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