1Recognizing the week of October 21 through 25, 2013, as
2"National Medical Assistants Recognition Week" in
3Pennsylvania and celebrating the important healing and care
4done by medical assistants in this Commonwealth.

5WHEREAS, The health of all Pennsylvanians depends upon
6educated minds and trained hands; and

7WHEREAS, The practice of modern medicine at the exacting
8standards that society now enjoys and expects would become
9impossible to achieve and maintain without the clinical and
10administrative duties performed daily in physicians' offices,
11clinics, laboratories and hospitals; and

12WHEREAS, In the specialized world of health care, medical
13assistants stand out as versatile professionals who operate as
14multi-skilled practitioners and perform a wide range of roles in
15physicians' offices and other health care settings; and

1WHEREAS, Medical assistants must work proficiently in a
2multitude of administrative and clinical tasks; and

3WHEREAS, Doctors view medical assistants as vital partners
4that increase medical office productivity and provide efficient
5and caring service to all patients; and

6WHEREAS, Medical assistants may demonstrate their knowledge
7and commitment to professionalism by earning the Certified
8Medical Assistant (CMA) credential offered by the American
9Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) or the Registered
10Medical Assistant credential offered by American Medical
11Technologists (AMT); and

12WHEREAS, Candidates who earn a CMA credential have
13successfully completed a certification examination administered
14by the certifying board of the AAMA and enjoy increased respect
15and recognition from their professional peers and employers; and

16WHEREAS, The examination tests general medical knowledge,
17including terminology, anatomy, physiology, behavioral science,
18medical law and ethics; administrative knowledge, including
19medical records management, collections and insurance
20processing; and clinical knowledge, including examination room
21techniques, medication preparation and administration,
22pharmacology and specimen collection; and

23WHEREAS, In this Commonwealth, the Pennsylvania Society of
24Medical Assistants (PSMA) may assist medical assistants from
25across this Commonwealth and is an affiliate of the AAMA; and

26WHEREAS, As an affiliate, the PSMA works to provide the
27medical assistant professionals with education, certification,
28credential acknowledgment, networking opportunities, scope-of-
29practice protection and advocacy for quality patient-centered
30health care; and

1WHEREAS, Both the AAMA and the AMT recognize the week of
2October 21 through 25, 2013, as Medical Assistants Recognition
3Week; and

4WHEREAS, The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics reports
5that nearly 30,000 Pennsylvanians work as medical assistants
6within this Commonwealth forming an important part of the
7medical and general labor force; therefore be it

8RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize October
921 through 25, 2013, as "National Medical Assistants Recognition
10Week" in Pennsylvania in recognition of the quality care,
11support and vital services provided by medical assistants within
12this Commonwealth; and be it further

13RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the
14important service provided to the profession within this
15Commonwealth by the Pennsylvania Society of Medical Assistants
16as well as the American Association of Medical Assistants and
17American Medical Technologists; and be it further

18RESOLVED, That members of the House of Representatives take
19initiative to recognize local medical assistants working in
20their communities for the important assistance they provide in
21helping to heal and care for patients.