The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), based in Lakewood, has accredited four prominent veterinary hospitals in China through its licensed accreditation partner, Gaozhen (Shanghai) Enterprise Management Center. This achievement highlights the growth and quality of pet healthcare services in China, where the number of registered pet hospitals has reached 30,139 as of January 2024.
The newly accredited hospitals are: Chengdu Xie International Animal Hospital in Chengdu, Shenzhen IVC Animal Hospital in Shenzhen, Zhejiang University Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Hangzhou, and Shanghai Shenpu Pet Hospital in Shanghai.
Notably, the Zhejiang University Veterinary Teaching Hospital becomes the first teaching hospital in China to receive AAHA accreditation. Garth Jordan, CEO at AAHA, said, “We are thrilled to recognize these four outstanding hospitals for their commitment to excellence in veterinary care. Their achievement reflects the growing sophistication of China’s pet healthcare industry and aligns with the country’s increasing pet ownership rates, particularly in urban areas.”
Benhao Mao, founder and CEO of Gaozhen, established the management platform Xiaonuan Yisheng for animal hospitals in 2014. Now utilized by nearly 10,000 veterinary hospitals in China, this platform aims to standardize management practices. In 2022, Mao introduced the AAHA certification standards to China, allowing veterinary professionals to achieve accreditation that meets AAHA’s rigorous standards for patient care and operational management.
The newly accredited hospitals join a select group of veterinary practices worldwide that have earned the AAHA accreditation, a distinction held by only 15% of animal hospitals in North America.
Since 1933, the American Animal Hospital Association has been the only organization to accredit veterinary hospitals throughout the United States and Canada based on standards directly correlated to high-quality medicine and compassionate care.