The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) was formed in the 1930s by a group of visionary veterinarians to develop and uphold standards for veterinary medicine and improve companion pet care. Their vision lives on today, as AAHA strives to simplify the journey toward worldwide veterinary practice excellence.
Only 15% of veterinary hospitals are accredited in North America, so some pet owners may not understand what accreditation means and why it’s essential for their pet’s care. Harbor Pines Veterinary Center has achieved AAHA accreditation by meeting more than 900 standards of care for pets. We are honored to be a part of this elite group of veterinary practices and want to share what AAHA accreditation means to you, your pet, and our team.
What is AAHA accreditation?
Unlike human hospitals, veterinary practices are not required to be accredited in patient care standards. AAHA accreditation is voluntary, and practices that choose to participate in an AAHA on-site evaluation are committed to providing their clients and their pets with the absolute best veterinary care. AAHA continually gathers research results and knowledge from the brightest minds in veterinary medicine and then collaborates on creating and updating guidelines, standards, resources, and protocols to guide veterinary practices to excellence.
Achieving AAHA accreditation
Veterinary teams work together to achieve AAHA accreditation, which can take months or years of preparation. Practices work with an accreditation specialist who guides them through the standards and provides resources, feedback, and tips for application. After months of preparation, an on-site evaluator, or practice consultant, observes the practice team, looking at practices, protocols, and operations. The practice consultant is an LVT/CVT or RVT, DVM, or CVPM who is trained in these standards and who acts as a consultant for the practice team. A successful evaluation means that the practice is operating at the highest medicine and service levels in the veterinary industry.
After a successful evaluation, practices may display the AAHA logo on their website, social media, and physical facility. Only practices that have achieved the designation can display the logo.
Hospitals may pursue Traditional accreditation, Referral/Specialty accreditation, or End-of-Life-Care accreditation.
What are the AAHA standards?
The AAHA standards are the heart-beat of accreditation. Practices must go beyond basic requirements and adhere to best across-the-board practices in areas that include:
- Anesthesia — Anesthesia standards minimize pet anesthetic risks by outlining drug administration, monitoring, team member training, and emergency preparation.
- Dentistry — Dentistry standards ensure a safe and pain-free environment for dental procedures by focusing on anesthetic safety and best practices in pet dental-cleaning techniques.
- Diagnostic imaging — Practices must demonstrate diagnostic techniques and safety in radiology, including general X-rays and dental X-rays.
- Emergency and critical care — Teams must be trained in emergency medicine and pet CPR. The standards also ensure that protocols are in place for treating patients in emergencies.
- Human resources — Practice managers must ensure AAHA standards are met in human resources protocols and policies.
- Laboratory — Practices must follow standards for sample collection and handling and for communicating results.
- Medical records — Recordkeeping standards ensure continuity of care and accurate communication with the practice team and pet owners.
- Pain management — Practices must consistently evaluate pain in animals and use the most up-to-date pain management protocols.
- Patient care — Patient care protocols cover the care and handling of pets at the practice and ensure pets receive the most effective medical care.
- Pharmacy — Pharmacy standards ensure that teams handle, store, and dispense medications, and keep records according to AAHA standards.
- Surgery — Surgery standards ensure that team members are trained in aseptic technique, anesthetic safety and monitoring, and surgical assistance.
Why choose an AAHA-accredited hospital for your pet?
Because AAHA accreditation is voluntary, you can be sure that the veterinarians and team members who work in an AAHA-accredited practice care deeply about providing the best for your pet. Top veterinary professionals often look for AAHA practices when searching for a job. Pet owners who opt for an AAHA-accredited practice can be confident that the entire team’s expertise and motivation is to provide exceptional care. AAHA accreditation also signifies a focus on continuing education, safety, and leadership, further enhancing the quality of care.
At Harbor Pines Veterinary Center, we’re proud that we’ve achieved AAHA accreditation. Call us to schedule an appointment, so we can demonstrate our commitment to the highest veterinary care standards.