Technician’s Role in AAHA Accreditation
This session will discuss the technician’s role in AAHA accreditation, specific standards created to
recognize the value of technicians, and how AAHA supports technicians through education. Any
questions about how to become accredited, the types of accreditation available (traditional, referral,
mentorship, and internship), the standards, and the benefits of accreditation will be answered.
The American Animal Hospital Association was founded by seven leaders of the veterinary profession in
1933. From its inception, AAHA focused on promoting high-quality standards for the rapidly evolving
sector of small animal private practice. In the 1980s, AAHA added services in the area of practice
management and relocated from Indiana to Lakewood, Colorado.
AAHA has a professional staff of 70, runs more than 20 meetings and seminars annually, and produces a
wide array of publications, such as Trends & JAAHA magazines, weekly industry updates via e-mail, and
newsletters to help members stay on top of changes in veterinary medicine and management. Also,
AAHA produces staff training materials, client education materials, and materials to help you better
manage your business. Since its beginning, AAHA has been committed to excellence. The founders were
convinced that small animal practice was important and that it was necessary to provide better facilities
and methods than generally were available. That philosophy is still alive and well as a guiding principle
of AAHA today.
There are 47 mandatory standards. These standards must be met 100% of the time. The following are
examples of mandatory standards. MA 15 Practice team members wear protective apparel including
aprons, gloves, and thyroid shields while in the X-ray suite during exposure. MA07 A sufficient number of
practice team members are trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (for patients) to ensure availability
of a trained team during normal hours of operation. MA06 In addition to a qualified practice team
member’s presence, at least one of the following pieces of monitoring equipment is utilized during
procedures requiring general anesthesia, including dentistry and radiographic evaluation: Respiratory
monitor, Pulse oximeter, Blood pressure monitor, Continuous electrocardiograph (ECG) monitor,
Esophageal stethoscope.
There are 20 sections, such as anesthesia, dentistry, pharmacy, patient care, and surgery that are
flexible points based. These flexible points systems have a minimum passing point total/percentage.
These standards were written with the goal of encouraging improvement and the impetus for you to
implement standards that you believe will bring value to your practice. No practice (including veterinary
teaching hospitals) has ever gotten 100%. The following are examples of non-mandatory standards.
AN04 Credentialed veterinary technicians are trained to induce and maintain anesthesia/sedation in
collaboration and under the supervision of the veterinarian and are able to recognize abnormal trends
and respond appropriately. AN17 A practice team member is dedicated solely to monitoring the
condition of each anesthetized patient. CE06.1 Each credentialed veterinary technician has a minimum of
20 hours of documented continuing education in the field of veterinary medicine every two years.
For more information, please contact your AAHA Practice Consultant or Accreditation Specialist.
Lisa Lopshire, BBA, CVPM
Tiffany Plageman, CVT
AAHA Practice Consultant
AAHA Accreditation Specialist
720-934-1796 Cell
1-800-252-2242
lisa.lopshire@aaha.org
tiffany.plageman@aaha.org