AI is everywhere - your phone system, your vendors, your practice management stack, even your hiring process. But when the buzzwords collide with HIPAA, HR, and real-world operations in a dental or healthcare practice? That’s where things get messy.

In Part 2 of our Q4 Compliance Buzzword Extravaganza, Amy and Kara break down what’s actually happening behind the scenes with AI tools, VoIP systems, transcription services, call analytics, and the vendors who swear they’re “HIPAA compliant” (they’re not). We walk through what’s real, what’s hype, what’s dangerous, and what practice leaders must start doing now to protect PHI, their teams, and their credibility. This episode covers:

• How AI has been around for decades - and why today’s usage poses new risks

• Why “HIPAA compliant” is marketing language, not a legal designation

• Red flags in vendor contracts, BAAs, phone systems, and third-party integrations

• The zero-trust model: why HIPAA starts with “prove it”

• AI bias, hiring tools, and call-analysis systems that create HR and discrimination problems

• The growing legal issues with VoIP systems, recordings, and AI-powered call routing • SOC 2 certification, offshore access, and how to vet vendors without being a tech expert

• When to use AI safely in your practice - and when to run the other way If you’ve wondered how AI tools pull data, why your phone system might expose PHI, or whether your vendors are actually secure - or just saying the right words - this conversation will save you a world of hurt.

Grab a coffee, take a breath, and join us as we break down what “responsible innovation” actually looks like in a practice trying to stay compliant AF.

*Disclaimer: This isn’t legal advice. We are not your lawyers. The content in this podcast and any associated clips is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, medical, tax, or regulatory advice. Clinical HR LLC and Copper Penny Consulting LLC are not law firms, and listening to this podcast does not create a client relationship. Always consult a qualified professional advisor for guidance specific to your situation.*

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The Compliant AF Podcast is the brainchild of Clinical HR LLC and Copper Penny Consulting LLC. Hosted by Kara D. Kelley, SPHR, SHRM-SCP (Fractional HR Business Partner for dental and healthcare practices) and Amy Wood (cybersecurity and HIPAA compliance expert), the show helps dental leaders and healthcare executives turn compliance into a true competitive advantage. We break down HR, OSHA, HIPAA, cybersecurity, and practice operations in plain language - with real-world examples, practical frameworks, and just enough snark to keep it interesting.

OSHA and infection control aren’t “nice to haves” – they’re literally the difference between safe care and “we just made the news.” In this episode, Kara and Amy sit down with OSHA and infection control badass Deanna Otts-Whitfield, RDH, MS, CIC, CDIPC, to talk about all the dirty things happening in real dental practices – and what it actually takes to keep patients and teams safe.

Deanna breaks down the real difference between OSHA vs. CDC guidelines, why scrubs are not PPE, and how “we’ve always done it this way” is getting offices in trouble. From dental unit waterline testing and documentation to hand hygiene, nails, PPE, sharps containers, sterilization, and laundry, this is a practical, non-sugar-coated guide to bringing your infection control program out of 2003 and into reality.

If you’ve ever wondered whether your office is truly compliant or just “hoping for the best,” this is the episode to listen to before your next OSHA inspection, patient complaint, or viral Facebook post.

Deanna Otts-Whitfield, RDH, MS, CIC, CDIPC is a practicing dental hygienist with 16+ years of chairside experience, a master’s degree in healthcare quality and safety, and dual certifications in infection control and dental infection prevention & control through the Association for Dental Safety. She temps, trains, and consults with dental practices nationwide to help them modernize OSHA and infection control, close dangerous gaps, and build systems that actually work in the real world.

Connect with Deanna:

• Website: www.CopperPennyConsulting.com

• Instagram: @deannardh

• Email: compliance@copperpennyconsulting.com

The content in this episode (and any related clips, posts, or show notes) is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, medical, tax, or regulatory advice. Kara D. Kelley, Clinical HR LLC, Amy Wood, and Copper Penny Consulting LLC are not law firms and are not your attorneys. Listening to this podcast does not create a client or attorney-client relationship. Always consult qualified professional advisors licensed in your state for guidance specific to your situation.

The Compliant AF Podcast

The Compliant AF Podcast is the brainchild of Clinical HR LLC and Copper Penny Consulting LLC. Hosted by Kara D. Kelley, SPHR, SHRM-SCP (Fractional HR Business Partner for dental and healthcare practices) and Amy Wood (cybersecurity and HIPAA compliance expert), the show helps dental leaders and healthcare executives turn compliance into a true competitive advantage. We break down HR, OSHA, HIPAA, cybersecurity, and practice operations in plain language - with real-world examples, practical frameworks, and just enough snark to keep it interesting.

Leading a dental or healthcare practice during the holidays means PTO questions, bonus decisions, holiday logistics, and a long-avoided Windows 11 upgrade all hitting at once - because of course they do. In this Compliant AF episode, Kara Kelley (Clinical HR) and Amy Wood (Copper Penny Consulting) break down the end-of-year issues that send practice leaders into a spiral - holiday pay, employee furloughs, bonus compliance, handbook updates, overtime premium rules, and why the Windows 11 ‘emergency’ is really just procrastination masquerading as a crisis.

We dig into:

• Holiday pay policies and closures

• The thing no one knows about bonuses (until they get a letter from DOL)

• The Windows 11 panic - what’s real, what’s nonsense, and what’s a terrible idea

• Cybersecurity slip-ups every practice makes during Q4

Whether you’re navigating end-of-year HR chaos or trying not to burn your practice down with outdated computers, this episode gives you the clarity (and snark) you need.

Hosted by: • Kara D. Kelley, SPHR, SHRM-SCP – CEO, Clinical HR LLC • Amy Wood – CEO, Copper Penny Consulting LLC

Stay tuned for Part 2, all about the AI "buzzword." Subscribe for more no-nonsense, compliant-AF episodes that keep your practice out of trouble - and out of audits.

Legal Disclaimer: This isn’t legal advice. We are not your lawyers. The content in this podcast and any associated clips is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, medical, tax, or regulatory advice. Clinical HR LLC and Copper Penny Consulting LLC are not law firms, and listening to this podcast does not create a client relationship. Always consult a qualified professional advisor for guidance specific to your situation. Ly4kEQ4OYdMc6NWMTCGc