HHS OCR report · 2017
University of Alabama at Birmingham data breach
OCR report facts
- Covered entity
- University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Entity type
- Healthcare Provider
- State
- Alabama
- Individuals affected
- 652
- Submission date
- Nov 27, 2017
- Type of breach
- Loss
- Location of breached information
- Other Portable Electronic Device
- Business associate present
- No
- Status
- Archive (closed)
OCR description
On October 25, 2017, the Viral Hepatitis Clinic at University of Alabama at Birmingham, the covered entity (CE), lost two unencrypted portable computer drives (i.e., "thumb" drives) that were used to transfer data from scanning equipment to the CE’s secure network. The thumb drives contained the protected health information (PHI) of 652 individuals in a spreadsheet containing demographic and clinical information. The CE retrieved the thumb drives, but could not determine whether the PHI conta...
Text as published on the HHS OCR breach portal.
Other reports by University of Alabama at Birmingham
| Covered entity | State | Entity type | Individuals | Submitted | Type of breach | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Alabama at Birmingham | AL | Healthcare Provider | 19,557 | Oct 3, 2019 | Hacking/IT Incident | Archive (closed) |
Frequently asked questions
How many people were affected by the University of Alabama at Birmingham data breach?
The report to HHS OCR lists 652 individuals affected.
When was it reported to HHS?
It was submitted to HHS OCR on Nov 27, 2017.
What type of breach was it?
The OCR portal lists the type of breach as Loss, with the breached information located in: Other Portable Electronic Device.
Is the investigation still open?
No. The report is in the OCR portal archive, which holds reports where OCR has closed its review.
Is a breach notice letter from University of Alabama at Birmingham legitimate?
This site cannot verify letters. Check the sender against the organisation's official website and the HHS OCR breach portal, and avoid calling numbers or clicking links only listed in an unexpected message. See our guide on what to do after a data breach notice.
Source: HHS OCR Breach Portal, OCR export October 2026. Network USA is not affiliated with HHS or University of Alabama at Birmingham.