PSQH: The Podcast Episode 137 – Facing Down the Biggest Infection Prevention Challenges
On episode 137 of PSQH: The Podcast, Karen Hoffmann, a clinical instructor at the University of North Carolina’s School of Medicine, and Connie Steed, a consultant specializing in infection prevention and control, discuss the biggest infection prevention challenges facing healthcare facilities. This episode is sponsored by Nozin.
Karen Hoffmann is a clinical instructor at University of North Carolina’s School of Medicine. She has specialized in infection prevention and control for over 4 decades, including serving for 24 years as the Associate Director of the North Carolina Statewide Program for Infection Control and Epidemiology (SPICE). Karen also served as the Infection Preventionist Consultant for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) from 2011 to 2020.
She is a Fellow in both the Society of Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) and Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC). Karen has served on numerous chapter and national committees and elected positions and was the 2019 APIC National President. She has received several awards for her service and contributions to the field of Infection prevention, to include Infection Today’s “Educator of the Year”, SHEA’s Advanced Practice Award, APIC’s Carol B DeMille Lifetime Achievement Award and North Carolina’s Old North State Award for exemplary service to the citizens of the state. Karen has published primary research articles, outbreaks and chapters in the medical literature and is a frequent speaker and for national, and international conferences.
Connie Steed has worked in the field of Infection Prevention and Control for over 40 years. Connie’s experience spans the continuum of care including academic and community acute care hospitals, Long-Term Care and Ambulatory care. She most recently served as the Corporate Director of Infection Prevention at Prisma Health in South Carolina, from which she retired. Connie is currently a consultant specializing in Infection Prevention and Control (IPC).
Connie is a Fellow of the Association of Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC). She has served APIC in multiple capacities including 2020 APIC President and was the recipient of the 2018 APIC President’s Distinguished Service Award in Honor of Patricia Lynch and the Carol DeMille Achievement Award in 2024. Connie recently served the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) HICPAC Committee, and Personnel Health and Isolation Precautions Work Groups. Currently, she is an appointed member of the APIC/SHEA work group charged with addressing IPC Guidelines development and maintenance due to the dissolution of CDC HICPAC. Connie is published in the field and has presented nationally and internationally.
Listen to the episode below:
