By Dan Hounsell, Senior Editor, Facility Market

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7 is offering a free webinar to encourage Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices in healthcare settings. The webinar on Sept 21 follows the release of EPA’s IPM in Health Care Facilities Toolkit. IPM is a proactive, science-based decision-making framework that emphasizes pest prevention and least-toxic control measures.

The webinar will include a discussion of how facilities can support the well-being of sensitive patient populations by implementing an IPM program that limits both pests and pesticides. Webinar content will be useful to health care administrators, environmental health and safety specialists, custodial services, nutritional services, and infection preventionists. IPM approaches can be applied across various types of health care settings, including hospitals, long-term care facilities, ambulatory centers, rehabilitation centers, and other outpatient facilities.

“Integrated Pest Management in Health Care Facilities is an effective and environmentally sensitive approach to pest management,” said Amanda Cackler, RN, director of infection prevention and control at the University of Kansas Health System. “IPM relies on a combination of approaches for reducing populations of disease vectors and public health pests, such as bed bugs, scabies and lice. IPM is a comprehensive, systems-based approach focused on pest prevention, pest reduction, and the elimination of conditions that lead to pest infestations.

“Not only does IPM endorse efficient utilization of pest control services to reduce the risk of overuse or inappropriate use of hazardous chemical pest-control products, but most importantly prevents inconsistencies and delays in patient care,” she said.