AAHA

The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) is a respected international association that accredits veterinary clinics throughout the United States and Canada. Becoming AAHA-accredited is not mandatory. In fact, only 12-15% of currently operating animal hospitals have these credentials. The reason these numbers are so low has to do with the in-depth evaluation process and remarkably high standards that must be met and maintained in order to become and remain accredited.

Becoming AAHA accredited is an extremely rigorous and time-consuming process through which veterinarians, practice managers, and the entire hospital is evaluated against approximately 900 standards of excellence. These standards include everything from quality patient care and exceptional client service to practice management policies and more. Once accredited, hospitals must then continuously undergo rigorous reviews every three years in order to maintain that accreditation.

One of the primary differences between AAHA-accredited veterinary hospitals and those that are not accredited is the frequency of inspections. Many states across the US only inspect a clinic when a complaint is filed by a pet owner. AAHA-accredited hospitals, on the other hand, are routinely inspected and evaluated to ensure that they continuously meet the highest standards of excellence. For loving pet parents, this means tremendous peace of mind.

At Terra Linda Veterinary Hospital, we are incredibly proud to be an AAHA-accredited animal hospital. This means that we hold ourselves to the absolute highest standards. For us, practicing medicine isn’t just a job. It’s our passion. Keeping your four-legged family member happy and healthy is our top priority. With every visit, we strive to deliver the very best care because we believe our patients deserve nothing less.

To learn more about AAHA accreditation and why it’s so beneficial to you and your pet, please visit aaha.org/petowner.