HHS OCR report ยท 2022
Golden State Dermatology data breach
OCR report facts
- Covered entity
- Golden State Dermatology
- Entity type
- Healthcare Provider
- State
- California
- Individuals affected
- 1,010
- Submission date
- Jan 19, 2022
- Type of breach
- Unauthorized Access/Disclosure
- Location of breached information
- Paper/Films
- Business associate present
- Yes
- Status
- Archive (closed)
OCR description
The covered entity (CE), Golden State Dermatology, reported that its business associate (BA) inadvertently sent emails that contained the electronic protected health information (ePHI) of 1,010 individuals to the wrong recipients. The ePHI involved included names and addresses. The CE notified HHS, affected individuals, and the media. In its mitigation efforts, the BA strengthened its administrative and technical safeguards to better protect sensitive data. OCR provided technical assistance...
Text as published on the HHS OCR breach portal.
Frequently asked questions
How many people were affected by the Golden State Dermatology data breach?
The report to HHS OCR lists 1,010 individuals affected.
When was it reported to HHS?
It was submitted to HHS OCR on Jan 19, 2022.
What type of breach was it?
The OCR portal lists the type of breach as Unauthorized Access/Disclosure, with the breached information located in: Paper/Films.
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 Golden State Dermatology 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 Golden State Dermatology.