A few thousand veterinary clinics accredited by the American Animal Hospital Association are being encouraged to publicize the achievement July 22. The inaugural AAHA-Accredited Hospital Day is designed “to educate pet owners about what accreditation means for their pets and to thank accredited hospitals for holding themselves to a higher standard,” the Lakewood, Colo., organization reported today. One clinic committed to participating is Pennsylvania’s Macungie Animal Hospital, which is owned by AAHA President Nancy Soares, VMD. “Our hospital is proud of our prestigious status, and we are excited about the opportunity to talk to our clients and community about what accreditation means and why an AAHA-accredited hospital is the right choice for their pets,” Dr. Soares said. More than 3,600 hospitals—an estimated 12 to 15 percent of the clinics in the United States and Canada—hold AAHA accreditation. Each is initially graded on more than 900 standards and is subject to a periodic re-evaluation.
