BRVC is proud to call itself an American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA)-accredited hospital and will celebrate its 30th consecutive year of AAHA accreditation in 2022. Accreditation is voluntary and only 12%-15% of animal hospitals have completed the accreditation evaluation process.
Unlike human hospitals in the U.S. that provide healthcare through Medicare and undergo regular reviews and quality checks to ensure they meet quality standards for all aspects of medical care, pet healthcare accreditation is voluntary. Since it’s not required by law, many animal hospitals choose not to pursue the AAHA-accreditation process. AAHA’s accreditation process is rigorous, time consuming and lengthy. Once an animal clinic is accredited, re-evaluation is required every three years to make sure the highest veterinary standards continue to be met or exceeded.
AAHA accreditation means that an animal hospital has been evaluated on more than 900 veterinary excellence standards related to surgical, dentistry and other practice protocols, the proper use and maintenance of medical equipment and instruments, facility safety and cleanliness, and client services. Specifically, the areas evaluated include anesthesia, client service, contagious disease, continuing education, dentistry, diagnostic imaging, emergency and critical care, exam facilities, housekeeping and maintenance, human resources, laboratory, leadership, medical records, pain management, patient care, pharmacy, referrals, safety, and surgery. These standards are reviewed regularly by veterinary experts to reflect changing scientific theory and laws and/or animal hospital best practices. State regulations can vary widely – in fact, some states don’t routinely inspect hospitals but only schedule an inspection after a pet owner files a complaint. AAHA accreditation is considered the standard for veterinary excellence, and every hospital in every state is evaluated on the exact same parameters.
As an AAHA-accredited veterinary hospital, we hold ourselves to the highest standards. Delivering excellent pet care is more than a job for us – it’s been our mission and passion since 1975. And, because they mean the world to you, the health of your non-human family members means the world to us. Call us today at 630-598-0600 if you’d like more information about AAHA accreditation.