Shandon-Wood Animal Clinic
AAHA
Overview:
Did you know that accreditation for animal hospitals is voluntary? Surprising, isn't it? Nearly 60 percent of pet owners believe that their pet's veterinary hospital is accredited when it is not. In actuality, only 12-15% of animal hospitals have gone through the accreditation evaluation process by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA). We are proud to call ourselves an AAHA-accredited hospital. The accreditation process is rigorous and time-consuming, and not every veterinary hospital wants to go through the lengthy process.
Veterinary practices are not required to be AAHA-accredited, however a hospital can choose to become so if they wish to hold themselves to a public, higher standard. Hospital locations that choose to become AAHA-accredited are evaluated during a rigorous and thorough examination based on approximately 900 standards across their practice. These quality standards include, but are not limited to, patient care, diagnostic imaging, laboratory, pain management, pharmacy, safety, surgery, client service, anesthesia, contagious disease, continuing education, dentistry, examination facilities, medical recordkeeping, leadership, team training and more. Every three years, the AAHA undergoes a comprehensive on-site evaluation to maintain a location’s accredited status.
State and provincial regulations can vary widely - in fact, some states don't routinely inspect hospitals, only going in for an inspection when a complaint is filed by a pet owner. AAHA accreditation is considered the standard for veterinary excellence, and does not vary between states or provinces. (AAHA accredits hospitals in both the U.S. and Canada).
Why become AAHA-accredited?
An AAHA-accredited veterinary practice gives the customer a peace of mind and the confidence that their pet will be taken care of with the highest standards possible. AAHA accreditation enhances patient care and improves practice culture, while also providing the imperative resources that practices need to succeed.
How:
In order to become AAHA-accredited, a veterinary practice will need to successfully meet and pass the evaluation established by the AAHA Board of Directors. Locations will then need to maintain continuous compliance with the AAHA standards. For more information visit https://www.aaha.org/.
