About AAHA Accreditation
Why should you choose an American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) accredited practice?
Choosing an AAHA accredited hospital for your pet's medical care assures you that the hospital you have selected has the team, equipment, medical procedures and facilities that AAHA believes are important for the delivery of high quality veterinary care.
- AAHA was founded in 1933.
- It is the only professional association that provides accreditation for veterinary hospitals after performing an on-site evaluation.
- There are only 3,000 AAHA accredited hospitals in the United States and Canada out of about 30,000 total hospitals.
- AAHA standards of accreditation cover every aspect of a hospital to assure satisfaction with the level of care both your pet and you receive.
- To be accredited by AAHA a hopsital must demonstrate an exceptional level of medical care and client service.
- There are approximately 900 standards set by AAHA that directly correlate to the care a hospital provides your pet for that hospital to be accredited.
- AAHA Standards of Accreditation are widely used as benchmarks in the profession to measure excellence in veterinary medicine. View a summary of the standards below »
Montgomery Animal Hospital is proud to be an AAHA accredited hospital. To continue our accreditation, an AAHA practice consultant evaluates our practice on site every three years. We believe continuing our accreditation helps keep us on the leading edge of veterinary medicine and makes us focus on continuous improvement to assure we can offer the quality and range of services you expect and deserve for your pet.
We have maintained our accreditation since 1950.
AAHA Hospital Standards
Hospital membership signifies a commitment to excellence and is only available to veterinary hospitals in the United States and Canada that subscribe to and meet the high standards for medical practice established by AAHA. Evidence of adherence to the Association's established Standards is determined through periodic on-site evaluations.
Mandatory requirements for AAHA Accredited Hospitals
- Medical Records Services - A legible, individual record must be maintained for every patient. It must indicate the problem, history, examination findings and plan for care. It must include complete detailed record keeping for all controlled substance use in mandatory.
- Examination Facilities - Examination facilities must be provided and properly equipped.
- Pharmacy - Facilities must be provided for storage, safekeeping, preparation, and use of drugs in accordance with federal, state, and provincial laws. Complete detailed record keeping for all controlled substance use is mandatory.
- Pathology - Pathology services must be provided in-hospital or through outside sources.
- Diagnostic Imaging - The hospital must have the capacity to generate quality radiographic images on the premises.
- Anesthesiology - Anesthetic services must include proper equipment and procedures for quality patient care and employee safety.
- Surgery - Aseptic procedures, proper attire, and a separate room or aseptic surgery must be provided.
- Dentistry - Prophylactic dental services (scaling and polishing) must be provided.
- Nursing Care - Nursing care must be provided by properly trained staff. All patients must be positively and properly identified during their hospital stay. Convalescent and exercise areas must be adequate.
- Housekeeping and Maintenance - There must be a written program for establishing and maintaining a safe, sanitary, functional, and pleasant environment for clients, patients, and employees.
- Continuing Education - A medical library consisting of basic textbooks and current periodicals must be provided.
- Emergency Services - Emergency services must be provided and must be readily available at all times.
- Satellite Clinics - Satellite Clinics must provide services in the following areas consistent with AAHA standards: medical records services, examination facilities, pharmacy, pathology, nursing care, housekeeping and maintenance, and emergency services.
- Emergency Hospitals - Emergency Hospitals must meet all the criteria of an AAHA full-service accredited hospital. They must provide professional diagnostic and emergency treatment during hours when local veterinary facilities are normally closed and are not themselves providing after-hours emergency services.
Montgomery Animal Hospital has been an accredited member since 1950
AAHA Hospital Standards 5/07