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American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA)

P.O. Box 150899
Denver, Colorado
USA 80215-0899
Tel: +303 986 2800
Fax: +303 986 1700
E-mail: info@aahanet.org
Website: www.aahanet.org

President: Dr. John Tait

WSAVA Representative
Dr. Gregg Takashima
The Parkway Veterinary Hospital
3 SW Monroe Parkway, Suite Y
Lake Oswego,
Oregon, USA 97035
Tel:503-636-2102
E-mail: gregg.takashima@comcast.net

Members: 13,700 (12/09)

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AAHA Annual Report 2008/09 (posted June 2009)

AAHA had its most recent Annual Meeting in Phoenix where we introduced our Accreditation Branding Campaign, our largest branding effort in our history. The meeting was hugely successful, with just over 3,500 in attendance, making this our second largest meeting ever! AAHA staff are busy finalizing arrangements for our 2010 Meeting in Long Beach, and starting the process for our 2011 Meeting to be held jointly with the Ontario Veterinary Medical Association.

In April, AAHA’s Electronic Health Record and Diagnostic Code Task Forces once again hosted the electronic software Vendor Summit in Denver, with approximately 23 companies represented. The goal is to provide guidelines for Veterinary Electronic Health Records and a standardized set of Diagnostic Terms. Currently, the Diagnostic Term list, have been through several iterations, and are being linked to SNOMED-CT, in hopes of providing a truly international standard. Completion is slated for the end of 2009, although much of the terms are in beta-testing already

In continuing its mission to provide a standard of excellence in small animal medicine, AAHA has partnered on many initiatives, beneficial to the profession as a whole. Listed below are a few, either just completed, ongoing, or planned initiatives:
• American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) – Feline Wellness Guidelines: in process; due by year end
• American Association of Retired People (AARP) – Website content and AAHA veterinary locator collaboration – proposed
• Intervet Schering Plough Animal Health (ISPAH) HomeAgain and the Coalition for Reuniting Pets and People - Microchip lookup tool – in progress
• ISPAH HomeAgain – AAHA Microchipping & Scanning E-learning Course – successful, on-going;
• American Society of Veterinary Medical Association Executives (ASVMAE) and Hill’s - Recent Graduate Program – a developing program
• American Board of Veterinary Practioners (ABVP) – electronic mentoring collaborative information, mutual national conference symposia and booths in 2009, new member communications – onging
• Pfizer – Compliance study for 2009 – done; publication available 6/30
• Pfizer, Canadian VMA – AAHA Veterinary Leadership Workshops – 3 workshops scheduled for this Fall
• North American Veterinary Technician Association (NAVTA) – Veterinary Technician Student fundraising contest – ongoing
• North American Veterinary Conference (NAVC) – mutual symposiums at national conferences in 2009
• Veterinary Emergency and Critical-Care Society () – 2009 and 2010 YC track designed by VECCS
• Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) – provides symposium at 2009 YC - done
• Delta Society – provides symposium at 2009 YC
• Veterinary Specialist in Private Practice (VSIPP) – AAHA provides speaker to their conference
• Avimark – AAHA provides speaker to their annual users meeting – on-going
• VetPartners collaboration on current economic issues – started and should be on-going
• ISPAH diabetes guidelines –ready to start
• CATalyst Council – founding member; Board of Directors – on-going
• NCVEI – founding member; Board of Directors – on-going
• SAWA – Society of Animal Welfare Administrators; collaboration has been proposed but not followed up to date
• Hill’s 5VA initiative and nutrition guidelines – just starting; not officially launched yet
• Merial and AAHA continue to expand and enrich our student outreach program, most recently redesigning a more robust and interactive student website, to offer assistance in goal planning, financial planning, externships, resumes, and life balance.

I close on a note of sadness… AAHA and the profession lost a major friend and professional when Dr Anna Worth, our immediate past president, passed away on May 16th. She left behind many accomplishments, inspired students and colleagues, and helped lead AAHA through another fruitful year. We shared a common belief in the global nature of companion animal medicine, and as she fell ill, asked me to take her place as an AAHA delegate to this organization. I will do my best to honor her in my actions with the WSAVA.

I look forward to making new acquaintances in Sao Paulo…

AAHA Makes NewStat and Trends Magazine Available to WSAVA Members

NEWStat is the American Animal Hospital Association�s biweekly email newsletter for the entire veterinary clinic staff. NEWStat includes easy-to-digest briefs on timely topics and breaking news in companion animal practice. It has a convenient format that�s easy to read and share with others, and has links to additional information.

While password protected and not freely available online, AAHA has agreed to make this resource available to WSAVA members via their www.aahanet.org website. Username and password can be requested and provided through your specific WSAVA member associations � to determine if you are a WSAVA member, please access the Member Association pages for more details (http://www.wsava.org/Handbook.htm).

Additional resources that AAHA has made available for WSAVA members include:
� Trends Magazine (http://trends.aahanet.org/eweb/) � a resource providing information on management, business, and other workplace issues designed for the entire veterinary clinic staff
� Healthy Pet (http://www.healthypet.com/) � a pet owner online information resource

AAHA Standards of Accreditation Available for WSAVA Member Association Review

WSAVA members are now able to view the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) Standards by following the link highlighted below on the WSAVA Home Page. There are more than 900 AAHA Standards, which cover quality patient care, client service, and staff empowerment and recognition, and these standards are recognized around the world as the benchmark for quality care in veterinary medicine. Approximately 3,000 veterinary practices in the US and Canada are accredited by AAHA and adhere to the AAHA Standards.

To view the standards, a user name and password will be required and this is available through your WSAVA member association (to see if your local/national association is a WSAVA member, visit the member association pages of the WSAVA website).

View AAHA Standards
To view the standards, use the AAHA Standards link within the left column and have your username and password ready.

American Animal Hospital Association

The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) is an international organization of more than 36,000 veterinary care providers who treat companion animals. Established in 1933, AAHA is the only organization that accredits veterinary hospitals throughout the U.S. and Canada. For more information about AAHA, visit the association online at www.aahanet.org.

AAHA Standards of Accreditation: There are more than 900 AAHA Standards, which cover quality patient care, client service, and staff empowerment and recognition, and these standards are recognized around the world as the benchmark for quality care in small animal veterinary medicine. Approximately 3,000 veterinary practices in the U.S. and Canada are accredited by AAHA and adhere to the AAHA Standards.

WSAVA members are able to view the AAHA Standards using a login name and password available through your WSAVA member association. To see if your local/national association is a WSAVA member, visit the member association pages of the WSAVA website (see access information above under AAHA Standards of Accreditation Available for WSAVA Member Association Review).

Continuing Education: AAHA is the premier provider of staff training and continuing education for veterinary practice teams. We have programs for all members of a practice team, including veterinarians, practice owners, practice managers, veterinary technicians, veterinary assistants and front-office staff. AAHA also offers training in alternative formats, such as audio conferences and online courses.

AAHA�s yearly conference, held in March, offers all members of the veterinary practice team a superior learning experience, including top experts speaking about the latest developments in small animal veterinary medicine and practice management plus networking and social opportunities and an extensive exhibit hall filled with the latest veterinary products and services.

Click here for a calendar of upcoming educational offerings.

AAHA Press: The publishing arm of the association, AAHA Press, is an internationally regarded publisher and distributor of titles for veterinary care providers and pet owners. Specializing in user-friendly references, AAHA Press publishes materials pertinent to the practice of small animal medicine.

Publications: AAHA releases leading-edge scientific and management information for the veterinary community. AAHA publishes two bi-monthly magazines: Trends magazine, which focuses on practice management issues, and the Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association. AAHA�s biweekly email newsletter for members only, NEWStat, features briefs on timely topics and breaking news in companion animal veterinary medicine for the entire veterinary practice team.