When it comes to finding the right veterinary hospital, many pet owners depend on recommendations from friends or relatives. And while this can lead to great results, less than a quarter of all animal hospitals in the U.S. and Canada voluntarily agree to the highest standards of care established by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA). This means that a vast majority of clinics and hospitals do not follow strict protocols and procedures designed to achieve the best possible health outcomes. We are proud of our AAHA accreditation for many reasons, and the confidence it provides pet owners ranks pretty high.
At the Forefront
Just like other fields, modern veterinary medicine is evolving to keep up with specialist research and current trends in the industry. Our practice strives to remain on the cutting edge and works toward providing the latest veterinary medicine and technology to our patients. In fact, our staff members regularly attend continuing education courses, seminars and conferences that improve their skills.
Our goal of earning the AAHA accreditation was completely voluntary. Why would we want to do this? An AAHA accredited hospital is dedicated to the highest standards of veterinary care. In other words, pet owners can feel confident that their best friend receives expert care. While word of mouth recommendations are valid, you can rest easy knowing that the services of an AAHA-accredited hospital are downright outstanding.
In This Together
There are no laws that require veterinary hospitals to follow the stringent safety protocols set forth by the AAHA. With little-to-no oversight, most animal hospitals are completely unregulated. That doesn’t mean they provide sub-par services, but that they aren’t accountable to a governing body.
Let’s Talk About Standards
AAHA standards are developed and updated regularly by veterinary experts. These standards ensure that every level of service that we provide is exceptional. There are approximately 900 different standards and guidelines that we must follow and complete to keep our AAHA accreditation. Every three years, an AAHA representative inspects and assesses our facility to ensure we’re upholding the standards. They look closely at the following areas of our expertise:
- Customer/client services
- Surgical suite
- Anesthesia
- Patient care
- Practice leadership
- Exam rooms
- Hospital equipment
- Dentistry
- Disease prevention
- Sanitation
- Laboratory
- Medical records
- Continuing education
- Dentistry
- Diagnostics and imaging
- ER/critical care
- Pharmacy
- Pain management
- End-of-life care
Our AAHA Accreditation
Choosing a vet is an important decision. We value the trust you place in our ability to properly and effectively care for your pet’s needs.
If you have questions about our AAHA accreditation, and how it can benefit your pet’s health and wellness, please call us at (732) 269-3600. Our veterinarians and staff members are always here for you at Berkeley Veterinary Center.
Tags: aaha accredited veterinarian near me, pet hospital, pet veterinary clinic