Just What the Doctor Ordered: How to Identify and Handle Bed Bugs

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 reproduce so quickly that a bed bug introduction can easily turn into an infestation. (There’s more where that came from in our free e-book, 100 Facts About Bed Bugs.)

Bed bugs pose far greater risks than a simple, annoying problem—they can result in lawsuits and harm your hard-earned reputation. Learning how to identify and respond to a bed bug problem will help you keep these pests away and get back to helping your patients.

Here are three techniques to help you take care of bed bugs in your hospital:

1. Identify the symptoms. Although bed bugs don’t prefer to come out of hiding during the daytime, they leave tiny, black stains on mattress seams, bed frames, hanging pictures and furniture near beds. Keep your eyes peeled for these signs and buckling wallpaper or carpet, which are perfect hiding places for bed bugs.

2. Quarantine the issue. If you find evidence that makes you think bed bugs are present, leave the area as-is, immediately isolate the room and call a pest control professional. If the room is occupied, work with staff to move the patients. Orkin is able to pre-treat any rooms where these patients are moved.

3. Plan for treatment. If Orkin confirms bed bug activity, treatment will begin as soon as possible. Consult with your Orkin pest specialist to learn the steps to prepare for treatment and ensure bed bugs are not transferred to other patient rooms.

Are you committed to keeping bed bugs out of your healthcare facility? Learn everything you’ve ever wanted to know about these creepy-crawly pests by downloading our free e-book, 100 Facts About Bed Bugs.

And remember to contact Orkin for a free consultation right away if you think you’ve spotted bed bug activity.