The Norwalk Veterinary Medical Center, located in Norwalk, Ohio, is Huron County's oldest small animal veterinary practice. It was started in 1952 by Dr. James G. Ryder out of his home. As the practice grew and Dr. Ryder thought of retiring, he sold the practice to Dr. Ronald G. Hendrikson in 1992. The practice was previously located on Townsend Ave. in Norwalk. Having outgrown that site, Dr. Hendrikson purchased land east of Norwalk on U.S. Highway 20 East and built our current facility, which opened in April 1996. The practice has continued to grow and be recognized throughout the country as a leader in veterinary medicine. In 2001, the practice became accredited by the American Animal Hospital Association and also won the Veterinary Economics Magazine award for Best Designed Small Hospital. Numerous awards have ensued, thanks to our philosophy of teamwork. Below is our mission and vision statement and our code of ethics.
Our Code of Ethics
We believe:
*In providing the most caring, compassionate, and friendly service to you and your pets.
*In doing our best and striving to be the best.
*In honesty, openness, and fairness with you, our clients and each other.
*In the importance of respect, manners, and hard work.
*In superior quality and service.
*In the importance of your client satisfaction.
Our Mission Statement
As an AAHA accredited hospital our mission is to provide the highest quality of veterinary care in a welcoming environment where you become part of your pet's health care team.
Our Vision Statement
To work together as a team, to become a market leader in veterinary medicine, and be recognized for medical and business excellence, caring service, and compassion.
AAHA-Accredited Hospitals: Champions for Excellent Care
Did you know that accreditation for animal hospitals is voluntary? Surprising, isn’t it? Nearly 60 percent of pet owners believe that their pet’s veterinary hospital is accredited when it is not. In actuality, only 12-15% of animal hospitals have gone through the accreditation evaluation process by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA). We are proud to call ourselves an AAHA-accredited hospital.
In the United States, all human hospitals that serve people with Medicare must be accredited through an accrediting body; they undergo regular reviews and quality checks to ensure they meet standards of quality for every aspect of medical care. However, not all animal hospitals choose to pursue the AAHA-accreditation process since it is not required by law. When it comes to pet health care, accreditation is voluntary. The accreditation process is rigorous and time-consuming, and not every veterinary hospital wants to go through the lengthy process.
Accreditation by AAHA means that an animal hospital has been evaluated on approximately 900 standards of veterinary excellence. To maintain their accreditation, hospitals undergo a rigorous review by veterinary experts every three years. State and provincial regulations can vary widely – in fact, some states don’t routinely inspect hospitals, only going in for an inspection when a complaint is filed by a pet owner. AAHA accreditation is considered the standard for veterinary excellence, and does not vary between states or provinces (AAHA accredits hospitals in both the U.S. and Canada).
We are an AAHA-accredited veterinary hospital. That means we hold ourselves to a higher standard. Pets are our passion. And keeping them healthy is our #1 priority. Here, we strive to deliver excellent care for pets. Because your pets deserve nothing less.
Learn more about AAHA accreditation and why our accreditation is important to you and your pet. Visit aaha.org/petowner.
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