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