The sunshine and flowers that arrive with the onset of warm weather also herald the start of the pest season. From pollen and mosquitoes outdoors to invasive insects and roaming rodents indoors, people everywhere struggle with the problem.
One of the greatest challenges is faced by managers of health care facilities. These busy buildings have all the food and shelter that pests need, and offer an easy means of entry because of the high traffic by patients, families and medical staff.
Despite the elevated risk of pests, however, many of these facilities have to fight the invaders with one hand tied behind their backs. Doctors, nurses and administrators must consider the unique needs of patients before applying standard commercial pest control techniques. Patients with delicate health or compromised immune systems can be more harmed by standard sprays and powders than the pests themselves.
Pest management experts say the best way to win the pest wars in health care offices is to target an individual solution for each different type of facility. Bedbugs, cockroaches and mice are the most common offenders overall, but hospitals and emergency rooms may face more of a certain pest type than medical clinics, doctors' offices and assisted living facilities.
The best plan is to use an integrated pest management plan to keep unwanted animals out of the facility before they enter and make a home. Facilities that choose the right plan can avoid the need for chemical treatments by following vigorous sanitation and maintenance techniques.