The American College of Surgeons supports the concept that, ideally, the first assistant at the operating table should be a qualified surgeon or a resident in an approved surgical education program. Residents at appropriate levels of training should be provided with opportunities to assist and participate in operations. If such assistants are not available, other physicians who are experienced in assisting may participate.
   
   It may be necessary to utilize non-physicians as first assistants. Surgeon's Assistants (SA's) or physician's assistants (PA's) with additional surgical training (emphasis added) should meet national standards and be credentialed by the appropriate local authority.
7. As the non-physician surgical assistant is taking the role of what has traditionally been another qualified surgeon or physician, it should be incumbent on the profession to require as the ACS states “additional surgical training”.

Once again, the American Board of Surgical Assistants fully supports the registration and regulation of surgical technologists and surgical assistants in the “Regulations Governing the Registration of Surgical Assistants and Surgical Technologists [under development] [18 VAC 85 - 160]” and formally requests the ABSA be added to list of Approved and or Recognized credentialing organizations, for surgical assistants, in the State of Virginia.

I thank the Department of Health Professions and the Board of Medicine for the opportunity to respond in this forum.

Respectfully:

Paul F. Weeks, MD, Chief Executive Officer

I do not understand what is going on. It seems to me that some people want to eliminate American Board of Surgical Assistants(ABSA) from the list of credible organizations that certify Surgical Assistants. I am a foreign trained surgeon who has been with ABSA since 1998, when I took a board test. Recertification never was granted, in order to renew certification I have to provide a solid proof of my work and CME credits. I am absolutely sure that any surgical assistant, who certified with ABSA, matches all requirements to provide highest level of service in OR. For those who have their doubts, I would suggest to compare side to side requirements for recertification from ABSA and others. That should give them a clear picture why ABSA must be recognized nationally. That is all I want to say.

Sincerely Antranik KOsyan SA-C MD

Dear Sir, Madam,

I would like to emphasize that I as a certified surgical assistant by the American Board of Surgical Assistant do my work in the state of Virginia since I came to USA in 2007. All my colleagues and myself know that you have a legislation proposed not to recognize the American Board of Surgical Assistants. We are very happy that all the states in USA do recognize and allow the certification of the ABSA. I hope you will consider this and do recognize the American Board of American Assistants and allow us to continue practicing as surgical assistants.

Thank you in advance

Best regards

Ibrahim Elfadil

13305 Huntington Ln, Woodbridge, Virginia 22193

     The role of the Surgical Assistant is an essential role in the Operating room, it is thus  extremely 

important for the Surgical Assistant to perform up to the standardizes level in  the surgical unit or 

operating room, serving patients as wholly as possible . 

 That is exactly what the AMERICAN BOARD OF SURGICAL ASSISTANTS is doing nationwide; they 

providing surgical assistants who have a high level of surgical background, holding degrees in 

medicine and a long history in applied surgery in many university hospitals and facilities around the 

world. Furthermore, they are all attending classes and taking examination in order to receive 

certification.

 The American Board of Surgical Assistance is constantly raising the bar of education aiming to 

promote better continuous knowledge for re- certification every two years assistants are required 

to pass 1500 hours of surgery in the operating room or perform in 400 cases. In  addition to 

attending local meetings or seminars, and providing written documentation of professional activity 

in the operating room , as well as knowledge of publications in medical or nursing  journals. All of 

these requirements are intended to encourage professionals to expand their foundation in surgical 

techniques, and update their educational ability towards further improvement of their 

performance.

It is impracticable, and certainly not in the best interest of Surgeons or Patients to exclude the ABSA 

and the ABSA associates from Virginia Surgical Assistants registration.

ABSA is essential in supporting perfected surgery in the operating room.

I would characterize as highly unethical and illogical act not to recognize and include ABSA in the current Virginia bill. Historically ABSA has proved has one of the highest standards and requirements when allowing someone to qualify for taking the exam. The cryteria are equal or higher than other existing SA boards. ABSA has been recognized in Texas and Illinois along with National Board of Surgical Assistants and other associations.

I personally have my M.D. after passing the Board Examps for physicians in this Country. I have and maintain my participation in American Board of Surgical Assistants and National Board of Surgical Assitants. Making this statement I would like to inform you I am well qualified to compare the existing standards for Surgical Assistants and by my opinion it is very sad and disapointing ABSA has not been included in the Viriginia bill for SA recognition.

If it is still not too late please review all the qualifications of this well recognized and respected board and include ABSA into the current Virgina bill.

Thank you very much.

My Name is James Bell Jr. and I have been active both politically and as a practitioner in the Profession of First Assistance since 1980. Military trained I have witnessed the evolution, refinement,expantion and now, recognition of the Surgical assistant and applaud the State of Virginia in taking regulatory action. However it would be a huge mistake to omit, for any reason, a group of individuals such as those of the ABSA as they like all of us in this profession have worked so diligently to enhance their place in healthcare and patient safety by improving their education and abilities thru some sort of certification. Indeed many of us who hold mutiple credentials do so because we recognize that as assistants we ALL, together, make up the cadre of professionals who serve the public by our abilities to help the surgeon safely and effectively do his job. Please reconsider and correct this glaring oversight.

Dear Department of Health Professions and the Board of Medicine:

Schools for Allied Health Professionals know as SFAHP provides excellence in education that can be found in the curriculum, students, staff, faculty, and equipment. SFAHP believes that quality instruction as well as hands-on clinical instruction is paramount to a student’s success. The School also believes that instructors that come directly from the allied health field will enhance the instruction, making the student more employable thereby meeting the needs of the field. Since 2006 SFAHP has graduated over 100 Surgical Assistants that have taken the ABSA. Most graduates that seek privileges in hospitals recognize the American Board of Surgical Assistants as an excellent organization.

As the President of SFAHP and a Surgical Assistant that has taken my certification through the ABSA board and NSAA have supported the ABSA because of their outstanding performance in credentialing candidates. We believe that it is vital to the employment opportunities our students seek after completing the surgical assistant program at our school.  If ABSA can not be added to the list of approved and or recognized credentialing organizations for surgical assistants, in the State for Virginia,  our graduates would be tremendously impacted. Our students seek employment in traveling agency nationally and in some cases internationally. Therefore, it will limit many opportunities for our students that seek privileges and employment in the State of Virginia.

I would strongly request that ABSA is added to the list of approved and or recognized credentialing organization, for the surgical assistants, in the State of Virginia.

I would like to thank the Department of Health Professions and the Board of Medicine for considering my request. Your assistants in this matter is greatly appreciated,

Nora Flores

President

School for Allied Health Professionals

Dear Sir's and Ma'ams,

Thank you in advance for accepting comments on the implementation of the law requiring registration for surgical assistants in Virginia. This is a law that everyone at ACE are in favor of with one exception. That is the exclusion of the SA-C National Certification through the ABSA.

The ABSA has a long standing reputation for credentialing highly qualified surgical assistants in Virginia and all over the US. The SA-C is one of the 3 nationally recognized certifications that is excepted in hospitals all over the country.

In fact many Mid-Level as well as physician level providers trust their certification to the ABSA.

Don't just take it from me that the SA-C should be considered as one of Virginia's trusted certifications for surgical assistants, take it from this statement by the ASA (Association of Surgical Assistants - A branch of the AST) which is currently posted on their website: The National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA) offers the Certified Surgical First Assistant (CSFA) credential, the National Surgical Assistant Association (NSAA) offers the Certified Surgical Assistant (CSA) credential, and the American Board of Surgical Assistants (ABSA) offers the Surgical Assistant-Certified (SA-C) credential. CSFAs, CSAs, and SA-Cs have proven through the attainment of their respective credentials that they have the necessary knowledge and skill to ensure that the best possible care is given to each surgical patient in the operating room.

Read the full statement at : http://www.surgicalassistant.org/index.php/certification

Thank you again for your dedication to this quest to insure the quality of surgical care in Virginia

Dear Sirs:

Thank for the opportunity to comment on the VA registration law. 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. As the president of ACE Surgical Assisting and an active participant in the surgical assistant community since 1989, I'm puzzled as to the rationale of this exclusion.

There are over 80 SA-Cs in Virginia. It is my understanding that they'll be grandfathered in. They'll also be stigmatized due to the fact they have a credential they've worked hard to earn and now Virginia is telling them their credential is worthless. ABSA is recognized in most other states. You are telling the SA-Cs in Virginia if they want recognition, they have to move to another state. You are also telling SA-Cs in other states that if they move to Virginia, they won't be able to find a job. What a cold welcome!

It is in nobody's best interest to make one group of healthcare professionals outcasts in the state of Virginia. It doesn't serve the surgical assisting community, the surgeons and hospitals these professionals work for, those who might have otherwise moved to Virginia, and the surgical patients who ultimately benefit from the services of well-trained and credentialed Surgical Assistants.

Finally, the exclusion of ABSA and SA-Cs thwarts the goals of the Virginia Health Workforce Development Authority. This organization lists the ABSA as a professional resourse for Virginia surgical assistants or those looking to become surgical assistants (see http://www.vhwda.org/healthcare-careers/medicine/surgical-assistant/)

Thank you again for allow us to comment. I know this profession very well and my highest recommendation is to put an end to this ban and let those with the SA-C credential be recognized and included in the Virginia registration of Surgical Assistants.

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

As President of the Virginia Commonwealth State Assembly of the Association of Surgical Technologists (VCSA-AST), I am writing to express the Virginia Commonwealth State Assembly of the Association of Surgical Technologists’ support for the Regulations Governing the Registration of Surgical Assistants and Surgical Technologists as set forth by the Board of Medicine, Department of Health Professions, 18 VAC 85-160-10.  These regulations implement Chapter 531 of the 2014 Acts of the Assembly, Virginia Code § 54.1-2956.12 and § 54.1-2956.13 and establish requirements for surgical assistant and surgical technologist registrants.

We would like to thank the Governor, all legislative entities and health professionals that worked diligently together to establish and implement these regulations to govern the critical allied professions of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting in the State of Virginia.

VCSA-AST and the American College of Surgeons support the position that surgical technologists and surgical assistants should meet national standards and be credentialed by appropriate authorities. VCSA-AST supports the credentialing bodies set forth in the law.

The Virginia Commonwealth State Assembly of the Association of Surgical Technologists believes that education and certification of surgical technologists protects patients.  We, as professional surgical technologists and surgical assistants, are willing to pay the $75 registration fee because we believe this registration is important in forwarding patient safety in operating rooms throughout Virginia.  VCSA-AST requests the regulations be approved as written.

Frances A. Dargan M. Ed. CST, CSFA

President, Virgina Commonwealth State Assembly of the Association of Surgical Technologists

Thanks for allowing me to use my right of freedom to submit my comments.

I'm a foreign surgeon graduated from one of the top inveterate ,deep-rooted medical school ( overseas, outside USA ). Once it come to the skills , My university didn't play around , so I got the highest quality of training since I graduated on 1995. It's 20 years of top notch experience And although I specialized in OB/GYN , but I've a lot of experiences in any operation of the human body from head to toe.

When I came to USA , I thought to invest my skills and grow it up . I found ABSA is the most appropriate professional organization because it includes in their members most of the highly trained foreign Surgeons who graduated from very well known medical schools all over the world.

ABSA actually have a lot of regulations for renewal of the certification which is the prove that all their members get the credentials required by ABSA and review carefully before issuing the new certification.

I can think for one unprofessional act from the other competitors , it's THE JEALOUSY from the steady successful organization ABSA , you know why, simply because of the highly qualified trained foreign surgeons who work at the top notch hospitals at the metro area which allow them Not only to work in Virginia but also extends their surfaces to MD & DC. ABSA members are usually recommended by the surgeons because the USA surgeons feel more secure and flexibly operating with the Surgeon Assistants who are foreign Surgeons.

What makes the state of TX or IL better than VA for approving ABSA Recognition  in Virginia. We have tremendous amount of SAFE cases in ALL the facilities of VA every year with high satisfaction from the patients, the surgeons and the hospital administrations.

FINALLY, ABSA MEMBERS ARE MAKING A HUGE DIFFERENCE INSIDE THE OPERATING ROOM BECAUSE OF THEIR TOP NOTCH SKILLS. THEY CAN TRANSFER THE VERY CRITICAL & ALMOST DEADLY OPERATIONS TO ANOTHER LEVEL OF SMOOTH OPERATION AND LIFE SAVING. 

The reason I chose to be credentialed by ABSA is because of two advantages it has over the other credentialing boards -  ABSA not only requires formal training for certification but for recertification, ABSA is the only credentialing organization that checks for documented clinical experience plus CME and CPR/ACLS.  This says to be that this board makes the quality of it's candidates it's utmost priority.  All the hospitals I currently hold privileges at recognize ABSA as a worthy credentialing board.  Such a board deserves to be recognized for the sake of the entire surgical community as well as the surgical patients of Virginia who can benefit from the professionals credentialed by ABSA. 

Thank you for your time. 

As President of the Association of Surgical Technologists (AST), I am writing to express the Association of Surgical Technologists’ support for the Regulations Governing the Registration of Surgical Assistants and Surgical Technologists as set forth by the Board of Medicine, Department of Health Professions, 18 VAC 85-160-10.  These regulations implement Chapter 531 of the 2014 Acts of the Assembly, Virginia Code § 54.1-2956.12 and § 54.1-2956.13 and establish requirements for surgical assistant and surgical technologist registrants. 

AST and the American College of Surgeons support the position that surgical technologists should meet national standards and be credentialed by appropriate authorities. AST supports the credentialing bodies set forth in the law. 

The Association of Surgical Technologists believes that education and certification of surgical technologists protects patients.  We, as professional surgical technologists, are willing to pay the $75 registration fee because we believe this registration is important in forwarding patient safety in operating rooms throughout Virginia.  AST requests the regulations be approved as written.

RGZ

The American Board of Surgical Assistants (ABSA) painstakingly screen qualified candidates,administer certification, validate recertification to produce competent, knowledgeable,reliable and ethical first assistants since the late 1980's.

The evolution of surgical assistants (surgeon’s assistant) is well documented during the last few decades. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surgeon's_assistant.  The ability to perform as a surgical assistant surgically is determined by education, training and experience.  The same rigor that a surgeon goes thru to be competent in their field.  The only nationally recognized surgical assistant certifying body that requires its practitioners to be clinically active by documenting surgical cases during their two year certifying cycles is the American Board Surgical Assistants; this ensures that the practitioner is clinically active.  As the surgical assistant profession has evolved in the US many allied health professionals have dedicated their careers to the profession of surgical assistant and the standards for the profession have also been elevated.  If VA decides not to include ABSA certification they are signaling to the industry the fragmentation of the surgical assistant profession and the self-interest of individuals over the public safety of the patients we serve as surgical assistants.

 SA-C should be included in this legislation - just as they are in Illinois. 

As Past-President of the Virginia Commonwealth State Assembly of the Association of Surgical Technologists (VCSA-AST), with 30 years as a Certified Surgical Technologist and a Fellow of AST, I am writing to express the Virginia Commonwealth State Assembly of the Association of Surgical Technologists’ support for the Regulations Governing the Registration of Surgical Assistants and Surgical Technologists as set forth by the Board of Medicine, Department of Health Professions, 18 VAC 85-160-10.  These regulations implement Chapter 531 of the 2014 Acts of the Assembly, Virginia Code § 54.1-2956.12 and § 54.1-2956.13 and establish requirements for surgical assistant and surgical technologist registrants. 

VCSA-AST and the American College of Surgeons support the position that surgical technologists and surgical assistants should meet national standards and be credentialed by appropriate authorities. VCSA-AST supports the credentialing bodies set forth in the law. 

The Virginia Commonwealth State Assembly of the Association of Surgical Technologists believes that education and certification of surgical technologists protects patients.  We, as professional surgical technologists and surgical assistants, are willing to pay the $75 registration fee because we believe this registration is important in forwarding patient safety in operating rooms throughout Virginia.  VCSA-AST requests the regulations be approved as written.

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.

As Secretary of the Virginia Commonwealth Assembly of Surgical Technologists and as an individual who has practiced surgical technology for more than 23 years, I am writing to express my support for the Regulations Governing the Registration of Surgical Assistants and Surgical Technologists as set forth by the Board of Medicine, Department of Health Professions, 18 VAC 85-160-10.  These regulations implement Chapter 531 of the 2014 Acts of the Assembly, Virginia Code § 54.1-2956.12 and § 54.1-2956.13 and establish requirements for surgical technologist and surgical assistant registrants.

We believe registration of surgical technologists and surgical assistants is the first step in moving toward a health care system that requires minimum education and training requirements for every surgical technologist and every surgical assistant.  Skillful surgery technique by surgical technologists protects patients from life-threatening surgical site infections, malfunctioning equipment and unneeded delays during the procedure. The surgical technologist must be able to anticipate the needs of the surgeon because every moment a patient is in surgery the risks related to anesthesia and bleeding increase. The surgical technologist is trained to handle and minimize exposure to hazardous materials, communicable diseases and bloodborne pathogens. The integrity of the sterile field is the surgical technologist’s highest priority.  The surgical technologist is the primary professional in the O.R. responsible for preventing infections. The surgical technologist is the only staff member in the sterile field, near the patient, responsible for counting objects to prevent a foreign object from being retained after surgery.  The Virginia Commonwealth Assembly of Surgical Technologists believes that education and certification of surgical technologists protects patients.  We, as professional surgical technologists, are willing to pay the $75 registration fee because we believe this registration is important in forwarding patient safety in operating rooms throughout Virginia.  Please approve the regulations as written.

Tina Putman, CST, CRCST

Secretary, Virginia Commonwealth Assembly of the Association of Surgical Technologists

Director of Surgical Technology, Assistant Professor, LFCC

It is very concerning to learn that the American Board of Surgical Assistants (ABSA) is not included in the list of credible organizations that certify Surgical Assistants. ABSA is a national organization (since 1987), which requires formal training as a prerequisite for ABSA certification.  This certification requires documented performance as a surgical assistant in the clinical setting. ABSA is continuously updating their educational requirements in-order to further promote safety and protection of the public.  ABSA mandates higher levels of knowledge of surgical medicine. There is no doubt that individuals, who are certified with ABSA, match all requirements to provide the highest level of service in assisting the surgeon in the performance of a surgical procedure. I appreciate your consideration of my request to recognize ABSA as a credible organization to certify Surgical Assistants.

Respectfully,

Marina Tikhonova, S.A.-C.

The American Board of Surgical Assistants (ABSA) is being eliminated from the list of credible organizations that certify Surgical Assistants since 1987. All the states in the USA do recognize and allow the certification of the ABSA.  I hope you will consider this and recognize the American Board of Surgical Assistants, which would allow the Certified Surgical Assistants to continue providing the best practices while assisting the surgeon in the performance of a surgical procedure.

Sincerely,

Ilya Tikhonov,  SA-C

I've been certified by the ABSA for the last 10 years & provide service in Maryand & Virginia, throuought my experience with ABSA i found it to be the best organization that provide certificate for surgical assistants that meets the highest standerds of educatin, care & work ethics while ensuring that each & every SA-C meets the credentials, continuing education & also maintaining the skill to provide the best service for hospitals & patients.

It's very concernig that a great legislation like Virginia legislation proposing such proposal to deny a great organization "ABSA" from being recognized!

I hope they look further into this matter & i'm confident that they'll come to realize a simple fact that  ABSA deserve to continue providing services & be recognized nationwaide as well!

We support registration of Surgical Assistants in Virginia, however, to exclude one of the largest national certifying boards would be unjust and negatively impact the 6 Surgical Assisting programs approved by the ABSA and all of their past, present and future certificate holders.

Over the past 28 years, the ABSA has certified over 4,000 Surgical Assistants, awarding them the title of SA-C. The ABSA requires formal training and are the only certifying exam that requires a manual skills examination, in addition to the written exam. They do not accept on-the-job-trained applicants, but require a rigorous Surgical Assisting curriculum, including a clinical internship, unless the applicant was a foreign trained medical doctor with a minimum of two years primary or advanced surgical experience. The ABSA constantly strives to “raise the bar” for Surgical Assistants, as demonstrated by their requirement for a minimum of an Associate’s Degree beginning in 2016. The ABSA is a legitimate and valued Surgical Assisting certifying body.

Some (if not all) of the 6 ABSA approved programs have students and agreements with hospitals to train their future Surgical Assistants. We are working with a facility that desires to train all 17 of their surgical technologists in the surgical assistant role. If this regulation omits the ABSA Certifying Board, it will negatively impact Virginia’s hospitals, surgical centers, and past, present and future Surgical Assistants.

The National Surgical Assistant Association (NSAA) mentioned in the act is an “association”, not a certifying board, albeit is connected with the National Commission for Certification of Surgical Assistants certifying board. We believe the act should pass with the exchange of the NSAA for the American Board of Surgical Assistants (ABSA) certifying board.

I am requesting to include ABSA to the approved credentialing agencies. I do agree the importance of regulations and standardized patient care.

ABSA has certified good quality of surgical assistant for many years and maintained a documented clinical experience, CME, CPR or ACLR of each member in order to get a recertification. Is really sad not to include ABSA in VA  for certified agencies

I am a foreign medical graduate, certified by the educational Commission for For Medical Graduate.I have been working in USA since 1995 in different Hospital in Washington D.C area .I did my training in Urology Surgery in Haiti in Sate University Hospital.Since i came to this country i had the opportunity to work as a Surgical Assitant in multiple Sepeciality after extensive training in the field of laparoscopy Surgery, Robotic Surgery, vascular,general surgery,neuro,OBGYN.I have been certified by the ABSA since 2000 who required a Surgical Assistant to assist at least 400 cases every year, attend seminar and Lecture ,CPR UPDATE etc  .I support legislation for ABSA to continue to provide service to the Surgical ssistant.

Sincerely

Pierre R Bruno,SA-C

The ABSA is a unique and through certification exam that requires proficient manual skills, excellent written skills, and classes in surgical assisting or the equivalent experience. A candidate that meets all of these requirements and receives the ABSA certification is therefore ensured to be highly qualified to serve as surgical assistants.  In Virginia, the majority of employed surgical assistants have been certified by the ABSA. These assistants are very effective in what they do and ensure that patient, surgeon and hospital are all satisfied.  The certification ensures a quality standard of service that both hiring centers in hospitals and doctors can trust. Invalidation of the ABSA certification will result in mass employment, and decrease the standard service. For example, at the Inova Fairfax hospital—one of the nation’s leaders in cardiovascular surgery—more than half of the currently employed surgical assistants have ABSA certification as well as a decade or more worth of experience. Invalidation of their certification will result in job loss and the loss of an irreplaceable quality of service that can only come from experience.

 So, please consider the above clearly, and allow the surgical assistants certified by ABSA to continue their valuable work in hospitals and surgical centers across Virginia.

Sincerely,

Wengang Cao

Among three of boards of surgical assistant in USA, The ABSA is a unique and through certification exam that requires proficient manual skills, excellent written skills, and classes in surgical assisting or the equivalent experience, which is foreign doctor needs at least two year surgical experience . A candidate that meets all of these requirements and receives the ABSA certification is therefore ensured to be highly qualified to serve as surgical assistants.  In Virginia, the majority of hospitals and surgical centers hold surgical assistants certified by the ABSA. These assistants are very effective in what they do and ensure that patient, surgeon and hospital are all satisfied.  The certification ensures a quality standard of service that both hiring centers in hospitals and doctors can trust. Invalidation of the ABSA certification will result in mass employment, and decrease the standard service. Invalidation of ABSA certification will result in job loss and the loss of an irreplaceable quality of service that can only come from experience.

 Therefore, please consider the above clearly, and allow the surgical assistants certified by ABSA to continue their valuable work in hospitals and surgical centers across Virginia.

Respectfully,

Xueling Teng SA-C