Maybe you read that sentence and thought, "Huh?" or "So what?" That's a possibility because if you're not in the veterinary community, that acronym likely means nothing to you. To us vets, though, the accreditation of the American Animal Hospital Association means a lot. It's not something that is overly common. In fact, only 15% of animal hospitals in the U.S. have an AAHA accreditation, and we're very proud to be one of them. Here's why it matters for you and your furry family members.
What You Can Expect From an AAHA Accredited Pet Hospital
Accreditation is an essential process; it includes third-party oversight and adherence to best practices that have been proven to have better outcomes for patients in our veterinary hospital. AAHA operates under this understanding: hospitals for humans follow standardized protocols that significantly lower patient death and complications. Why can't the same (or at least similar) standardization take place in pet hospitals? Here's what AAHA accreditation means.
- Standardized protocols and procedures: From sterile environments to humane handling, the standardized protocols required for AAHA accreditation are stringent. They're also associated with better outcomes for pets who come through the doors of every clinic.
- High standards for referrals: Your pet may need a specialist's touch. AAHA hospitals refer to highly trained and accredited specialists for anything they aren't prepared to handle in-house.
- Disease prevention: Veterinary hospitals with AAHA accreditation have specific protocols for preventing the spread of disease amount pets. One such standard is specialized ventilation systems that great reduce the spread of airborne infections.
- Anesthesia monitoring: If your dog needs any operation that requires anesthesia, you can rest comfortably knowing that your AAHA accredited veterinary hospital has dedicated and trained staff that monitor anesthesia levels throughout the entire procedure. This ensures the vet can focus on the procedure and your pet is out of pain and completely safe.
- Better dental care: Dental care is an overlooked area of pet healthcare, but AAHA standards strive to raise the bar. With an AAHA accredited institution, you'll receive safe and standardized dental care to give your pet the best quality of life possible.
- Continuing education requirements: All vets practicing in an AAHA accredited hospital are required to complete over 50 hours of continuing education per year, keeping them up-to-date on current best practices. This kind of education is what separations a good hospital from an excellent hospital.
Taking your pets to an AAHA accredited hospital means choosing the highest standard of care for your animals. If you're interested in learning more about our procedures or standards, contact us.
