In a sensitive health care environment, programs for infection control, cleaning, waste removal and pest management must be developed and executed with attention to minimizing the impact on the facility environment. For Westminster-Thurber Community, a continuing care retirement community that offers assisted living, apartment homes, rehab, long-term care and home care, commitment to an exemplary Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program is part of protecting the environment of care. The Columbus, Ohio-based facility earned a 2011 Gold Medal™ IPM Partner Award from Orkin, The IPM Institute of North America and the Association for the Healthcare Environment (AHE) for their outstanding commitment to Integrated Pest Management (IPM) partnerships.

IPM is an environmentally friendly pest management approach that emphasizes multiple methods of non-chemical pest control and prevention. The winning facilities were honored for their adherence to comprehensive IPM programs that focus on vigilant sanitation, prompt adherence to structural pest management recommendations, diligent record keeping and staff participation in IPM training sessions.

The key to any successful IPM program is partnership. The healthcare providers that we have honored this year have gone the extra mile to work with their Orkin teams to achieve pest management goals that are critical in protecting patients and staff, and surpassing Joint Commission standards.

Westminster-Thurber's program includes proactive pest management measures that help minimize the need for chemical application. To help prevent pest entry, Westminster-Thurber worked with Orkin to implement a strong exclusion program that included landscape modification to reduce potential for pest harborage; installation of door sweeps to eliminate the space under doors accessible to crawling pests; and keeping the doors and windows at the facility tightly sealed.

Included in Westminster-Thurber's sanitation program is regular use of an enzymatic cleaner that helps to remove biofilm around drains and on floors that not only attract pests but also provide a breeding medium. Another product works to reduce odor in waste removal areas. The facility maintains a sanitation schedule that requires timely removal of garbage, sweeping and vacuuming floors, and addressing sensitive areas of the facility every day.

A proactive bed bug inspection program is in place at Westminster-Thurber Community in order to reduce the potential for an infestation. Proactive strategies like this and open communication regarding any issues identified by the provider or customer help keep the facility free of pest activity.

The Gold MedalTM IPM Partner Awards began seven years ago as an effort by Orkin and The IPM Institute of North America to encourage the use of IPM and other environmentally friendly pest management practices. Previously, the awards were made only to food processing, packaging and storage facilities. This is the first year the Awards have honored health care providers.

Focus on proactive preventive measures and a commitment to communication about ways to continuously maintain and improve your program are the ways to achieve an award-winning IPM partnership.

Zia Siddiqi, Ph.D., BCE, is the director of quality systems for Orkin, LLC.