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.