Tamara Behm Infection Prevention Consulting

Hello Everyone! I have been asked multiple times when I was going to create a consulting business after several inquiries to speak, write, consult, and visit various facilities to share my Infection Prevention Support. So here I am!

I have been a Registered Nurse since 2006, and am a wife and mother of 3! I also have 4 grandchildren! I have worked and been a leader in Infection Prevention since 2011. I remember working at an infectious disease clinic on a contract for 9 months in Kansas City while I was waiting for the next big thing since leaving bedside patient care. I fell in love with being an IP so quickly. I knew once I could get through the first year and take my certification that I would be set with a great career. Of course I failed my CIC the first time I took it and was crushed. But Little did I know, a couple years later I passed and became a leader of others. What a dream to lead and grow others. After about 6 years in acute care Infection Prevention, I left due to being unhappy with administrative cultures resistant to change. I moved on to working as an educator for a Sterilization company. I was their SME for everything scopes and began writing and speaking. Along the way I learned to influence change through survey readiness inspections and assessments that led to safe reprocessing of medical devices. I learned more than what I bargained for as it became evident to me what could lead to SSI's in hospitals. I also learned about gaps in processes both from a sterilization and HLD perspective which can lead to patient harm.

After a couple of years I decided to go back to interim IP work and found my love of change leadership again as well as mentoring others. I have mentored many IP's over the years, some are now in director roles at large organizations like Kaiser. I have worked for Kaiser in CA at over 7 facilities, consulted for Premier Consulting, and have spoke for organizations that lead the way in not only infection prevention but sterilization. 

I have been asked to speak at National APIC and SGNA as well as organizations such as local APIC chapters in San Diego and New England. Of course some events were in vendor booths and I dream someday to being on the big stage influencing change in practice and leadership in infection prevention. What I would really like to do is to get in front of "C" suite executives to ensure that SPD departments are not neglected and processing is safe!

This ride has brought me coast to coast and even to Hawaii! I am ready to help you lead your organization to change, safe patient care, and provide you with a path for addressing changes to make what we do in healthcare matter! I am a passionate person that loves to teach and create a culture of safety and would love to help you in your organization!