��ר�� veterinary hospitals achieve high level of excellence

A professor in ��ר��’s College of Veterinary Medicine looks carefully at a dog as two Doctor of Veterinary Medicine students look on. — Fourth-year Doctor of Veterinary Medicine students Erin Close, left, of Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, and Blair Bennett of Spearsville, Louisiana, along with Dr. John Thomason, associate professor in the ��ר�� College of Veterinary Medicine’s clinical science department, examine a canine patient at the university’s Animal Health Center, one of three ��ר�� units recently accredited by the American Animal Hospital Association. (Photo by Tom Thompson)

STARKVILLE, Miss.—Mississippi State’s three hospitals affiliated with its College of Veterinary Medicine are being recognized for attaining the nation’s highest level of veterinary care excellence.

The university’s CVM Animal Health Center, Veterinary Specialty Center, and Animal Emergency and Referral Center all earned American Animal Hospital Association accreditation after a rigorous review of the hospitals’ practice protocols, medical equipment, facilities and client services. AAHA-accredited hospitals are recognized among the finest in the industry and are consistently at the forefront of advanced veterinary medicine

The Animal Health Center on the Starkville campus is the CVM’s clinical service unit, serving as the primary focus for clinical instruction of ��ר�� veterinary students and providing postgraduates opportunity for expanded study through internships or residencies. The Veterinary Specialty Center is a 509(a)2 Corporation, or nonprofit, clinic located in west Starkville that provides specialized neurological and ophthalmological care to referred patients. The Animal Emergency and Referral Center also is a 509(a)2 Corporation hospital in Flowood that provides 24-hour advanced emergency and surgical care in the Jackson area.

“We are very proud of our main hospital on campus and our clinics in west Starkville and Flowood for attaining this accreditation,” said CVM Dean Kent Hoblet. “It speaks volumes about the pride that our faculty, staff and students take in what they do.”

Only the top small animal hospitals in the U.S. and Canada have achieved this accreditation, and they must continue to be evaluated regularly by AAHA to maintain accreditation.

Hoblet said accredited hospitals are the only hospitals that choose to be evaluated on approximately 900 quality standards that go above and beyond basic state regulations in areas ranging from patient care and pain management to staff training and advanced diagnostic services.

AAHA standards are continuously reviewed and updated to keep accredited practices on the cutting edge of veterinary excellence.

Pet owners look for AAHA-accredited hospitals because they value their pet’s health and trust the consistent, expert care provided by the entire health care team. At AAHA-accredited practices, pet owners can expect to receive the highest quality care from well-trained, professional veterinary teams. Unlike human hospitals, not all animal hospitals are required to be accredited.

Mississippi State’s College of Veterinary Medicine is the state’s only veterinary college. It is among only a few colleges in the U.S. that provide two full years of clinical experience in addition to coursework and labs. The college boasts a greater than 98% North American Veterinary Licensing Exam (NAVLE) pass rate. For more information, visit .

For more information about accreditation, visit aaha.org/petowner, or find the American Animal Hospital Association on Facebook.

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