From the waiting room to the examining room, patients expect clean, sanitary, hygienic spaces when they show up for appointments at your doctor’s office. They want to feel comfortable and like they’re in good care when they’re there. That means that they don’t want to see pests.
Many pests are the opposite of clean. For example, cockroaches can be vectors for bacteria, including E. coli and Salmonella. Rodents may leave behind unsanitary droppings, or urine, which may carry pathogens that can cause disease. Flies can spread food-borne illnesses and mosquitoes can carry a variety of disease-causing pathogens. When patients see these pests, or others, in your doctor’s office, they may consider your doctor’s office dirty and become uncomfortable. They may even let others know about the problem.
No Appointments Needed
Though proper sanitation is one pillar of pest prevention, keeping pests out requires more than just cleaning. Even the most sterile and spotless doctor’s offices and healthcare facilities can fall prey to pests. Insects and rodents can gain access through:
- Open windows and doors
- Cracks and crevices in walls or around plumbing
- Deliveries
- Shoes and clothing of your employees and/or patients
- Flowers and plants
- Sewers and drains
What Can You Do?
The best method for controlling pests in a doctor’s office is to have a professional pest control plan in place. And you should consider an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) website, IPM focuses on pest prevention, using targeted pesticide treatment only as needed, for a more effective approach. With IPM, you partner with a pest control company who will help you not just treat for pests, but also address the reasons why pests are gaining access to and infesting your property.
Reasons to Consider an IPM Program
- An IPM program offers a multi-faceted approach that focuses on prevention for better, more sustainable pest control results.
- As mentioned before, IPM techniques can help with long-term pest control by addressing the reasons why pests may have infested your office in the first place. This gives you the chance to take preventive measures before pests become a problem.
- IPM includes a team approach, which entails pest professionals consulting with your staff about the conditions that can attract pests as well as how to help prevent pest activity before it starts.
- IPM also includes ongoing monitoring and evaluation of treatment effectiveness so that strategies can be adjusted if pest activity changes for any reason.
When choosing a commercial pest control partner, it’s important to consider the special needs of your doctor’s office. Terminix® Commercial understands the importance of discreet pest control as well as the unique requirements of treating healthcare facilities, including federal regulations and health code compliance.
When it comes to pests, prevention is your best bet. Request a free estimate today and ask about Terminix Commercial’s IPM Program.
