About VSMA

The Virginia Society of Medical Assistants (VSMA) is incorporated under the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia.  Its purpose is to enable medical assisting professionals to enhance and demonstrate the knowledge, skills and professionalism required by employers and patients; protect medical assistants’ right to practice; and promote effective, efficient health care delivery through optimal use of multi-skilled Certified Medical Assistants (CMA (AAMA) s).

VSMA is a constituent of and is affiliated with the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). The state society is comprised of four local chapters and serves over 300 members throughout the State of Virginia.
 

The VSMA came into existence in February 1956 in Lynchburg. The group was known as the Virginia Association of Medical Assistants and had thirty-two (32) charter members coming from Lynchburg, Madison Heights, Tazewell and Petersburg.

The first annual meeting was held in Richmond with the Richmond Chapter hosting a two-day convention at the Hotel Jefferson. The constitution and bylaws were ratified at this meeting. Lynchburg organized the first chapter and was quickly followed by Richmond, Petersburg, and Charlottesville.

The early meetings were sponsored by drug companies and businesses and were well attended by many local physicians. Some such sponsors were Eli Lilly and Company, Royal Typewriter, Southern Medical Supply, CIBA, Eaton Labs, Reynolds Metals, American Tobacco Company, Hoffmann-LaRoche (now LabCorp), Searle, Burroughs Wellcome, Schering, and Smith Kline.  As sponsors they provided cocktail parties, coffee breaks, afternoon tea, and flowers for the banquet.

The second meeting of the Virginia Association of Medical Assistants was held in Petersburg, at which it was decided that the President should be sent to the AAMA annual convention at the expense of the association. There was so much business and development to be done that multiple business meetings were held during the two-day meeting.  Educational sessions were only done during the luncheons which were sponsored by various companies. A local physician served as moderator and the speakers were either physicians or drug representatives.  Many physicians in Richmond and the surrounding area were very supportive of these meetings and offered guidance in developing protocol and policy.

Businesses and drug companies were very generous and involved with the VSMA.  Newspapers such as The Daily Progress ran large articles, pictures, as well as outlined the topics, speakers and officers whenever the annual meeting was held in their area.  Pictures and write-ups on newly elected officers were always published in area newspapers. Some of the topics presented at annual meetings reflected the current events of the time. Examples are Automobile Safety, General Electric Insurance-"What is an insurance form and how is it completed", Civil Defense, Atomic Reactor Tour, Red Cross Volunteer Nurses Aides, Polio Vaccination Program, Self Treatment for Radioactive Fallout, and many more.

Important dates:
  • 1959 - First Dominionette published (typed on a typewriter).
     
  • 1959 - Sally Miller of Richmond designed the official state pin. The cost was $3.25.
     
  • 1959 - AAMA opened in Chicago.
     
  • 1960 - Warren Chapter (Front Royal) organized.
     
  • 1961-  Danville Chapter organized.
     
  • 1964 - Committee organized to work on certification.  Maxine Williams was holding training sessions throughout the U.S.
     
  • 1964 - Exam for the “Certified Professional Medical Secretary” was given.
     
  • 1966 - Work began on starting two-year accredited programs to train medical assistants.  Qualifications: Should delight in being helpful and good; service oriented and compassionate. After all, when a patient is sick, he feels the need for a friend. Medical assistants were noted to be from age 20 and up with maturity being desirable.

A typical meeting was a business meeting on Saturday morning, touring, or a get-acquainted tea in the afternoon, cocktail hour and formal banquet. On Sunday, there were hymns, prayer and a devotional reading. CEU sessions were held during the Saturday lunch which lasted for approximately two hours.

It was not until 1966 that the Friday evening Executive Board session was initiated.  Being certified had become more important; therefore, additional CEU sessions were implemented during the Saturday sessions. It was not uncommon to have a get-acquainted tea on Saturday afternoon. This was probably the first "networking" session, long before the term was officially being used.

The VSMA is now 50 years old and has 300+ members. The Society still meets at different locations throughout the state in the spring for an annual meeting and in the fall for an educational seminar.  We now have a web site, a web master, a strategic plan, a leadership committee and manual, public relations committee, insurance liaison, and public policy liaison.

The AAMA is promoting “Build the Buzz” as a national marketing campaign to increase awareness of the Certified Medical Assistant.   Virginia is actively involved in this endeavor.  We now have to defend our Right to Practice, worry about HMOs, DRGs, HIPAA, and liability. When we began, there were no HCFA/CMS1500, CMS, Medicare or fraud squads.

All along the way, the VSMA has kept pace.  Our members have learned new skills that have enabled them to become multi-tasked and multi-skilled professionals.

Researched and Compiled by
Deb Benson, CMA(AAMA), CCVTC, CGSC