.png)
Independent Consultant
Independent
Westminster, Maryland, United States
Spear’s healthcare career began as a Perioperative RN in the OR, and included Periop Director, Maternal Child Health, Ambulatory Surgery, Oncology, ED, and management responsibilities for OR Sterile Processing,. Joan was also Group Director Clinical Services for Aesculap, Inc. before practicing as an Independent Consultant. Awards include; AORN Award for Excellence in Perioperative Nursing in 2001, IAHCSMM Award of Honor 2017, and AAMI’s Standards Developer Award 2021. Colleagues say she is an expert resource. She is currently a member of AORN Foundation’s Board of Trustees, and numerous AAMI workgroups. She has presented in local, national, and international arenas. Publications include; The Compliance Conversation: Navigating Variations in Sterile Processing Practices. AORN Journal 2021, Instrument Set Decontamination Workflows Designed for Success in Sterile Processing. AORN Journal. 2021, Instrument Manufacturing: Implications for Perioperative Teams. AORN Journal. 2020, Contaminated Instruments Present Patient Safety Issues: The Role of the Perioperative Team. AORN Journal. 2018, Instrument Count Sheets and Set Reviews as Patient Safety Tools. AORN Journal. 2016, and numerous contact hour booklets on a variety of topics for Sterile Processing and OR.
In her role as Independent Consultant, Joan provides consulting services for both healthcare organizations and the medical device industry .