Best Practices for Pest Control in Hospitals

Hospital management requires strict attention to ensure that the entire building is a pest-free zone. 

Seeing a rodent or insect is psychologically upsetting for patients who need to feel secure as they seek treatment for their health conditions. Pests also carry diseases that include the spread of bacteria that impacts the patients’ recoveries.

Ongoing pest problems can also cause your hospital to fail health inspections and lead to bad reviews among your patrons. Due to the high volume of traffic that health care facilities involve, you can expect for pest control to be an ongoing concern. 

Following these best practices for pest control in hospitals makes it easier to feel confident that you offer a pest-free medical facility to your community.

Keep Doors and Windows Closed or Screened

The front entrance to your hospital is one of the most frequently used pathways for pests. Sliding doors can help to keep this entry point closed off when people are not entering or exiting the building. 

Your maintenance team should also make sure that all opening windows and doors have proper screens and weather-stripping to further reduce the ways that pests get inside.

Check Incoming Supplies

Hospital deliveries include food and medical supplies that could be housing unwanted guests from the warehouse. 

Teach your staff to carefully check through any new delivery boxes for signs of pests. If they see cockroaches or spiders, then it is better to address the potential pest issue right way than to have it spread.

Pay Attention to Food Prep and Service Areas

The kitchen and hospital cafeteria is another area where pests tend to show up first. The food service team should already be following strict protocols for sanitation and hygiene. 

However, you may also need to make sure that lesser-known pest control strategies are followed such as making sure that grease traps and drains are not clogged.

Clean Out Storage Areas Regularly

Mice, roaches and spiders are often found in storage areas. Create a schedule for having these areas cleared out on a regular basis. 

You may also want to add the information for a staff member to use to report the signs of a suspected pest problem when they are found during cleanouts.

 

Maintain the Outdoor Landscaping

A large part of your facility’s indoor pest prevention plan should include outdoor maintenance. 

Pests love to hide in tall grass, and long limbs from a nearby tree make it easy for rodents to leap onto the top of your facility’s building. Once there, they can find easier access to the inside if there are any areas on the roof missing parts such as a vent screen.

Make sure that the outdoor maintenance crew keeps the landscaping under control. The grassy areas should be free of weeds that attract insects and critters. All tree branches and shrubs should also be kept at least three feet away from the exterior of the hospital building.

We also round out our commercial pest control plans with suggestions for things that your staff can do to further prevent animals and insects from invading your facility. 

From checking delivery boxes to increasing the spraying schedule, no stone is too small to be left unturned when it comes to protecting patients from pests.

Custom Weed & Pest Control has been in business since 1989, serving the greater Phoenix metro area for both residential and commercial. We offer organic, natural and chemical pest control, with customized service to meet your specific needs.

Related Page: Hospital Pest Control Tips