AAHA is bolstering its strategy to clarify and support the accredited AAHA practices with membership changes. Over the next two years, it will transition to an accredited-only hospital membership model. The transition will be completed by June 30, 2018.
Non-accredited practices have until July 1, 2017 to enter into an agreement to become AAHA accredited. Any non-accredited practice that has not switched voluntarily by then will have its membership converted to an individual membership for the practice owner or medical director.
Source: AAHA NEWStat, October 18, 2016.
Accreditation is the foundation of what AAHA does, and does best. Multiple factors contributed to this strategic decision. One factor, as noted, is a need to clarify any market confusion about what constitutes an “AAHA member hospital,” in part because pet owners are increasingly using accreditation as part of their selection criteria. Another factor is to prioritize accreditation, its core business.
INSIGHTS: This decision is good for the veterinary industry. AAHA accreditation makes a difference in the level of care and service veterinary teams provide, in their business success and in their practice culture. Accreditation helps:
- Foster an environment of teamwork, pride and high morale as staff works together to maintain the highest standards in the profession
- Improve patient care through increased communication and team effectiveness
- Drive individual practices forward and strive for continual improvement
- Stand out in their community and reach clients
This is great. It has been a thorn in my side over the past few years to see practices that are not accredited, market themselves as AAHA. The public was being deceived and the true accredited hospitals were being insulted.