Moffitt Cancer Center Honored for Integrated Pest Management Excellence

Moffitt Cancer Center, a not-for-profit National Cancer Institute-designated cancer hospital in Tampa, Fla., was named the 2014 IPM Partner Awards healthcare winner by Orkin, The IPM Institute of North America and the Association for the Healthcare Environment (AHE). Now in its 11th year, the IPM Partner Awards honor facilities for their dedication to Integrated Pest Management (IPM) partnerships with Orkin. This is Moffitt’s second IPM Partner Awards win.

“The IPM Partner Awards are significant because they represent what all healthcare organizations should be striving for when it comes to pest management: an exemplary adherence to IPM and partnership,” says Orkin director of quality systems Zia Siddiqi, PhD. “It is these characteristics that help facilities achieve pest management success.”

IPM is an environmentally responsible pest management approach that emphasizes multiple methods of non-chemical pest control and prevention. Moffitt was honored for its demonstrated commitment to a comprehensive IPM program that focuses on vigilant sanitation, prompt attention to structural pest management recommendations, diligent record keeping and staff participation in IPM training sessions.

“A commitment to IPM is a commitment to protecting the environment as well as the health of our communities,” says Thomas Green, PhD, president of The IPM Institute of North America, who serves on the awards jury. “At the IPM Institute of North America, our goal is to accelerate the adoption of IPM, and so it is with great pride that we are co-presenters in recognizing a facility that has gone above and beyond to achieve IPM excellence and set a great example for other facilities in the community.”

When it comes to best practices in the healthcare environment, Awards co-presenter AHE leads the way in helping to define the processes and programs that deliver the level of quality outcomes that are demanded in the healthcare field.

“IPM programs are key to sustainable operations in healthcare settings because they contribute to safer environments for everyone in addition to supporting compliance with guidance and recommended practices,” says Lea Beach, EVS director of the Ireland Army Community Hospital, and AHE’s awards jury representative. “Moffitt Cancer Center is an outstanding example of a facility that not only understands the importance of IPM, but has worked to continually improve their program to make it the best it can be.”

Memebrs of the awards jury were:
• Lea Beach, CHESP, EVS director, Ireland Army Community Hospital
• Austin Frishman, PhD, BCE, founder, AMF Pest Management Services, Inc.
• Thomas A. Green, PhD, president, The IPM Institute of North America, Inc.
• Ron Harrison, PhD, director of technical services, Orkin
• Frank Meek, BCE, international technical and training director, Orkin
• Zia Siddiqi, PhD, BCE, director of quality systems, Orkin 

Source: Orkin, LLC