Margie Kochsmier MSN RN CMSRN CIC FAPIC Infection Preventionist Mercyhealth Freeport Illinois
Margie holds a Master’s Degree in Nursing with a specialization in healthcare education and is certified in Medical Surgical Nursing and Infection Control and is a Fellow of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC).
In 34 years in healthcare, Margie has worked in a variety of settings including an acute care hospital as a nurse, case manager, an Infection Preventionist for the past 18 years, and as a clinical instructor for nursing students.
Margie is a member of the Healthcare Advisory Council in Chicago and helped to develop the 2015-2020 National Action Plan to Prevent Healthcare-Associated Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance.
She is a member of the Associated of Professionals in Infection Control (APIC), and served a 3-year elected term for national APIC education committee 2020 through 2023 and led the online microlessons in 2023 and published work about microlearning in the Prevention Strategist. She is an active local APIC member of the Blackhawk chapter and is the current President and has served terms as secretary and legislative reporter.
Since 2023, together with CIMPAR has served as a point of contact for the PALASE program, partnering with three local long-term care facilities to help guide them in antimicrobial stewardship
Margie has used her experiences and ability to teach and communicate to a broad continuum of disciplines, to share her knowledge in infection prevention.
She published a chapter in the APIC Text book “Risk Factors Facilitating Transmission of Infectious Agents” and is working on another chapter for the text book.
Her work requires the development of health system policies and procedures to ensure rigorous infection control standards that meet regulatory requirements.