The end of one year and the start of another is when compliance gaps show up fast- and get expensive just as quickly.

In this episode, Kara Kelley and Amy Wood share their HR and HIPAA/cybersecurity checklists every dental and medical practice should be tackling before January (or early in the new year). From HR audits and payroll reviews to HIPAA risk assessments, access controls, passwords, and backups, this conversation focuses on the things practices think they have handled - until they don’t.

You’ll hear real-world examples of:

• Outdated policies and onboarding paperwork

• I-9 and payroll mistakes hiding in plain sight

• Vendors, software changes, and cloud systems triggering HIPAA risk assessments

• Temps, former employees, and forgotten system access

• Password habits that create unnecessary risk

• Backup systems that haven’t been tested (and may not work)

• Training, benefits, and compliance calendars that only exist in someone’s head

If your practice is busy, short on time, or relying on “we’ve always done it this way,” this episode will help you reset, prioritize, and start the year compliant AF - without panic, guesswork, or dumpster fires.

Perfect for practice owners, office managers, and leadership teams who want fewer surprises and fewer frantic phone calls in the year ahead.

Email compliantafpodcast@gmail.com

Kara D. Kelley, SHRM-SCP, SPHR Founder & CEO of Clinical HR, Kara is a nationally recognized HR consultant, speaker, and advisor to dental leaders and healthcare executives. She specializes in HR compliance, workforce strategy, leadership development, and helping practices build systems that are both compliant and sustainable.

Amy Wood Founder of Copper Penny Consulting, Amy is a nationally respected HIPAA, cybersecurity, OSHA, and compliance expert serving dental and healthcare practices. Known for her no-nonsense approach to vendor risk, technology, and real-world compliance, Amy helps practices reduce risk without overcomplicating operations.

This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, tax, or medical advice. Listening to this episode does not create a client relationship with the hosts or their companies. Laws and regulations vary by state and situation; practices should consult with qualified legal, financial, HR, compliance, and cybersecurity professionals regarding their specific circumstances.

Employee embezzlement doesn’t start with a million-dollar theft. For most busy practice owners, it starts when clinical demands crowd out oversight, reports stop getting reviewed (if they were in the first place), and safeguards never get built.

In this episode, Kara Kelley and Amy Wood are joined by Susan Gunn, CFE, a fraud expert who’s seen a clear uptick in embezzlement in 2024–2025 as practices returned to “heads-down clinical mode.” Susan breaks down the practical prevention moves that matter most: treating cash like a real control point (not an afterthought), tightening access to systems and merchant services, and reviewing practice software reports monthly so anomalies don’t have years to hide.

🎧 Listen in to learn how to protect your practice by counting the cash, locking the access, and actually reading the reports.

Legal Disclaimer: This podcast and any related content are for informational and educational purposes only and do 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, consulting, or advisory relationship. Laws and regulations vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always consult qualified professional advisors regarding your specific situation. Featured Expert: Susan Gunn - susan@susangunnsolutions.com

www.susangunnsolutions.com

Podcast Hosts:

Amy Wood - CEO of Copper Penny Consulting LLC

www.copperpennnyconsulting.com

Kara Kelley - CEO of Clinical HR LLC

www.clinicalhr.com

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.