This article originally appeared on the Viking Voice, Viking's LInkedIn Newsletter.
Pest control is a necessity for private medical offices. Patients expect a clean, sanitary environment, and nothing is more hazardous to your reputation than an insect or rodent infestation. Pests can spread pathogens, contaminate medical supplies, damage sensitive equipment and electronics, and disrupt daily operations. No matter what your practice area, proactive pest control measures are absolutely essential to maintaining a pest-free environment.
Pests Medical Offices Need to Watch Out For
Bed Bugs – Bed bugs are a frequent pest found at medical facilities. Patients can easily carry them in from outside and spread them onto beds, waiting room furniture, and laundry facilities if your office uses them on-site. This is especially common at medical facilities that handle inpatient care. While not known disease carriers, bed bugs can cause extreme discomfort with their bites leaving painfully itchy welts on the skin that can lead to self-injury and possible infection. Indirect risks of bed bug bites are loss of sleep and increased anxiety.
Ants—The humble ant is one of the most common invaders of medical facilities. Because they are so small, they can sneak into even the tiniest of openings. While not the most dangerous pests, they can still spread diseases and contaminate anything they find edible. Pharoah Ants have been known for their attraction to open wounds and IV units, making them an infection risk for patients if not dealt with.
Flies—Flies can be a major concern for health care facilities. They are known disease spreaders due to their attraction to poorly sanitized places. They can live in garbage, clogged drains, medical waste, and other biological materials. Flies can also bring a halt to planned surgeries.
Cockroaches – Cockroaches as a pervasive pest in places where food is prepared and stored. They are known to cause health problems as well, both from translocating diseases from unsanitary areas and because their feces and shed skins are primary causes of asthma.
Mice - Mice can also be a significant issue. Their urine and feces are well-known contaminants. They are also prone to damaging furniture and chewing on wires. They also destroy paper and cardboard to use for nesting materials.
Other frequent pests we see in medical offices include beetles, spiders, and overwintering pests like stink bugs and cluster flies.
Risk Areas
Kitchens and Break Rooms – When pests enter any building it’s generally to find food, water, and shelter. Kitchens and break rooms typically provide all three. Food needs to be carefully handled, disposed of, and cleaned up after to prevent attracting pests. Sinks should be turned off and any leaks stopped for the same reason. Garbage should be disposed of regularly so as not to become infested.
Waiting Rooms – As mentioned above, patients can bring in bed bugs and other pests that can infest your furniture. It’s important to keep this area clean and sanitary. Frequently check chairs, cushions, and other areas where pests can congregate and make sure that any refreshments you may offer are properly disposed of in a timely manner.
Laboratories/Testing rooms - Labs and places where medical tests are conducted need to be watched extra carefully. Contamination is especially dangerous in places where bodily fluids and medical waste are collected and disposed of. These areas are especially prone to fly infestations.
Restrooms – Restrooms need to be watched carefully both due to the presence of water and bodily waste.
Exterior Entry Points – Cracks and holes from the outside are one of the biggest entry points to a medical facility. Mice can squeeze through gaps about the size of a dime, and bugs can get into spaces that are even smaller. These gaps should be sealed or plugged. If your exterior includes any decaying wood, it needs to be replaced. Windows should be weather-stripped, and doors should include sweeps. Make sure outside garbage is kept in properly sealed containers or dumpsters. Avoid propping doors or leaving windows open.
Viking Pest Control follows a process known as Integrated Pest Management or IPM for short. IPM isn’t about simply eliminating pest infestations when they occur. It’s also about preventing them from occurring in the first place. One part of that process is exclusion, which amounts to eliminating points of entry and removing the conditions that attract pests.
One benefit offered exclusively by Viking in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and the Eastern Shore of Maryland is SMART pest monitoring. SMART uses a variety of state-of-the-art technologies to monitor pest activity when and where no one can be there to see it. SMART devices like the SMART Eye Mini can detect rodent activity 24/7 and report activity to our offices so we can take action to prevent a mouse or rat infestation before it can occur. The SMART Sense mini is a newer device that can report on smaller pests like moths and cockroaches, again, allowing us to act on pest problems early.
SMART devices are sleek and don’t resemble conventional pest control like traps or bait boxes. As a result, you can keep them in your office without tipping off those out of the know that you are protecting your employees and patients from pests. It doesn’t use cameras, so no one needs to be concerned about their privacy. It is also a green, no-impact product which means you don’t need to worry about challenging the sterility of your office with pest control products. In circumstances where the use of product is warranted, we have a variety of green, low-impact options available. Viking is an industry leader in green pest control, being GreenPro certified and receiving the award for the USA’s most sustainable pest control from The Spruce four years running as of 2024.
When you call, Viking’s commercial pest control experts will perform a free risk evaluation to locate pest pressure points and take measures to exclude and monitor potential threats.
