HHS OCR report ยท 2019
San Francisco VA Health Care System data breach
OCR report facts
- Covered entity
- San Francisco VA Health Care System
- Entity type
- Healthcare Provider
- State
- California
- Individuals affected
- 735
- Submission date
- Nov 29, 2019
- Type of breach
- Theft
- Location of breached information
- Other, Paper/Films
- Business associate present
- No
- Status
- Archive (closed)
OCR description
The San Francisco VA Healthcare System, the covered entity (CE), reported that an employee of its business associate (BA) left a bag containing protected health information (PHI) and an unencrypted thumb drive in a public area. The bag was stolen. This breach affected the PHI of 941 individuals. The PHI involved included names, phone numbers, addresses, medical diagnoses, and Social Security numbers. The CE notified HHS, affected individuals, and the media. In response to the breach inci...
Text as published on the HHS OCR breach portal.
Frequently asked questions
How many people were affected by the San Francisco VA Health Care System data breach?
The report to HHS OCR lists 735 individuals affected.
When was it reported to HHS?
It was submitted to HHS OCR on Nov 29, 2019.
What type of breach was it?
The OCR portal lists the type of breach as Theft, with the breached information located in: Other, 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 San Francisco VA Health Care System 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 San Francisco VA Health Care System.