Roof rat concerns force closure of Washington hospital's kitchen, cafeteria

Patients’ food was being prepared and brought in from another hospital


Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia, Wash., closed its kitchen and cafeteria after finding evidence of rodents, according to an article on The Olympian website.

The kitchen closed on a Friday night and remained closed Monday as pest control efforts continued in and around the kitchen. 

Patients’ food was being prepared and brought in from Providence Centralia Hospital, while a sign at the cafeteria entrance directed people to the first-floor Starbucks.

The rodents in this case are roof rats. The roof rat population in the area has grown significantly over the past decade, with local pest control companies reporting the rats are now customers’ top complaint.

Read the article.



August 6, 2019


Topic Area: Infection Control


Recent Posts

5 Reasons Engineering is the Edge in Healthcare Master Planning

The most successful plans go further to unlock smarter investments, improve resilience and enable better patient outcomes.


Building an AI-Ready Healthcare Facility 

Creating a secure, standardized data foundation can help facilities teams put AI to work more effectively.


Family Medical Associates of Raleigh Reports April 2026 Data Breach

The investigation has found evidence that between April 18, 2026, and April 20, 2026, an unauthorized actor intermittently accessed some FMAR systems.


Every Detail Matters: A Patient's Story of Healing, Hope and Healthcare Facilities

In the Facilities in Focus season finale, 11-year-old Kendalynn and her mother share how Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital became more than a place for care.


Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center Tops Off New 11-Story Tower

The expansion will improve the patient experience by transitioning the hospital to all private patient rooms while significantly increasing clinical capacity.


 
 


FREE Newsletter Signup Form

News & Updates | Webcast Alerts
Building Technologies | & More!

 
 
 


All fields are required. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.