American Animal Hospital Association names 2021 AAHA-Accredited Practice of the Year

American Animal Hospital Association Names ZimmVet 2021 AAHA-Accredited Practice of the Year


SCOTTSDALE, Arizona — September 23, 2021 —
ZimmVet of Zimmerman, Minnesota, has been named the 2021 AAHA-Accredited Practice of the Year by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA).

ZimmVet accepted this prestigious award on Thursday, September 23, during an Awards Breakfast at Connexity by AAHA, the association’s annual conference, which was held in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Award finalists included:

  • Moore Animal Hospital, Fort Collins, Colorado
  • Travelers Rest Animal Hospital, Travelers Rest, South Carolina
  • Arizona Animal Wellness Center, Gilbert, Arizona

AAHA is the only organization in the US and Canada that accredits companion animal hospitals based on standards that go above and beyond state and provincial regulations. The AAHA-Accredited Practice of the Year Award recognizes the outstanding achievements of accredited practice teams and celebrates ongoing advancements in veterinary medicine. AAHA-accredited veterinary hospitals are known for their excellence, and this award is highly competitive.

AAHA Western Regional Manager Anthony Merkle, CVT, led the selection committee.

“Throughout the pandemic, ZimmVet and all our applicants showed the importance and value of their AAHA accreditation,” Merkle said. “While constantly rearranging normal business, they also remained focused on providing the highest level of veterinary care, and continued to evolve, challenge their status quo, and support their teams and community. This displays their passion for patient care and client service. Challenges in our profession will continue, but our passion for the work we do should never falter.”

“Accreditation isn’t just about checking boxes off a task list—it’s a process of continuous improvement,” said AAHA CEO Garth Jordan, MBA, CSM, CSPO. “This award shows that ZimmVet and all the finalists are committed to not only being the best they can be, but to raising that bar year after year to keep up with changes to medicine and practice management.”

The AAHA Awards Committee evaluates each team on its most recent accreditation score, mission and vision, practice team composition, continuing education and training, community service, and more. AAHA congratulates ZimmVet and all the finalists for their great achievement.

“The process of choosing a winner for this award was no small feat because every veterinary practice deserves praise through these recent times,” Merkle said. “Yet we are happy to have ZimmVet leading the way in being a shining example of an AAHA-accredited practice.”

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Since 1933, the American Animal Hospital Association has been the only organization to accredit veterinary hospitals throughout the United States and Canada according to more than 900 standards directly correlated to high-quality medicine and compassionate care. Accreditation in veterinary medicine is voluntary. The AAHA-accredited logo is the best way to know a practice has been evaluated by a third-party. Look for the AAHA logo. For more information about the American Animal Hospital Association, visit aaha.org.