HHS OCR report ยท 2016
USC Keck and Norris Hospitals data breach
OCR report facts
- Covered entity
- USC Keck and Norris Hospitals
- Entity type
- Healthcare Provider
- State
- California
- Individuals affected
- 16,000
- Submission date
- Sep 21, 2016
- Type of breach
- Hacking/IT Incident
- Location of breached information
- Network Server
- Business associate present
- No
- Status
- Archive (closed)
OCR description
On August 1, 2016, after being notified that certain files were inaccessible, the covered entity (CE) detected ransomware which had encrypted files on two of its computer servers. The servers stored hospital operational manuals as well records containing the electronic protected health information (ePHI) of potentially 16,000 individuals. The types of ePHI involved in the breach included names, demographic information, dates of birth, treatment information, diagnoses, and in some cases social...
Text as published on the HHS OCR breach portal.
Frequently asked questions
How many people were affected by the USC Keck and Norris Hospitals data breach?
The report to HHS OCR lists 16,000 individuals affected.
When was it reported to HHS?
It was submitted to HHS OCR on Sep 21, 2016.
What type of breach was it?
The OCR portal lists the type of breach as Hacking/IT Incident, with the breached information located in: Network Server.
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 USC Keck and Norris Hospitals 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 USC Keck and Norris Hospitals.