APIC and CBIC: Infection Prevention and Control in Long-Term Care: Navigating CBIC Certification

Steven J. Schweon RN, MPH, MSN, CIC, CPHQ, FSHEA, FAPIC is a seasoned, board certified Infection Preventionist. 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 was also a long-term care “orderly” prior to attending nursing school.

Steve has been an infection preventionist since 1995, achieving continual board infection control certification since 1997. Clinical experiences include the acute care and Long-Term Care settings.

JoAnn Adkins is a registered nurse and Senior Infection Prevention Advisor for the Patient Safety Authority. In her role at the Authority, she works with Pennsylvania healthcare facilities to improve patient safety by initiating, developing, implementing, and monitoring new and existing infection prevention initiatives throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Ms. Adkins has presented educational programs on infection prevention topics at the local, state, and national levels. Ms. Adkins is board certified in infection control and epidemiology (CIC), board certified in long-term care infection prevention (LTC-CIP) and is a Fellow of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (FAPIC). Ms. Adkins is the 2019 recipient of APIC’s Heroes of Infection Prevention Award for Education. She is a member of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Prevention and has served on the Member Services Committee, the Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society, and the Pennsylvania Association Directors of Nursing Administration Long Term Care.

Sandra Callery, RN, MHSc, CIC, LTC-CIP, is CBIC’s immediate past president and has worked in the field of Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC), and in leadership roles, for several decades. Her work experience includes public health, clinical research and occupational health and safety. She has worked in a variety of health care settings, and most recently with the Ontario Agency of Health Protection and Promotion (Public Health Ontario). Sandra is a registered nurse, with a Master of Health Sciences. She has been involved in IPAC related research and publications regarding disease transmission, management of patients with antibiotic-resistant organisms, emergency preparedness, and most recently, the value of certification for the Infection Control Professional. She is a past National President of IPAC Canada (formerly CHICA Canada) a past president of the former Hamilton and District Chapter (now IPAC Central South Ontario), and a recipient of the 2014 Moira Walker Memorial Award for International Service.