As part of a coordinated national effort to prevent fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD), the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) and the Mountain Plains FASD Practice and Implementation Center (Mountain Plains PIC) of the Center for the Application of Substance Abuse Technologies (CASAT) at the University of Nevada, Reno will work collaboratively to prepare medical assistants to reduce alcohol-exposed pregnancies and intervene with patients who engage in risky or hazardous alcohol use. The AAMA/Mountain Plains PIC partnership is supported by grant funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Prenatal alcohol exposure is a leading preventable cause of birth defects and developmental disabilities. The term fetal alcohol spectrum disorders is used to define the range of physical,mental, behavioral and/or learning disabilities that can result from prenatal alcohol exposure. Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders are completely preventable if a woman does not drink alcohol during pregnancy.

The Mountain Plains PIC works with national medical societies, professional organizations, and other CDC-funded university-based PICs to develop, deliver, disseminate, and evaluate fetal alcohol spectrum disorders training and practice implementation programs for medical professionals. The goal of the Mountain Plains PIC program is to enhance awareness and change practice behaviors of medical assistants with regards to providing alcohol screening and brief interventions to patients to reduce risky and hazardous alcohol use. The AAMA will help the Mountain Plains PIC achieve these goals by contributing to the development and dissemination of training materials and practice resources.

Speaking about the decision to partner with the AAMA, Mountain Plains PIC Project Director, Nancy Roget said, "The AAMA was chosen as the designated national partner for the Mountain Plains PIC because they are the leading certifying and accrediting body for medical assistants in the United States, with over 82,000 CMAs (AAMA). This innovative partnership will result in better preparation for medical assistants to routinely screen for and intervene with women and men who engage in unhealthy alcohol use."

AAMA Chief Executive Officer and Legal Counsel, Donald Balasa, said the partnership will demonstrate the important role medical assistants play in advancing the goals of this national health initiative.

"CMAs (AAMA) are the key communication links between patients and providers, and are uniquely positioned to motivate patients to avoid or stop dangerous alcohol consumption," Balasa said. "The AAMA is fully committed to this initiative, and is honored to partner with Mountains Plains PIC and the CDC to combat fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.".

Funding for the AAMA partnership with the Mountain Plains PIC begins Sept. 30, and both organizations look forward to an impactful collaboration to reduce fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.

For more information from AAMA, visit www.aama-ntl.org or call the AAMA directly at 800-228-2262. For more information from Mountain Plains PIC, visit www.casat.org or call the Mountain Plains PIC directly at 866-617-2816. For more information on FASD Training & Education, visit www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/fasd/training.html or call the CDC’s Information Line at 800-232-4636.