For the staff at McAfee Animal Hospital, ensuring the safety and comfort of pets and people alike is the most important part of running a veterinary clinic. That’s why, for 35 years, McAfee has undergone an intensive accreditation process to ensure the best possible care for clients and pets.
Becoming accredited is not an easy task. Only 12-15% of veterinary clinics in the United States and Canada are accredited, and the process takes months to complete.
“An AAHA (American Animal Hospital Association) Inspection starts with a list of hundreds of standards that need to be met to pass accreditation,” said Jennette Rudzinski, manager at McAfee Animal Hospital. “Over the course of a few months, the clinic goes through each section. These sections include anesthesia and surgery, client service, continued education with all staff members, dentistry, diagnostic imaging, emergency care, facility exam, maintenance and housekeeping, HR, leadership, patient care, and medical records."
Becoming accredited includes weeks of preparation and hours of inspection. Before the inspection, a delegate from the AAHA helps the clinic through the process and answers any questions. Then, the delegate conducts an onsite inspection and determines whether or not the clinic passes accreditation.
“The inspection typically lasts four to six hours during the onsite inspection. It involves the whole staff making sure each section is at its best to meet and exceed their standards. AAHA sends a specified delegate to the clinic. This delegate and team reach out during the process to keep us on task and answer any questions and provide suggestions to help us grow and implement new and improved ways to do things,” Rudzinski said.
Becoming accredited creates a higher standard of care for pets and their humans. An AAHA certification ensures a clean environment, up-to-date files, and state-of-the-art technology.
“It keeps us at the highest quality of care for our clients, ourselves, and our beloved pets. AAHA clinics provide a higher standard of care, promotes growth, structure, access to experts, and continued education programs. AAHA clinics provide great care on medicine and focus quality to our furry friends,” Rudzinski said.
Accreditation also attracts passionate staff members to the clinic. Veterinarians and assistants often look for an AAHA certified clinic when searching for job openings. Accreditation lets prospective employees know that the clinic is operating at the highest possible potential.
“It has been a benefit for our clinic to be AAHA accredited. Not only does AAHA accreditation provide our clients with faith that our clinic is held to a higher set of standards but it also attracts wonderful staff members to join our family,” Rudzinski said.
At McAfee Animal Hospital, the accreditation is a reassurance that the staff’s hard work is paying off. Though the process is extremely involved, the rewards far outweigh the struggle. McAfee’s dedication to perfection is what makes the clinic so well-respected in the community.
“AAHA certification builds pride within our staff. We are proud of our values and the great care that we are able to provide and pass on to our community,” Rudzinski said.
To find out more about McAfee’s certified, excellent care, click here.