HHS OCR report ยท 2021
Northwestern Memorial HealthCare data breach
OCR report facts
- Covered entity
- Northwestern Memorial HealthCare
- Entity type
- Healthcare Provider
- State
- Illinois
- Individuals affected
- 201,197
- Submission date
- Jun 25, 2021
- Type of breach
- Hacking/IT Incident
- Location of breached information
- Network Server
- Business associate present
- Yes
- Status
- Archive (closed)
OCR description
The covered entity (CE), Northwestern Memorial HealthCare, reported that its business associate (BA) was the victim of a cyber-attack affecting the protected health information (PHI) of 201,197 individuals. The PHI involved included names, addresses, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, diagnoses, lab results, medications prescribed, and health insurance and other treatment information. The CE notified HHS, affected individuals, the media, and provided substitute notice on its website. Th...
Text as published on the HHS OCR breach portal.
Other reports by Northwestern Memorial HealthCare
| Covered entity | State | Entity type | Individuals | Submitted | Type of breach | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northwestern Memorial HealthCare | IL | Healthcare Provider | 55,983 | Aug 28, 2020 | Hacking/IT Incident | Archive (closed) |
| Northwestern Memorial HealthCare | IL | Healthcare Provider | 2,813 | Dec 23, 2014 | Theft | Archive (closed) |
Frequently asked questions
How many people were affected by the Northwestern Memorial HealthCare data breach?
The report to HHS OCR lists 201,197 individuals affected.
When was it reported to HHS?
It was submitted to HHS OCR on Jun 25, 2021.
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 Northwestern Memorial HealthCare 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 Northwestern Memorial HealthCare.