DENVER – When a pet faces an emergency, pet owners know to turn to AAHA-accredited hospitals for the care their pets need. Now, it’s easier than ever before to locate an accredited hospital, thanks to the American Red Cross’ new pet first aid mobile phone app.
Accredited hospitals are the only hospitals to be featured in the new app. The app features AAHA-accredited hospitals in its Vet Hospital Locator tool, which allows users to find accredited hospitals when looking for a veterinarian. Users can locate hospitals by using both hospital name and the user’s current location.
Searching by the user’s current location enables pet owners to find the nearest accredited hospital in times of emergency.
Unlike human hospitals, not all animal hospitals are required to be accredited. Accredited hospitals are the only hospitals that choose to be evaluated on approximately 900 quality standards that go above and beyond basic state and provincial regulations. These hospitals are recognized among the finest in the industry, and are consistently at the forefront of advanced veterinary medicine. AAHA standards are continuously reviewed and updated to keep accredited practices on the cutting edge of veterinary excellence.
“We know from our research that 90 percent of pet owners will seek an accredited hospital once they understand that not all animal hospitals are accredited,” said Michael Cavanaugh, DVM, DABVP, CEO of AAHA. “The AAHA-Accredited Hospital Locator makes it very easy for pet owners who value the bond they have with their pets to find expert veterinary care at accredited hospitals. The practice teams at AAHA-accredited practices are ready and willing to provide the best in veterinary care to pets and strive for the best customer care for the pet owners.”
The Red Cross app offers tips and resources for troubleshooting emergency situations, advising pet owners to take their pet to a veterinarian immediately. Users can create profiles for their pets to have on hand in case of emergency, complete with medications, notes about medical history, and veterinarian contact information.
The app also includes educational quizzes about a variety of emergency pet health topics (CPR, bleeding, bite wounds, etc.) to help pet owners learn what to do in crisis situations.
The Pet First Aid app by the American Red Cross is available for both iPhone and Android for 99 cents.
For more information about accreditation, visit healthypet.com, or connect on Facebook and “like” the American Animal Hospital Association.
AAHA is the only organization in the United States and Canada that accredits companion animal hospitals based on standards that meet or exceed state regulations. Established in 1933, the Association is well-known among veterinarians for its leadership in the profession, high standards for veterinary practices and pet health care, and most importantly, its accreditation of companion-animal practices.