Just yesterday we reported on the $155 million fine eClinicalWorks was given for skirting certification criteria. If you look at the fine print though, there's more to their punishment than money, and it could be even worse.
The first stipulation is that eCW has to have an independent review organization. Their job will be to make sure eClinicalWorks is building their software properly and not doing shady things with their customers. Basically, they're stuck with a nanny who will guard quality control on them and report back to the government if they're out of line.
The other part is a bigger blow. eClicnicalWorks is required to upgrade their software for their customers for free or, if the customer opts to change vendors, eCW has to transfer data to a different vendor, and, the kicker, they're not allowed to charge any fees or levy any penalties for it.
The moral of the story: make sure you're playing by the rules.
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CEO, Founder & AI Architect, Petronella Technology Group
Craig Petronella founded Petronella Technology Group in 2002 and has spent 20+ years professionally at the intersection of cybersecurity, AI, compliance, and digital forensics. He holds the CMMC Registered Practitioner credential issued by the Cyber AB and leads Petronella as a CMMC-AB Registered Provider Organization (RPO #1449). Craig is an NC Licensed Digital Forensics Examiner (License #604180-DFE) and completed MIT Professional Education programs in AI, Blockchain, and Cybersecurity. He also holds CompTIA Security+, CCNA, and Hyperledger certifications.
He is an Amazon #1 Best-Selling Author of 15+ books on cybersecurity and compliance, host of the Encrypted Ambition podcast (95+ episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Amazon), and a cybersecurity keynote speaker with 200+ engagements at conferences, law firms, and corporate boardrooms. Craig serves as Contributing Editor for Cybersecurity at NC Triangle Attorney at Law Magazine and is a guest lecturer at NCCU School of Law. He has served as a digital forensics expert witness in federal and state court cases involving cybercrime, cryptocurrency fraud, SIM-swap attacks, and data breaches.
Under his leadership, Petronella Technology Group has served hundreds of regulated SMB clients across NC and the southeast since 2002, earned a BBB A+ rating every year since 2003, and been featured as a cybersecurity authority on CBS, ABC, NBC, FOX, and WRAL. The company leverages SOC 2 Type II certified platforms and specializes in AI implementation, managed cybersecurity, CMMC/HIPAA/SOC 2 compliance, and digital forensics for businesses across the United States.