Orkin and ASHES Partner to Promote Healthier Pest Control in Healthcare Facilities

ATLANTA -- In response to a growing movement in healthcare toward hazardous-chemical reduction, Atlanta-based pest control company Orkin, Inc. and the American Society for Healthcare Environmental Services (ASHES) of the American Hospital Association are launching a partnership that will promote more effective and environmentally friendly pest control practices in healthcare settings.

Minimizing pesticide use through integrated pest management (IPM) is part of our educational focus this year, said ASHES executive director Patti Costello. We are pleased to be working with an industry leader like Orkin to guide health care providers toward improved pest control practices.

The partnership kicks off with the release of Integrated Pest Management, the first in a series of ASHES recommended practice documents. Co-authored by certified entomologists from Orkin and Western Pest Services, which was acquired by Orkin in 2004, the new recommended practice is a complete how to guide to implementing and maintaining an effective IPM program in a healthcare facility. It is available for pre-market order at www.ashes.org.

Pest control programs too often rely on chemicals, and ignore the reasons why the pests are there, said Zia Siddiqi, PhD, Orkins director of quality assurance and co-author of the practice document. IPM programs address the root causes of pest problems as well as the symptoms, so health care facilities can reduce their pesticide use and have fewer pest issues at the same time.

ASHES and Orkin are also working together to publish educational articles about the new practice for its members and others. The educational effort will culminate with two educational breakout sessions at the ASHES annual conference in September, featuring panelists from Orkin, Western Pest Services and The IPM Institute of North America.

Orkins commitment to IPM is evidenced by its latest service offering, Gold Medal Protection for Health Care, a comprehensive program consistent with the ASHES IPM recommendation and the recommendations of Hospitals for a Healthy Environment (H2E). More information on Gold Medal Protection for Health Care can be found on the Web at www.orkin.com/commercial.

IPM is an environmentally responsible approach to pest management that combines multiple pest management options versus relying on pesticides alone. It is the method recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Hospitals for a Healthy Environment (H2E), ASHES and many others.

Source: ASHES