Why do Binga and I look so concerned? Well, for one thing, we are at the vet clinic, and for another thing, we are wondering if it is AAHA accredited! When we must go to the vet, whether it’s for a check up or for something more serious, we want to make sure we are getting great care. There are lots of excellent veterinary hospitals out there, and not all of them have AAHA accreditation — but when one does feature the AAHA plaque and logo, you know that it has met very high standards for patient care.
What is AAHA, and why does it matter?
The American Animal Hospital Association evaluates veterinary hospitals on about 900 standards of excellence. These range from contagious disease control to surgical protocols and a host of other areas that make for a great practice — pharmacy, exam facilities, cleanliness and more. When a veterinary hospital applies for AAHA accreditation, all the humans working there often prepare for weeks to make sure everything is ready to meet the AAHA’s high standards. And once they achieve accreditation, they will be re-evaluated every three years to make sure they are keeping up the quality expected of them as an AAHA practice, and to see if they have kept up with any updates in the standards that make up AAHA’s criteria.
Human hospitals that see Medicare or Medicaid patients are required to be accredited by an outside organization. There is no such requirement for veterinary hospitals, so to be in compliance with AAHA’s standards of excellence is completely voluntary. To find out more about AAHA, you can visit their website.
At the moment, only between 12 and 15% of North American veterinary hospitals are AAHA accredited. Is the veterinary hospital you go to one of them? You can find out with AAHA’s accredited hospital locator. If they’re not, ask them why! I checked and found out that our emergency veterinary clinic is AAHA — I was kind of relieved to know that, considering that when any of us cats get sick it always seems to be at night or on the weekend.
If you do have an AAHA accredited veterinary hospital in your area, I’ve got great news for you: the AAHA humans are offering a $50 credit at an accredited hospital to one of my lucky readers! The organization accredits veterinary hospitals in the U.S. or Canada, so the giveaway is good for both countries. All you have to do it leave a comment on this blog post (like so many of you usually do), then say you did on the Rafflecopter widget below! You get extra points for visiting my Facebook page, or the AAHA Facebook page, and even more points if you can name an AAHA veterinary hospital in your area! Good luck — I know lots of you can put that $50 to good use!
Disclosure: AAHA has generously provided the $50 credit for my blogging about them.
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Our vet is a long time member of The American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP)
http://www.catvets.com/
Our vet just recently got accreditation. We love them!
My vet made it! Yay Dr. Bill
Love Animal Hospital of Pensacola!
I am currently studying to become a vet tech and I work at an accredited AAHA wellness center. I have a cat with asthma and could definitely use $50 to go towards his care.
Oak point in my hometown of Dover, OH is on the list! They are a great clinic and I am currently in the veterinary technician program learning all about AAHA and much more! I could use the $50 towards school. I am the president of my vet tech club and I would most likely donate the $50 to our box of money which we plan to split donations between humane societies and non profit organizations!
Well, our Vet has framed certifacates on the wall, and TBT has read them. But who knows what they mean? We’ll check closer next time. Thanks fer the advice!
Yes, and it’s a place that i really want to take Mike (who has problems with his eyes); Eye Care for Animals – Pasadena, CA.
liverpool village animal hospital – yes they are!!
I don’t even have to look cos I know mine is on the list. They proudly say it on their web site and in the past I have looked it up. SAH is the best.
My vet is on the list
My cat (A Cat’s Place) and dog (Strawberry Hill Animal Hospital) vets are both AAHA certified, and we are frequent fliers at both hospitals! Thanks for the chance at $50 off one of the bills.
My Vet is on the list!
My vet is on the list!
Mine, the Animal Care Center in Bountiful (UT) is 🙂