When your cherished companion needs veterinary care, you naturally want them to receive the gold standard in care, and when you choose an AAHA-accredited veterinary practice, you can rest assured that champions of excellence are caring for them. At Country Valley Veterinary Clinic, we are dedicated to upholding more than 900 standards of veterinary medicine that ensure your furry pal receives the greatest of care. As an AAHA-accredited practice since 2013, our entire team has devoted themselves to continuous education and advancement, which allows us to provide the highest quality services to your pet. AAHA standards are recognized around the world as the benchmark for excellent care in veterinary medicine, and we are proud to have surpassed these standards.

What is AAHA?

While it’s wonderful to know that Country Valley Veterinary Clinic is an AAHA-accredited practice, what exactly does that mean? You may have seen the red and white logos depicting AAHA accreditation throughout our hospital, but you need to know what AAHA stands for, and why we work so hard to achieve their certification. AAHA stands for the American Animal Hospital Association, an organization known for leading innovation and creating standards of excellence in veterinary medicine. 

AAHA was formed in 1933—in the midst of the Great Depression—by seven leaders of the veterinary profession, who were committed to providing nothing but the very best in care to their beloved patients. Created to guide veterinary practices to greatness, AAHA remains the only institution that accredits companion animal hospitals in the U.S. and Canada. 

As the most esteemed veterinary association in the country, AAHA stays on top of the latest and greatest in veterinary medicine. This wonderful field is always evolving and improving, requiring veterinary professionals to remain flexible. AAHA helps top-notch practices challenge and upgrade their previous protocols, to adhere to the latest recommendations and innovations. 

How does a veterinary practice become AAHA-accredited?

Although a veterinary practice can perform high quality medical and surgical care without AAHA accreditation, you can rest assured that accredited practices have put the extra time, effort, and resources into ensuring your beloved companion receives only the best care in every aspect of veterinary medicine. To become accredited, and considered among the most elite veterinary practices, a hospital must achieve the following goals:

  • Measure up to more than 900 standards of care across 18 categories
  • Spend three months corresponding with AAHA’s accreditation team in preparation for the evaluation day
  • Undergo accreditation evaluation by an AAHA consultant
  • Remain accredited through periodic reevaluations

Once a veterinary practice achieves AAHA accreditation, they must work diligently to remain accredited, because an AAHA consultant reevaluates them every three years, to ensure they still adhere to the lofty care standards. This allows AAHA to continuously guide animal hospitals through the changes in veterinary practice and technology, to ensure they deliver state-of-the-art services.

How are AAHA-accredited veterinary practices evaluated?

While there are 940 AAHA standards of accreditation, veterinary practices do not need to adhere to each and every one. Fifty are mandatory, and a certain number of additional points must be accumulated across the following 18 categories:

  • Anesthesia
  • Contagious disease
  • Dentistry 
  • Emergency and critical care
  • Pain management
  • Patient care 
  • Surgery
  • Client services
  • Continuing education 
  • Human resources
  • Leadership
  • Referral standards 
  • Safety
  • Medical records
  • Examination facilities 
  • Housekeeping and maintenance
  • Diagnostic imaging
  • Laboratory and pharmacy

By aligning ourselves with the standards outlined in these categories, the Country Valley Veterinary Clinic team can provide state-of-the-art veterinary care to your furry family member, to ensure their health, happiness, and well-being for many years to come.

What does AAHA accreditation mean for my pet?

Selecting an AAHA-accredited hospital ensures that your cherished companion is being cared for by a practice with the facilities, staff, equipment, and medical protocols that AAHA believes provides the highest quality of care. With continual evaluation of our hospital, you know that Country Valley Veterinary Clinic is dedicated to remaining at the forefront of veterinary medicine, and will practice only a gold-standard level of care, ensuring you and your furry pal have lifelong happy memories.

Here at Country Valley Veterinary Clinic, we understand that your pet is a cherished family member, which is why we’ve worked so hard to adhere to veterinary medicine’s highest standards. See what a difference an AAHA-accredited veterinary practice can make in your beloved companion’s health and well-being by scheduling an appointment.