HHS OCR report · 2017
Sharp Memorial Hospital data breach
OCR report facts
- Covered entity
- Sharp Memorial Hospital
- Entity type
- Healthcare Provider
- State
- California
- Individuals affected
- 754
- Submission date
- Feb 28, 2017
- Type of breach
- Theft
- Location of breached information
- Laptop, Other Portable Electronic Device
- Business associate present
- No
- Status
- Archive (closed)
OCR description
Sharp Memorial Hospital, the covered entity (CE), reported that an unencrypted laptop computer and unencrypted external hard drive used to store electronic protected health information (ePHI) were stolen from a secure storage area. The ePHI of 791 patients was stored on the hard drive at the time of the theft. The ePHI included individuals’ names, dates of birth, prescription information and family medical history. In response to the breach incident, the CE notified the affected individuals o...
Text as published on the HHS OCR breach portal.
Frequently asked questions
How many people were affected by the Sharp Memorial Hospital data breach?
The report to HHS OCR lists 754 individuals affected.
When was it reported to HHS?
It was submitted to HHS OCR on Feb 28, 2017.
What type of breach was it?
The OCR portal lists the type of breach as Theft, with the breached information located in: Laptop, 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 Sharp Memorial Hospital 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 Sharp Memorial Hospital.