Field Notes
Insights for your business
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Insights for your business
When it comes to running your healthcare business, nothing is more important than the safety and peace of mind of your patients. That’s why attention to detail matters in everything from sanitation to pest control, even in normal times. And since the global COVID-19 pandemic has heightened …
If your business is designated as an essential service provider and is operating during the COVID-19 pandemic, you’re probably already facing a lot of pressure. Between maintaining a hygienic environment, making a profit and providing good service, pest management may not be top of mind. But …
With the COVID-19 pandemic forcing your business and customers to adapt to shelter-in-place and social distancing orders, pest control may be tough for you to manage right now, alongside all your other concerns. But with the reduction of human activity at your business, a larger number of pests are …
Blood-sucking pests like ticks and mosquitoes are more than a nuisance — they can be a health risk. And they don’t just wreak havoc in your backyard; they can also affect your business. The truth of the matter is that mosquitoes and ticks can actually spread diseases to your employees and …
The potential costs of just one extreme weather or climate event in the U.S. can exceed $1 billion. With nearly 13 of these extreme, costly events happening annually, many people—and businesses—are left to deal with the aftermath of Mother Nature’s damaging behavior. This threatening weather can …
It’s raining rats and moths! Well, that may not be how the traditional saying goes, but pests can certainly come flooding into your facility following an extreme weather event. From tornadoes and hurricanes to substantial changes in temperature or rainfall, extreme weather can have a significant …
In the healthcare industry, a strict pest control protocol is not only expected, but enforced. With consistent exposure to germs, stringent sanitation and building maintenance routines are key to providing a safe and healthy environment to your patients, staff and visitors. Pests …
From public areas to private recovery rooms, your patients should feel at ease in your facility. They are your reputation builders, your case studies, and, in many cases, your survivors, so it’s imperative that when they enter your facility, they feel comfortable and in good …
Just as your facility addresses a variety of health concerns, you may also have to address a range of pest pressures. Ants, bed bugs, cockroaches, flies and rodents are among the most common, each of which pose unique threats to your healthcare environment. For instance, flies can spread …
As a healthcare provider, you’re required to follow stringent cleaning protocols to maintain a safe and healthy environment and mitigate the chances of disease or healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) from spreading. Creating distinct processes to ensure you’re maintaining the clinical …
From patient rooms to cafeterias, healthcare facilities provide food, water and shelter that can attract pests. And if their activity isn’t controlled, these pests can pose serious health risks to patients, as well as damage a facility’s reputation. Establishing an effective pest management …
Healthcare settings are as unique as the patient care they deliver. But one thing they have in common – from acute hospitals to urgent care to diagnostic facilities and specialist care – is that they are sensitive environments where pests aren’t tolerated. Each one requires a …
Pests can pose serious threats to any healthcare environment – it only takes visible pest activity to degrade your reputation and potentially compromise the health and safety of your patients, employees and visitors. While Integrated Pest Management (IPM) has become the healthcare industry …
Along with bugging you, nuisance pests like rodents, cockroaches and flying and stinging pests have the potential to grow into a more serious problem. For some businesses, it only takes a sighting by the wrong person—an auditor, an inspector, a customer or even a patient—to have a financial impact …
Referred to as “bomb cyclones” by meteorologists, winter storms have been sweeping the U.S. causing dangerously low temperatures.* Also known as “invader season”, winter is a prime time for pests to flock inside in search of warmth, food and shelter. Once indoors, they can be difficult to control …
The fast pace of your day-to-day responsibilities requires you to handle many things at once. And no matter what kind of facility you’re overseeing, a strong sanitation program is critical—if overlooked, it can have a domino effect on other areas of your business. While it may seem obvious that …
Improving the quality of patient services is a priority for all healthcare facilities. Part of this ongoing improvement includes striving to meet the standards set by the Joint Commission. Along with setting standards for the quality of training, infrastructure and operations, many healthcare …
Expected to meet the highest level of cleanliness, healthcare facilities must follow strict standards when it comes to sanitation and maintenance. And when abiding by the The Joint Commission standards, it’s important not to forget that sustainable pest management is just as effective for your …
Do you smell a rat? Don’t let these sneaky pests fool you. From stock rooms and break rooms to suspended ceilings and wall voids, rodents have no trouble finding sources of food, water and shelter at your business, property or school. And though they know how to keep to the shadows, just one …
If ants are marching through your property, you better believe they are ready to go to war. With colonies that can number into the hundreds of thousands of ants, these tiny pests are tough to defeat. (Learn even the smallest details about ants by downloading our free Antcyclopedia). When you …
As the weather heats up, so do mosquitoes. Summer is peak season for these threatening pests, whose bites can do more than just itch. Mosquitoes also can transmit diseases like the Zika virus, Chikungunya virus and West Nile virus. The good news? Everyone can do something to help prevent these …
If you see flies in your facility, don’t turn a blind eye. These filthy pests not only disgust customers but can also contaminate food and other surfaces and cause illness. Our free, comprehensive guide to Flies & Fly Control Strategy breaks down the top concerns for the flies that are …
One rotten banana in an employee locker is all it takes for your facility to develop a fly infestation. Flies are stubborn pests that can undermine your business’s image and cost you money if you end up losing customers because of their activity. Even if you don’t prepare, sell or package food, …
If you work in a food handling environment like a restaurant, grocery store or manufacturing facility, flies can deal a blow to your bottom line. These pests seek the food, water and shelter that your business provides – and their presence can lead to serious consequences. Once inside, they can …
As a healthcare professional, you are used to solving problems. But problem-solving takes on a whole new meaning when you discover bed bugs in your hospital, especially when you don’t know the next step to take. These biting pests are experts at hitchhiking their way into patient rooms, and they …
In 2016, Orkin entomologists presented a webinar called “Battling Bed Bugs: The Latest on Bed Bug Monitoring, Detection and Treatment,” in partnership with Health Forum. The webinar provided expert information about bed bugs, including: An understanding of the challenges bed bugs …
In integrated pest management (IPM) programs, success depends on your ability to adjust and optimize the performance of the program. And knowing how it’s preforming is really only possible with thorough documentation. Orkin’s three-part video series, brought to you by Orkin’s Dr. Ron Harrison …
Controlling pests in a sensitive environment requires a full range of treatment approaches that suit the specific situation. Orkin’s three-part video series, brought to you by Orkin’s Dr. Ron Harrison and the Association for the Healthcare Environment (AHE), is your guide to Integrated Pest …
Need a quick refresher on the crucial elements of an ideal pest control program for your healthcare environment? Orkin's three-part video series, brought to you by Orkin's Dr. Ron Harrison and the Association for the Healthcare Environment (AHE), is your guide to the basics of Integrated Pest …
Did you know that as local hospitals close, the possibility of patients bringing more pests to regional hospitals goes up? You may be asking why. It’s because when people travel – specifically for overnight trips – they are more susceptible to encountering bed bugs in settings like hotels or …