HHS OCR report · 2013
Terrell County Health Department data breach
OCR report facts
- Covered entity
- Terrell County Health Department
- Entity type
- Healthcare Provider
- State
- Georgia
- Individuals affected
- 18,000
- Submission date
- Feb 18, 2013
- Type of breach
- Unauthorized Access/Disclosure
- Location of breached information
- Network Server
- Business associate present
- No
- Status
- Archive (closed)
OCR description
On December 6, 2012, the Dawson Police Department notified the covered entity (CE), Terrell County Health Department, that an employee was suspected of the identity theft of at least two of the CE’s patients. All patients that the employee had access to records for during her employment were potentially affected, totaling 18,000 individuals. The protected health information (PHI) involved in the breach included demographic, clinical, financial, and health insurance information. The CE provi...
Text as published on the HHS OCR breach portal.
Frequently asked questions
How many people were affected by the Terrell County Health Department data breach?
The report to HHS OCR lists 18,000 individuals affected.
When was it reported to HHS?
It was submitted to HHS OCR on Feb 18, 2013.
What type of breach was it?
The OCR portal lists the type of breach as Unauthorized Access/Disclosure, 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 Terrell County Health Department 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 Terrell County Health Department.