Disinfection Protocols for Healthcare IT Equipment - Help Reduce HAIs and Safeguard Patients

Joan received her baccalaureate and master’s degrees from the University of Maryland School of Nursing. She is currently an independent infection prevention consultant and research coordinator. She served as the Director of Infection Prevention and Control for 28 years at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore, Maryland. She is certified in infection control through the Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology, is an active member of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiologists of America (SHEA) and the Association for Professionals in Infection Control (APIC), serves as a section editor and reviewer for the American Journal of Infection Control and is a fellow of APIC.

Steven J. Schweon RN, MPH, MSN, CIC, FSHEA, FAPIC is a seasoned, board certified infection prevention consultant. He first became interested with infectious diseases while serving as an Army medic in South Korea, where he supervised a microbiology department that specialized in sexually transmitted diseases. He later worked on the high technology isolation ward at Ft. Detrick, Maryland, home of “The Hot Zone.” Prior to becoming an infection preventionist, he had 14 years of experience, and achieved certification, in critical care and behavioral health nursing.

Steve has been an infection preventionist since 1995, achieving continual certification since 1997. His experiences include acute care, long-term care, behavioral health, and ambulatory care. Specialty interests include surveillance, antibiotic stewardship, outbreaks, hand hygiene, environmental hygiene, vaccine preventable diseases, and the special needs of the patient in the long-term care and behavioral health settings. He has presented at numerous conferences, published in the peer review literature, and is actively engaged with numerous professional committees. Unfortunately, he’s had several personal instances involving Healthcare Associated Infections that have impacted his family. Steve utilizes his forward thinking and analytical skills to evaluate, recommend, and implement practical interventions directed towards safe, performance driven, and cost effective patient care.