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.
The High Cost of Healthcare Violence
EVS Teams Can Improve Patient Experience in Emergency Departments
East Tennessee Children's Hospital to Become Dolly Parton Children's Hospital
The Future of the Global Hospital Hygiene Market
Rethinking Fire Safety Inspections