A lot goes into making a hospital reach the standards that AAHA has set, and we are proud to be able to say that we are one of the 15% of animal hospitals in the United States and Canada who meet these requirements.
But what does AAHA Accreditation mean to you and your pets?
What is AAHA?
AAHA, or the American Animal Hospital Association is a group founded in 1933 with the goal of ensuring that the highest possible standard of care is being provided to pets around the country.
Human hospitals undergo a similar mandatory accreditation, however it is completely voluntary for veterinary hospitals to pursue AAHA accreditation.
What requirements must an AAHA Accredited hospital meet?
There are over 900 standards that each AAHA Accredited hospital must meet. Periodic on-site inspections ensure that these standards are being upheld.
Areas that are evaluated include patient care and pain management, surgery, pharmacy, laboratory, exam facilities, medical records, cleanliness, emergency services, dental care, diagnostic imaging, anesthesiology, and continuing education.
Hospitals that are accredited must periodically undergo inspections to maintain accreditation.
How does AAHA Certification affect me?
Because AAHA accreditation is completely voluntary, you can be certain that hospitals that take the time and effort to become certified truly value you and your pets.
These hospitals strive for the highest quality of care possible. Because veterinarians and staff at AAHA accredited hospitals must also meet minimum levels of continuing education, you can be sure that your veterinary team is on the cutting edge of animal health.
Likewise, AAHA practices provide immediate diagnostic capabilities, and have an onsite pharmacy as well. AAHA standards also reach beyond patient care and medical standards to include excellent customer service. By taking your pets to an AAHA accredited practice, you are ensuring an excellent standard of care and a friendly, caring experience.
An AAHA Accreditation truly means high quality, up-to-date veterinary experience for you and your pet. Because AAHA periodically reviews all of its standards and changes them in order to keep pace with evolving knowledge, you know that we are keeping our hospital at the forefront of veterinary medicine for you and your pet. We are proud to be one of the few hospitals in the country to meet such excellent standards.