HHS OCR report · 2017
Nova Southeastern University data breach
OCR report facts
- Covered entity
- Nova Southeastern University
- Entity type
- Healthcare Provider
- State
- Florida
- Individuals affected
- 1,086
- Submission date
- May 2, 2017
- Type of breach
- Theft
- Location of breached information
- Other Portable Electronic Device
- Business associate present
- No
- Status
- Archive (closed)
OCR description
On March 2, 2017, Nova Southeaster University, the covered entity (“CE”), discovered that two unencrypted portable drives were stolen from an employee’s vehicle on February 28, 2017, potentially exposing the names and clinical information of 8,690 affected individuals. The CE provided timely breach notification to HHS, to the affected individuals and to the media. At the time of the breach and currently, the CE trained its employees on its HIPAA policies and procedures, including the storage ...
Text as published on the HHS OCR breach portal.
Frequently asked questions
How many people were affected by the Nova Southeastern University data breach?
The report to HHS OCR lists 1,086 individuals affected.
When was it reported to HHS?
It was submitted to HHS OCR on May 2, 2017.
What type of breach was it?
The OCR portal lists the type of breach as Theft, 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 Nova Southeastern University 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 Nova Southeastern University.