The good news came in late September, one week after AAHA accreditation consultant Beritt Lynch spent one day touring the hospital with Dr. Duncan Hockley, director of the VMC, and several of the centre's managers.
Hockley said the AAHA accreditation site visit went smoothly and demonstrated everyone's focus on high standards of service at the hospital.
"The AAHA was very impressed with the Veterinary Medical Centre and commented that our hospital exemplifies good implementation of the AAHA standards."
The AAHA is the only accrediting body for small animal hospitals in the U.S. and Canada. More than 3,200 veterinary clinics and hospitals in North America hold the "AAHA-accredited" designation.
"While the accreditation alone speaks volumes to the quality of care, professional practice, and dedicated support in the hospital, the reviewers' comments say even more about our hospital team's dedication, teamwork and great work," added Dr. Douglas Freeman, dean of the veterinary college.
After the site visit, Lynch provided recommendations that the VMC can choose to implement with the goal of enhancing the hospital's services even further before its next accreditation visit in 2018.
The VMC began the AAHA accreditation process this spring with a comprehensive online survey that enabled the hospital to measure its performance against practice standards in more than 20 areas. The survey covered everything from clinical areas and patient care to safety and maintenance throughout the facility.
The veterinary medical centre initially achieved AAHA accreditation for its small animal practice in 1977. The referral portion of the VMC's small animal practice applied for and achieved accreditation status in 2008. Since then, the VMC has held AAHA accreditation in both primary and referral hospital services.
AAHA developed its accreditation program to raise the level of care being provided to companion animals, to increase loyalty among veterinary staff members, and to provide a way for animal hospitals to show their excellence to their communities and clients.
For more information, visit the American Animal Hospital Association website.
Hockley said the AAHA accreditation site visit went smoothly and demonstrated everyone's focus on high standards of service at the hospital.
"The AAHA was very impressed with the Veterinary Medical Centre and commented that our hospital exemplifies good implementation of the AAHA standards."
The AAHA is the only accrediting body for small animal hospitals in the U.S. and Canada. More than 3,200 veterinary clinics and hospitals in North America hold the "AAHA-accredited" designation.
"While the accreditation alone speaks volumes to the quality of care, professional practice, and dedicated support in the hospital, the reviewers' comments say even more about our hospital team's dedication, teamwork and great work," added Dr. Douglas Freeman, dean of the veterinary college.
After the site visit, Lynch provided recommendations that the VMC can choose to implement with the goal of enhancing the hospital's services even further before its next accreditation visit in 2018.
The VMC began the AAHA accreditation process this spring with a comprehensive online survey that enabled the hospital to measure its performance against practice standards in more than 20 areas. The survey covered everything from clinical areas and patient care to safety and maintenance throughout the facility.
The veterinary medical centre initially achieved AAHA accreditation for its small animal practice in 1977. The referral portion of the VMC's small animal practice applied for and achieved accreditation status in 2008. Since then, the VMC has held AAHA accreditation in both primary and referral hospital services.
AAHA developed its accreditation program to raise the level of care being provided to companion animals, to increase loyalty among veterinary staff members, and to provide a way for animal hospitals to show their excellence to their communities and clients.
For more information, visit the American Animal Hospital Association website.
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