What it means that Willowbrook Veterinary Hospital is AAHA-Accredited

We want every client to understand what AAHA accreditation means and why it matters for your pet’s care. Below is a clear, simple guide you can read in under five minutes.

What is AAHA?

AAHA stands for the American Animal Hospital Association.

It’s a national organization that evaluates small animal hospitals against a thorough set of best-practice standards. AAHA-accredited hospitals voluntarily choose to be measured against those standards and to continuously improve the care they provide.

“At the core of exceptional animal care are AAHA-accredited practices, like Willowbrook Veterinary Hospital. These practices truly set the bar higher, driven by a deep passion for pets and a dedicated commitment to their health and well-being. We don’t just meet standards; we exceed them, ensuring that every pet receives nothing short of excellent care — because that’s exactly what our pets deserve.”
— Dr. Sarah Dougherty


What does AAHA Accreditation mean for Willowbrook?

Being AAHA-accredited means Willowbrook has gone through a voluntary, hands-on evaluation and met a wide range of carefully developed standards for quality veterinary medicine and hospital operations. In practice this means:

  • We follow best practices for patient care (prevention, diagnosis, treatment).
  • We maintain clear, accurate medical records and communication with you.
  • We have staff training, safety, and infection-control protocols in place.
  • We use appropriate anesthesia and pain-management protocols.
  • We maintain standards for dental care, laboratory testing, imaging, pharmacy management, and more.
  • Our hospital environment, equipment upkeep, and emergency preparedness are regularly reviewed.

Put simply: AAHA accreditation is a third-party confirmation that Willowbrook operates with consistent, measurable excellence.

What kinds of guidelines and requirements are evaluated?

AAHA’s evaluation covers a broad set of practice areas — everything from how we handle anesthesia and pain control to our patient records, infection control, staff training, and client communication. The assessment is practical and comprehensive: it looks at written protocols, staff competence, the physical facility, equipment, and how care is delivered day-to-day.

Rather than a one-time checklist, AAHA accreditation encourages continuous improvement. After accreditation, hospitals maintain their standards and periodically re-evaluate to ensure ongoing compliance.

How does a hospital become AAHA-accredited?

  1. A hospital requests an AAHA accreditation evaluation.
  2. AAHA assesses written protocols, staff qualifications, facilities, equipment, and clinical care during an on-site visit.
  3. The practice receives feedback and either earns accreditation or is guided to meet requirements.
  4. Accredited hospitals work to maintain those standards and are periodically reassessed.

This process is voluntary and rigorous — it demonstrates a practice’s commitment to maintaining high, up-to-date standards of care.

Why should pet owners choose an AAHA-accredited clinic like Willowbrook?

When you choose an AAHA-accredited hospital, you’re choosing consistency, accountability, and a commitment to best practices. Benefits to you and your pet include:

  • Confidence that clinical decisions are guided by current, evidence-based standards.
  • Safer anesthesia, surgery, and pain management protocols.
  • Better infection control and safer hospital environment.
  • Clear communication and documentation so you always know what care your pet received and why.
  • A team that invests in training, quality improvement, and the tools needed to deliver excellent care.

Look for the AAHA logo — it’s a recognizable sign that a hospital has chosen to be held to a higher standard.

Where to find the AAHA accreditation logo

You may see the distinctive red-and-white AAHA accredited logo on a practice’s front sign, plaques, brochures, or the practice website. At Willowbrook, we display our accreditation badge proudly so clients know we’ve earned that recognition.

Frequently asked questions

Is AAHA accreditation required for veterinary hospitals?

  • No — it’s voluntary. That’s what makes it meaningful: practices choose to be evaluated and improve.

Does accreditation change how my pet is billed or treated day-to-day?

  • Accreditation is about the standards behind care; it doesn’t change why or when your pet needs treatment. It does mean the care is delivered with consistent, evidence-based protocols.

Want to learn more or have questions?

If you have questions about our AAHA accreditation or what it means for your pet’s care, we’d love to help.

Call Willowbrook Veterinary Hospital at (503) 968-2911 or visit our website: https://www.willowbrookvet.com/

You can also ask for a copy of our AAHA accreditation certificate or talk with any team member about the specific standards we follow.

Willowbrook Veterinary Hospital is proud to be AAHA-accredited — it’s one more way we show our commitment to excellent, compassionate care for the pets and families we serve.