2020 AAHA-Accredited Hospital Day Recap
In spite of the COVID-19 pandemic (and even some weather challenges), the AAHA community showed its pride on July 22 for AAHA-Accredited Hospital Day with many reminders of the value and meaning of accreditation. There were socially distanced giveaways, videos, quizzes, yummy treats, and lots of very stylish dogs (like the above party-goer at Illinois-based Dundee Animal Hospital).
Standards appreciation
Part of the meaning of #AAHADay is to raise awareness of accreditation, so big kudos to the practices who found creative ways to get the word out about how AAHA standards help them provide the best veterinary care.
Avenue Animal Hospital in Tinley Park, Illinois, involved the whole team in making a video including quiz questions about accreditation.
Dundee Animal Hospital held a Facebook contest to raise awareness of their accreditation, then held a drawing for a gift certificate.
Goodie bags and swag
Many AAHA-accredited practices gave away prizes and free swag, including AAHA gear and sponsored gifts from product representatives.
In addition to goodie bags, Jamie Slonaker of Healthy Pets of Bern-Lor in Grove City, Ohio, made tie-dyed masks for the whole staff.
Idaho Veterinary Hospital gave away fancy individually wrapped gift bags that included a note about AAHA accreditation.
Team members at Skaer Veterinary Clinic in Wichita, Kansas, modeled some AAHA style.
Team spirit
Cherry Ridge Veterinary Clinic in Honesdale, Pennsylvania, celebrated two years of AAHA accreditation by having the whole team wear red, while others dolled-up their hospitals with balloons and streamers.
A drive-up AAHA celebration tent at Community Animal Clinic in Wytheville, Virginia.
An AAHA Day table set-up at Wasatch Hollow Animal Hospital in Ogden, Utah.
Team members hold balloons outside St. Francis Animal Hospital in Fredericksburg, Virginia.
Greeting guests at an outdoor celebration table at Idaho Veterinary Hospital.
We loved seeing all the group photos of AAHA-accredited teams celebrating together—coordinated outfits were a bonus!
Case in point: This festive group photo of the team at Peninsula Veterinary Services in Millsboro, Delaware, all dressed in AAHA red!
And team members at St. Francis Animal Hospital in Fredericksburg, Virginia, who had fun with masks, signs, and a painted message on the front entrance.
Team members from Idaho Veterinary Hospital modeled white “AAHA Proud” t-shirts.
The crew at Brooklyn Veterinary Clinic in Castle Rock, Colorado, showed off their AAHA-accredited credentials with pizzazz!
AAHA teams know how to rock a selfie frame!
Despite curbside service only and monsoon rains, Julie Arons and her teammates at New Frontier Animal Medical Center in Sierra Vista, Arizona, still found time to celebrate with a cute red selfie frame!
Team members got festive in a selfie frame at Dundee Animal Hospital.
Treats and more treats
There were treats galore for both humans and furry friends at many #AAHADay celebrations. From pizza and taco bars to food trucks, it was very delicious AAHA-Accredited Hospital Day!
Like these beautiful AAHA cookies at Double J Animal Hospital in Hobbs, New Mexico.
Illinois-based Dundee Animal Hospital had an oversized #AAHADay cookie!
Skaer Veterinary Clinic had simply delicious-looking shortbread cookies!
And check out these gorgeous AAHA cookies at St. Francis Animal Hospital in Fredericksburg, Virginia.
Jennifer Ewoldt of Scott County Animal Hospital PC in Eldridge, Iowa, posted in the AAHA-Accredited Practice Facebook Group: "It was Kona Ice all around for #AAHADay here yesterday as well! What a simple and yet awesome way to celebrate 'with' our clients. Our Kona guy even made special dog ices with chicken or beef broth. Tough getting a staff photo with how busy we are, but we got some of them to stop moving and mask down for a moment!"
Frozen treats were a big theme this year. Lucky pet hotel guests at Animal Hospital of Rowlett in Rowlett, Texas, also got "pupsicles."
Speaking of cute dogs
There were some extremely stylish canines who helped AAHA-accredited practices have some fun this year. We want to party with these pups!
Check out this AAHA Day dog in red sunglasses and AAHA head gear at Kings Crossing Animal Hospital in Kingwood, Texas!
This cute pup at Wasatch Hollow Animal Hospital in Ogden, Utah, wears a red bandanna to show AAHA appreciation.
Meanwhile, at AAHA . . .
While we couldn’t celebrate in person, the whole AAHA team, including practice consultants and accreditation specialists around the country, came together for a virtual lunch. We wore our flashiest red—including feather boas and sparkly cat ears—to show our appreciation!
And in the veterinary community . . .
We felt the love on #AAHADay, when we got more than 100 comments and 100 likes from the members of a VTNE review group on Facebook made up of veterinary technician students and graduates studying to pass their board exam. Thanks to all of you who work at AAHA-accredited practices. We are proud to support the next generation of AAHA!