What is AAHA?
The American Animal Hospital Association is an organization that was founded in 1933 with the goal of raising the standard of care for companion animals in the United States and Canada. To achieve this goal, the organization established benchmarks that could be used to evaluate all aspects of veterinary practices. There are approximately 900 standards that a practice must meet in order to become accredited. These standards include patient care, pain management, anesthesia, continuing education, safety, facility cleanliness, and many more.
Accreditation with AAHA is voluntary. Any animal hospital in the U.S. and Canada can volunteer to be evaluated using AAHA’s standards, which are referred to as the Standards of Excellence. A rigorous inspection of the facility, medical records, and practice manuals is conducted by an AAHA Practice Consultant. If the practice passes the evaluation, it earns the honor of accreditation. Then the practice is inspected every three years in order to maintain its accreditation. Upon becoming accredited, that hospital is recognized as one of the finest in the country.
How Does AAHA Benefit My Pet?
Being an AAHA-accredited practice means that we go above and beyond what’s required at a veterinary practice. Unlike human hospitals, accreditation is completely voluntary for veterinary hospitals; it is not mandatory. Being an AAHA-accredited practice means we use stringent guidelines for our dental, surgical, and anesthesia services. If you would like to learn more about AAHA and how our accreditation benefits you and your pet, we invite you to watch the following video. You can also visit AAHA’s website for more information.