Member Profile: Healthcare Compliance Associates

Navigating OSHA, HIPAA, and infection control regulations can be a difficult process for business owners. To support medical practices, Healthcare Compliance Associates offers expert training and assistance to make compliance simpler. The Springfield Chamber recently spoke with Kelli Ngariki, CEO of Healthcare Compliance Associates, to learn more about the organization.

Tell us a little about Healthcare Compliance Associates
Healthcare Compliance Associates (HCA) helps Oregon dental and medical practices stay compliant with OSHA, HIPAA, and infection control requirements without the stress and uncertainty that often come with regulatory compliance. For more than 20 years, HCA has provided training, consulting, and year-round support to healthcare practices across Oregon. Today, we’re proud to partner with more than 300 healthcare organizations, with a special focus on private dental practices.

Our mission is simple: make compliance practical, understandable, and something that supports great patient care — not something that keeps practice owners awake at night.

How did you get started in your industry?
I purchased Healthcare Compliance Associates in 2019 after spending my career in education, leadership, and business operations. I’ve always enjoyed helping organizations create systems that help people succeed, so healthcare compliance was a natural fit.

Since acquiring HCA, I’ve focused on building on the company’s strong reputation while modernizing the business to better serve today’s healthcare practices. We added online training to complement our in-person programs, expanded our educational resources, and continue to develop practical tools that make OSHA, HIPAA, and infection control compliance easier for busy healthcare teams.

What I enjoy most is helping practice owners and office managers feel confident that they’re protecting their employees, their patients, and their businesses.

What services do you offer and what makes you different?
We combine Oregon-specific compliance expertise with both onsite and online training. Many small practices value having someone come directly to their office, provide personalized instruction, answer questions, and tailor the training to their team. We also offer online and hybrid options for practices that need more flexibility, making it easy to train new hires or accommodate busy schedules.

Unlike many national compliance companies that rely solely on online courses, we believe our clients deserve a real person they can call when questions come up. Our clients enjoy modern training options without sacrificing the personalized, local support that helps them stay compliant all year long.

What do you like most about your work?
The best part is seeing the relief on a client’s face when they realize they don’t have to figure compliance out on their own. Most practice owners became healthcare professionals because they love caring for patients — not because they wanted to become experts in OSHA regulations or HIPAA documentation.

We enjoy simplifying complicated requirements, building relationships with our clients, and giving healthcare teams the confidence that they’re doing the right things to protect their employees, patients, and businesses.

Any advice for others?
Don’t wait until there’s a complaint, inspection, or employee issue to think about compliance. Whether you’re starting a new business or have been operating for years, investing in good systems, strong training, and trusted advisors always costs less than fixing problems later.

I’d also encourage business owners to get involved in the local business community. Organizations like the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce provide incredible opportunities to build relationships, learn from other business owners, and support the communities we all serve.

Anything else you’d like to share?
We’re excited to be part of the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce and look forward to building relationships with fellow members. As a locally owned Oregon business, we believe strong healthcare practices are built by investing in the people who make them successful.

That’s one of the reasons we’re proud to host our first annual Office Manager Star Summit this September. The Summit will bring together healthcare office managers from across Oregon for a day of leadership development, compliance education, networking, and practical tools they can use immediately in their practices.

I’m also the author of Good Dentist, Poor Dentist, a book written to help dental professionals build safer, more compliant, and more successful practices. Whether it’s through our training programs, educational resources, or community events, our goal is always the same — to make compliance less overwhelming and help healthcare teams thrive.

Whether you’re opening a new practice, preparing for an OSHA inspection, or simply looking for a trusted compliance partner, we’d love to connect.