Welcome solo and group practice owners! We are Liath Dalton and Evan Dumas, your co-hosts of Group Practice Tech. In our latest episode, we continue our series on AI use within therapy practices by sharing how to explain to your team members why using non-vetted AI platforms is not permissible. We discuss: What counts as Protected Health Information and a breakdown of the often misunderstood 18th identifier under HIPAA How therapy progress notes and clinical notes are inherently identifying AI re-identification risk and why this is possible Why AI use involving client information must be vetted and HIPAA compliance-compatible What happens when you input data into personal AI platforms What we mean by AI governance, and why personal AI platforms can't be governed Why lack of AI governance is a significant liability Impermissible disclosures under HIPAA Why proving low probability of compromise is difficult after the fact, and what this means for your ability to mitigate risk Managing the emotional pieces of identifying risk and risk mitigation in your practice Listen here: https://personcenteredtech.com/group/podcast/ For more, visit our website. PCT Resources: Live (and recorded) PCT CE Course: Beyond Hype and Anxiety: A Practical Framework for Ethical AI Use in Clinical Practice is a 4-hour legal-ethical CE training co-presented by Dr. Maelisa McCaffrey and Liath Dalton, designed to help clinicians move beyond fear and guesswork into confident, responsible AI use. The course provides a structured, real-world framework for integrating AI into clinical workflows while upholding HIPAA requirements, ethical standards, and clinical standards of care. Participants will learn how to evaluate AI tools, understand what constitutes PHI (and the limits of de-identification), implement appropriate policies and safeguards, and maintain documentation quality and clinical integrity. With practical tools, decision-making frameworks, and implementation strategies, this training supports clinicians in making informed, defensible decisions about AI use in practice. Live Webinar Presentation on May 8th, 2026 Registration for live training includes receiving ownership of and perpetual access to the on-demand self-study CE training produced from recording of live presentation. Get both the content *and* the CE, even if you can't join live. Article + 18 Identifier List: De-Identified or Not? The Truth About HIPAA, AI, and Client Data In this article, Person Centered Tech breaks down one of the most misunderstood concepts in HIPAA compliance: de-identification. It clarifies the difference between simply "removing identifiers" and meeting HIPAA's strict legal standards for de-identification (Safe Harbor or Expert Determination). The piece explains why narrative clinical information is often inherently identifying, why a session transcript cannot realistically be considered de-identified, and how AI systems introduce heightened risks of re-identification. It reinforces a critical takeaway for practice leaders: HIPAA sets the floor—not the ceiling—for protecting client information, and governance must keep pace with emerging technologies. PCT CE Course: Law & Ethics of the Clinical Use of Artificial Intelligence: Implications in Clinical Practice If you're wanting a deeper, structured framework for evaluating AI in clinical practice, this 3-credit legal-ethical on-demand training with Eric Ström, JD, PhD, LMHC, walks through the evolving legal standards, HIPAA considerations, and ethics code guidance that apply to AI use in behavioral health. You'll gain practical strategies for assessing new technologies, understanding emerging standards of care, and implementing AI tools in a way that is legally defensible and ethically sound. Podcast: Episode 608: AI Isn't the Problem, Lack of Governance Is – A PSA for Group Practice Leadership HIPAA Risk Analysis & Risk Mitigation Planning service for mental health group practices — care for your practice using our supportive, shame-free risk analysis and mitigation planning service. You'll have your Risk Analysis done within 2 hours, performed by a PCT consultant, using a tool built specifically for mental health group practice, and a mitigation checklist to help you reduce your risks. Group Practice Care Premium weekly (live & recorded) direct support & consultation service, Group Practice Office Hours — including monthly session with therapist attorney Eric Ström, JD PhD LMHC Device Security Suite: assignable staff HIPAA Security Awareness: Bring Your Own Device training + access to Device Security Center with step-by-step device-specific tutorials & registration forms for securing and documenting all personally owned & practice-provided devices (for *all* team members at no per-person cost) Remote Workspace Security Suite: assignable staff HIPAA Security Awareness: Remote Workspaces training for all team members + access to Remote Workspace Center with step-by-step tutorials & registration forms for securing and documenting Remote Workspaces (for *all* team members at no per-person cost) + more
