Houston: We ​Are a Go!

The AAMA has been over the moon about medical assisting for 65 years! Celebrate with us at the 2021 AAMA Annual Conference. (The conference will be held in person unless the AAMA determines that it is not in the best interest of the AAMA and its attendees to do so. See the AAMA’s statement on the Conference webpage of the AAMA website.)

The registration brochure for the 2021 AAMA Annual Conference will be posted to the website soon. Download the brochure to access a wealth of resources:

  • Stellar findings. Check out conference hotel discounts and see if any information about the Lone Star State catches your eye.
  • Everything under the sun. Pore over more than 20 continuing education opportunities.
  • Out-of-this-world opportunities. Meet fellow members of the AAMA from all over the country; touch base with both new and familiar faces!

Plan now to attend conference this year and next:

Houston, Texas—Sept. 24–27, 2021

Minneapolis, Minnesota—Sept. 16–19, 2022

Official ​Call for HOD Representation

State societies are entitled to the following representation in the House of Delegates at the 2021 AAMA Annual Conference in Houston, Texas. The HOD convenes at 8 am Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, at the Westin Galleria Houston.

Ala. 3

Alaska 3

Ark. 2

Calif. 4

Colo. 3

Conn. 3

Fla. 5

Ga. 5

Hawaii 2

Idaho 3

Ill. 5

Ind. 6

Iowa 5

Ky. 3

Maine 3

Mass. 4

Md. 3

Mich. 6

Minn. 6

Miss. 2

Mo. 3

Mont. 3

N.C. 9

N.D. 2

Neb. 3

Nev. 2

N.H. 3

N.J. 3

N.M. 3

N.Y. 3

Ohio 7

Okla. 3

Ore. 5

Pa. 4

S.C. 4

S.D. 3

Tenn. 3

Texas 3

Utah 3

Va. 3

Wash. 6

Wis. 8

Free 1-CEU Course

The Center for the Application of Substance Abuse Technologies (CASAT) and the Medical Assistant Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Practice Improvement Collaborative (Medical Assistant FASD PIC) have created a new course worth an AAMA-approved CEU!

This recorded webinar, now an online course—Alcohol and the Immune System: Another COVID-19 Risk Factor?—examines the effect of alcohol on the immune system, particularly in the con­text of the COVID-19 pandemic. Take the course to learn how to identify excessive alcohol use and improve the delivery of messaging and intervention.

For a one-year period, this course is free! Worth 1 clinical/general CEU, the course is available online in the AAMA e-Learning Center.

2021 State ​Conferences

Due to safety concerns associated with the COVID-19 pandemic for large in-person meetings, details about state soci­ety conferences are ever-changing. The AAMA will share available information on the State Society Conferences webpage (under the Continuing Education tab of the AAMA website) and via the AAMA Facebook page’s events section.

AAMA members and other inter­ested medical assistants—if your state is not listed, contact your state president for details. (Updates will be posted to the AAMA website and Facebook page as received.)

State society leaders—two ways to reach potential attendees are available:

  1. Make sure we have your state con­ference information posted on the AAMA website. You can email us at MarCom@aama-ntl.org with ques­tions and updated information, including links to registration infor­mation for your state meeting.
  2. If you would like AAMA staff to share the event via the AAMA’s Facebook page to broadcast the information to its 50,000+ followers, submit a Save-the-Date online form, accessible via the My Account section of the AAMA website (must be signed in for access).

Earn a ​Program-​Level ​Certificate in ​Telemedicine!

The AAMA has launched Topics in Telemedicine: Go the Distance with Remote Patient Care to expand and advance the health care professional’s knowledge and understanding of important aspects of—and medical assistants’ role within—telemedicine.

To earn the certificate, individuals must complete the following three courses and pass a final assessment:

  • Introduction to Telemedicine
  • Telemedicine: Care Delivery and Patient Management
  • Telemedicine: Documentation

The telemedicine courses are available to CMAs (AAMA)®, other medical assistants, and all other health care professionals. The courses can be taken together as part of the telemedicine program or individually for AAMA CEU credit. Only those who pass all three courses will receive a program-level certificate upon completion. The program, worth 4.5 administrative/general CEUs, is now available in the AAMA e-Learning Center.

The 2021 Excel Awards!

The submission window for the 2021 Excel Awards will be open soon. Start gathering your submission materials to enter the competition honoring the achievement of excellence:

  • AAMA members. Nominate a medi­cal institution—big or small—that employs CMAs (AAMA) and is a strong supporter of professional growth, particularly in the areas of cer­tification and recertification, continu­ing education, and membership.
  • State leaders. Enter your state publica­tion, website, marketing campaign, or community service effort for recog­nition. And remember to nominate exemplary national leaders for one of the three Awards of Distinction.
  • Students from CAAHEP-accredited programs. Craft an essay answering this question: “After obtaining your CMA (AAMA) credential, how will you promote the credential and the medical assisting profession and how will you help patients navigate through telehealth and new technology?” Enter for a chance to win $1,000.

Visit the Excel Awards webpage to read the details on required submission materials. Entry forms will be available for download soon. Entries must be post­marked or emailed by July 1.

On the ​Web

Legal perspectives on COVID-19 topics

Under News & Events/COVID-19 Updates

Read a collection of legal perspectives on COVID-19 topics from AAMA CEO and Legal Counsel Donald A. Balasa, JD, MBA, that were published on his blog Legal Eye: On Medical Assisting and in CMA Today as Public Affairs articles.

Shout out to employers

Under Employers/Employer Spotlight

Medical assistants are invaluable parts of the health care team; employers who recognize that fact deserve to be recog­nized in turn. Read the latest Employer Spotlight, then submit an Employer Spot­light suggestion for a worthy employer or institution via the Call for Employer Spotlights link in the sidebar.

Who’s who?

Within the About section/Executive Office Staff

The AAMA has supported medical as­sistants for 65 years, and in that time, we've had the privilege to know some outstanding individuals. Now, in the spirit of strengthening connections, the newly published Executive Office Staff webpage puts names to the organization with a breakdown of all staff.