�AAHA accreditation is a two-year process of preparation, analysis, improvement and adjustment by our hospital staff and administrators,� said Kent Hoblet, dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine. �Our goal is to provide quality care at a level of performance that consistently meets or surpasses the high standards established within the profession of veterinary medicine.�

Center director Lee Tyner said the animal hospital maintained accreditation after drawing high praise and its highest point ever for providing outstanding animal care and operating a first-class facility.

�Accreditation is an evaluation tool a facility can use to assess, revise and upgrade the application of veterinary standards to provide the best possible health care for animals,� Tyner said. �This designation demonstrates to our clients that the hospital is among the elite in offering quality patient care.�

More than 3,000 animal hospitals representing 36,000 veterinary care providers in the United States and Canada are members of AAHA. Membership is voluntary.

AAHA accreditation is primarily designed to help private animal hospitals and clinics improve health-care delivery. Animal hospitals at institutions of higher learning and other public facilities are eligible for membership. Many members desire to pursue accreditation because of the prestige and recognition of care they provide.

An animal hospital is graded on a pass/fail basis using a flexible point system. To receive accreditation, a hospital must achieve or exceed a passing score in each of 18 categories. MSU's animal hospital greatly exceeded minimum scoring in all categories, Tyner said.

AAHA accreditation also gives the veterinary college a competitive edge in attracting students, faculty and staff of high caliber, Tyner said. Many pre-vet students working at private AAHA-accredited animal hospitals want to enroll at a veterinary college with the designation.