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: [email protected] 

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:

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.

Dental documentation isn’t just “paperwork.” It’s your clinical defense, your reimbursement justification, and the only voice you’ll have when no one remembers what actually happened five years from now.

In this episode, Kara Kelley and Amy Wood sit down with Dilaine Gloege, CDA, CPC — one of dentistry’s leading authorities on documentation, coding, billing, payer audits, and cross-coding — to talk about what happens when chart notes are vague, templated, AI-generated, copy/pasted, or written like no one will ever read them.

We discuss:

- Why specificity in clinical notes matters more than ever

- CDT, CPT, and ICD-10 — what they actually do (hint: it’s not just getting paid)

- Where documentation breaks down between front desk → clinical → billing

- Why the narrative is the chart note (not a separate paragraph you recycle forever)

- How AI can help - and how it can immediately get you in trouble

- The real-world consequences of sloppy notes: recoupments, board complaints, audits, and yes… sometimes worse

If you’ve ever said, “We’re just dentistry,” this is your wake-up call. You are a healthcare provider - and the record you create is a legal healthcare record. If it’s not accurate, complete, and specific, everything downstream (coding, claims, reimbursement, liability, clinical continuity) starts to wobble.

This is the episode that will make your documentation habits suddenly feel… very seen.

About our Featured Expert:

Dilaine Gloege, CDA, CPC - Dental coding & reimbursement educator, former Practice Booster co-author, and compliance analyst supporting dentists during payer audits.

Website: www.tidewaterdentalconsulting.com

Who Should Watch: Dental leaders and healthcare executives, practice owners, office managers, billers/coders, hygienists, assistants, and anyone who wants accurate reimbursement without audit heartburn.

Top Takeaway: Specificity isn’t bureaucracy. It’s patient care. It’s accuracy. It’s protection.

If your chart notes aren’t specific, you can bet the audit will be.

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only; it should not be considered legal, medical, or coding advice. Consult qualified counsel and credentialed coding professionals for your specific situation.

In this premiere episode of the Compliant AF Podcast, hosts Amy Wood and Kara Kelley finally hit record on the conversations they’ve been having for years - about healthcare compliance, the dumpster fires they’ve helped put out, and why "check-the-box" compliance just isn’t cutting it anymore.

Get to know your hosts as they share the origin stories behind their weirdly specific careers in HIPAA/cybersecurity and HR  - Amy, as the CEO of Copper Penny Consulting LLC, and Kara Kelley, as the CEO of Clinical HR LLC - and why they're on a mission to help dental and healthcare practice leaders lead with compliance, not fear.

They discuss:

Why most practices don’t take compliance seriously - until it’s too late

The difference between being compliant on paper vs. in practice

The actual costs of being reactive vs. proactive

What to expect from future episodes (spoiler: a lot of experts, acronyms, and snark)

And how to build a culture that is truly Compliant AF

Whether you're a practice owner, manager, or part of a healthcare team, this episode lays the foundation for what’s coming - and why this podcast doesn’t sound like your average compliance training.

🛑 Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, medical, or regulatory advice. Kara Kelley and Amy Wood are not attorneys, and listening to this podcast does not create a client relationship with Clinical HR LLC or Copper Penny Consulting LLC. Always consult a qualified professional for advice specific to your situation.

This episode of the Safer and Stronger podcast launches an important discussion on workplace violence prevention in the healthcare industry. Hosts Kara Kelley, CEO of Clinical HR, and Duane Tinker, CEO of Dental Compliance Specialists, address the lack of support and training available for medical professionals facing potentially dangerous situations with patients. They share the tragic story of Duane's friend and colleague, Dr. Jack Burroughs, who was killed by a patient, emphasizing the urgent need for education and resources. Kara and Duane stress that true preparedness requires ongoing conversations, not just one-time training. Listeners will gain insightful perspectives on cultivating a culture of safety, trust and empowerment through courageous yet caring communication.

This thought-provoking debut episode lays the groundwork for future installments tackling specific strategies every practice can implement to protect both staff and patients.

You can reach your host at -

Duane Tinker

dentalcompliance.com

Kara Kelley -

www.clinicalhr.com

Podcast Produced by -