"Arizona Veterinary Emergency & Critical Care Centre has taken the next step in upholding our commitment to offer the most advanced veterinary care. We are pleased to earn the certification of a Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care (VECCS) Level I facility," said Dr. Brandi Mattison, AVECCC Medical Directory. "This certification is proof of our commitment to providing exceptional veterinary medicine and care to our community. Our clients can be confident their pets will receive the best possible medical care at AVECCC."
The Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society (VECCS) is now offering a certification program to veterinary facilities that provide emergency and critical patient care. The purpose of this certification is to recognize those hospitals that meet and exceed the minimum standards and guidelines published by VECCS. VECCS does this in hopes of raising the standard of care while also increasing public and professional awareness in the area of veterinary emergency and critical patient care.
This certification program identifies three levels (I through III) based on facility operating hours, equipment and personnel.
The VECCS has identified a Level I facility as such: "A Level I emergency and critical care facility is a 24-hour acute care facility with the resources and specialty training necessary to provide sophisticated emergent and critical patient care. This facility is open to receive small animal emergency patients 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. The level I facility must have a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care employed full time and available for consultation either on-site or by phone 24/7." For more information regarding the certification requirements for a Level I facility, please refer to the VECCS website at www.veccs.org under the Facility Certification tab.
