As Vice President of Compliance at REE Medical, Scarlet Wheeler is working to build trust and humanity in a space that, too often, gets framed as a roadblock or a burden, and help people see it as a framework that builds confidence, protects people, and allows organizations to grow responsibly.
Simple Tips That Make a Big Impact
Scarlet started almost 15 years ago in the health information management department of a community hospital, when the coding framework for diagnoses and procedures was transitioning from ICD-9 to ICD-10. Armed with a Certified Coding Specialist certification with AHIMA, the American Health Information Management Association, she learned to think critically about accuracy, consistency, and the downstream impact of documentation in ways she hadn’t before.
Scarlet’s next role, reviewing records and clarifying diagnoses as a Clinical Documentation Improvement Specialist (CDIS), bridged the gap between clinical providers and coding teams. She ensured the physician’s documentation accurately reflected the patient’s condition and treatment and aligned with clinical reality and regulatory standards. It gave her a front-row seat to how documentation drives quality, compliance, and even the hospital’s financial stability.
Realizing her real passion in the broader purpose behind coding – using accurate documentation to improve quality, ensure compliance, and reduce organizational risk – opened the door to leadership positions. Scarlet advanced into roles including Director of Health Information Management, Director of Compliance, and the facility’s Compliance Officer and Privacy Officer.
From seeing compliance as rules on paper to recognizing it as a framework for integrity and trust, she learned that it was not about limiting what organizations can do, but making sure they do it responsibly, in ways that protect people and the institutions that serve them.
Building Trust Through Ethical Leadership
Scarlet sees ethical leadership as consistency, doing the right thing even when no one is watching, especially when it’s not easy. “In risk and compliance, people look to you as the compass in gray areas. It’s not just knowing the rules, but applying them with integrity, transparency, and fairness,” she elaborates.
Ensuring accuracy in every recommendation was one of Scarlet’s most important responsibilities. “Trust is fragile; I never want to break it with employees. I want them to know my information is the most current, well-vetted, and aligned with what’s best for everyone involved,” she affirms.
Scarlet built credibility and created a culture where people felt safe to ask questions and seek solutions. “The best feeling as a leader is when people stop viewing you as ‘just compliance’ and as a trusted resource for problem-solving and sound judgment. That’s when you know you’re leading with ethics, not just enforcing rules,” she reflects.
Scarlet outlines simple, non-negotiable principles that guide her:
- Transparency: being open about how and why decisions are made.
- Accountability: holding myself to the same standards I expect of others.
- Respect: remembering that every decision impacts people, not just processes.
- Courage: speaking up when something isn’t right, even if it’s unpopular.
“Ethical leadership, at its core, is less about perfection and more about direction. People may not remember every policy you enforced, but they remember if you were steady, principled, and trustworthy. That’s the kind of leader I strive to be,” she asserts.
Credibility is True Leadership Currency
One of Scarlet’s defining moments was realizing that not every organization that requests compliance actually wants it. Some want the optics without the accountability. “That was a line I couldn’t cross. Compliance isn’t a marketing tool; it’s a framework for trust, integrity, and long-term sustainability. Pretending to have a program but ignoring the rules undermines everything the role stands for,” she reflects.
Scarlet understood how critical “tone at the top” is in setting the direction for whether compliance thrives or fails. Top-down support reinforced at every level makes compliance part of the culture. Without that alignment, even the most well-designed compliance program will struggle to gain traction. With her resilience tested, she realized that credibility was her currency, and her values couldn’t bend to fit an organization’s comfort zone.
As new policies, tighter controls, or process changes are rarely easy for employees to embrace, Scarlet realized the value of earning human capital for the times she would need to cash it in. “I treat every interaction as an opportunity to build trust – by being accurate, transparent, and supportive – so that when tougher moments come, people already understand the ‘why’ behind the ask. My goal is to seize every chance to gain human capital and recognize its true value,” she explains.
Doing Right by Those Who Served
REE Medical works with Veterans and providers in all fifty states, navigating diverse state laws while aligning with VA and federal regulations on disability benefits. Their mission is to deliver independent medical evidence, with exceptional service, simplifying the path to Veteran disability benefits.
Operating independently in the private sector, they follow VA standards to ensure Veterans receive accuracy and integrity. Their layered privacy framework blends state laws, federal protections, and industry best practices to safeguard sensitive information. Having seen companies take advantage of the nation’s heroes, Scarlet sees compliance as a safeguard for Veterans who deserve honesty and respect.
“Compliance isn’t just about protecting the company, it’s about protecting Veterans. We set ourselves apart by making decisions based on what’s right for Veterans, not just what’s better financially. Every policy, process, and safeguard is built around that principle. When we get it right, we’re not just mitigating risk, we’re building trust in a field where it’s too often been broken,” she affirms.
Dynamic Compliance for Evolving Regulations
Scarlet learned the value of structure and rigor working within a Joint Commission–accredited hospital setting. “When you’re working under that level of scrutiny, there’s no room for shortcuts. It shaped how I view compliance as a living part of operations, not something that sits on the sidelines,” she recalls.
Transitioning to compliance at REE Medical required blending multiple layers: general corporate compliance, healthcare privacy and security, federal VA-related regulations, and marketing standards specific to communication with and supporting Veterans.
Scarlet notes that the strongest compliance programs are dynamic – they learn, move, and grow as the regulatory environment evolves. A rigid approach, while safe, limits your ability to respond effectively. She encourages her teams to see compliance as a framework that adapts, as flexibility paired with integrity protects both the organization and the people it serves.
Juggling Roles with Intention
Balancing professional responsibilities with personal life is a constant work in progress. “Working from home means I’m technically available every minute of every day, and holding yourself to a standard of never settling for average can quickly consume your time and energy,” Scarlet admits.
During her shift to remote work and her son’s move into a remote school environment during COVID, she juggled roles as compliance leader, teacher, nurse, lunch lady, and even pet sitter. This forced her to be intentional about presence, showing up fully in whatever role she was in at the moment, keeping her grounded in both work and family.
Innovation as a Compliance Advantage
Scarlet sees innovation as essential in compliance, as manual checks and static processes can’t keep pace with fast-paced regulatory change. She creatively adapted existing tools to build RingSense, an AI-driven connection platform originally built for sales teams and integrated with RingCentral.
Repurposed as an auditing tool, it became a system that could analyze communications at scale, surface patterns, and provide an unforeseen level of visibility, increasing auditing capacity 300X to review over 120,000 calls every month with precise accuracy – unthinkable with manual methods.
“It ensures we aren’t just meeting compliance requirements, but proactively identifying risks and improving quality across the board. It’s not just adopting technology, but looking at tools through a different lens and finding new ways to use them,” Scarlet remarks.
Culture as the Ultimate Safeguard
Scarlet fosters transparency and accountability by being real. Her southern upbringing taught her she could attract more bees with honey than vinegar. “People respond to honesty, respect, and a willingness to listen. Compliance isn’t about scaring people into following rules, but creating an environment where they want to do the right thing and feel supported in doing it,” she reflects.
Scarlet believes in leading as a mentor, keeping an open door, and building a reputation for psychological safety. “Employees should feel comfortable coming to me, even if it’s just to ‘run something by’ me because it didn’t feel right,” she says. She feels a “true sense of mission accomplished” when someone trusts her enough to check in before a problem becomes bigger.
Scarlet notes that REE’s culture sets it apart from other companies. “Culture isn’t bought; it’s built. An organization can’t go out and buy a compliance culture; it isn’t something that comes off the shelf. It takes time, nurturing, and deliberate effort. And when it’s built with integrity, it becomes the most powerful safeguard an organization has,” she declares.
Discipline Meets Creativity in Compliance
Operating in a highly rigid environment under a Corporate Integrity Agreement early in her career taught Scarlet discipline, attention to detail, and how to ensure compliance even under the strictest oversight. “I learned that if a program has to be tightly structured and closely watched, I can do that, and do it well,” she reflects.
At REE Medical, she created an entire compliance program from the ground up, an experience that was “a feeling like no other.” While molding and shaping every aspect of the program, from policies to training to culture, she applied everything she knew to innovate and design something dynamic and sustainable.
These two experiences defined her strategic approach. “I know what’s expected to satisfy the most rigid standards, and how to build something living, flexible, and authentic. It’s a balance of discipline and creativity, grounded in compliance, but responsive to the needs of the organization and the people it serves,” she says.
Making Compliance “Sticky”
One of the biggest challenges in compliance is making it stick, turning it from a list of rules into something people genuinely connect with. REE Medical does that in a way that reflects who they are as a company: creative, collaborative, and a little bit fun.
That’s how REECO, their bright green compliance caterpillar, came to life during their annual company conference in Nashville. REECO stands for Responsibility, Empower, Everyone, Confidence, and Observer. He represents the foundation of REE Medical’s compliance culture, encouraging every team member to take ownership of their role in doing what’s right.
“REECO has become more than a mascot; he’s a symbol of what makes our compliance culture sticky – a daily reminder that everyone at REE Medical has ‘compliance eyes, ’” Scarlet explains. “REECO reminds employees that compliance isn’t one person’s job; it’s everyone’s. He inspires empowerment by giving people the tools, knowledge, and confidence to navigate challenges with integrity.”
As an Observer, REECO promotes accountability and awareness, helping ensure that ethics and transparency are woven into daily decision-making. “Together, these values make compliance a shared responsibility and a natural part of who we are. You can’t buy compliance culture; it takes time, intention, and care to build. REECO helps make that journey visible, tangible, and a little more fun,” Scarlet states.
Personal Triumph in Professional Growth
For an organization serving Veterans in a sensitive space, credibility is everything. It signals to their employees, partners, and Veterans that compliance isn’t just a checkbox, but a professional, principled commitment.
One of Scarlet’s proudest professional achievements was earning her CCEP (Certified Compliance and Ethics Professional) certification through the Compliance Certification Board (CCB) – part of the Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics (SCCE), the leading international organization for compliance professionals.
As a highly valued credential, the support of REE Medical and their investment in her growth made it more meaningful. “I’m honored to say I earned it not just for myself, but for them. The certification validates the depth of knowledge and standards I bring to my role, elevating the credibility of our compliance program,” Scarlet affirms.
Building Confidence Through Mentorship
Scarlet is highly invested in supporting and mentoring emerging leaders, creating opportunities for women in leadership roles, and demonstrating that compliance is less about perfection and more about integrity, curiosity, and consistency.
She credits this to the influence of her father, who raised his four daughters to be independent and to have gumption. “I wasn’t raised to sit back, I was raised to speak up, even when it’s hard. That gave me the confidence to step into spaces where women’s voices weren’t always heard, something I pass on to the women I mentor today,” she says.
Compliance leadership brings tough decisions and the pressure of being ‘the conscience’ of an organization. Scarlet’s idea of mentorship is building confidence and credibility by keeping an open door, modeling balance and resilience, walking through real-life scenarios, giving honest feedback, or listening to her mentees process a challenge.
“When women see themselves as trusted voices, they step forward more boldly. Future leaders must see that it’s possible to carry that responsibility with strength and humanity. By sharing my wins and the struggles, I can help them see a place for themselves at the table and know they belong there,” she reflects.
Foundations for a Meaningful Compliance Career
Scarlet’s most important advice for someone just starting in compliance is to cultivate curiosity and patience, and accept that it’s ok not to know everything right away. What matters is the willingness to keep learning, ask questions, and lean on the resources around you. Credibility is currency. Build trust early in your career. Don’t cut corners. Be accurate, reliable, dependable, and earn the human capital to implement the harder policies or lead through challenging changes.
Personal connection is just as important. Don’t lose sight of people. Build relationships throughout the organization, so people trust and value your presence, and compliance is embedded in every department. At its core, compliance is about trust, integrity, and protecting the individuals and organizations you serve. That mindset will help you succeed and find meaning in the role.
Conclusion
With her ability to lead compliance with both rigor and compassion, Scarlet Wheeler shows that accuracy and accountability matter as much as showing up for people, listening, mentoring, and creating psychological safety, so they feel comfortable bringing concerns forward. She hopes to be remembered for helping change the narrative: that compliance isn’t about checking boxes, it’s about building cultures of integrity, and leaving behind programs and people stronger than you found them.
