HHS OCR report ยท 2018
Mercy Medical Center- North Iowa data breach
OCR report facts
- Covered entity
- Mercy Medical Center- North Iowa
- Entity type
- Healthcare Provider
- State
- Iowa
- Individuals affected
- 1,971
- Submission date
- Nov 26, 2018
- Type of breach
- Unauthorized Access/Disclosure
- Location of breached information
- Electronic Medical Record
- Business associate present
- No
- Status
- Archive (closed)
OCR description
The covered entity (CE), Mercy Medical Center - North Iowa, was notified by local law enforcement that a previous employee was under criminal investigation. While the employee was working for Mercy Medical Center, he/she impermissibly accessed the electronic protected health information (ePHI) of 1,971 employees. The ePHI involved included names, addresses, diagnoses, conditions, and medications prescribed. The CE notified HHS, affected individuals, and the media. In its mitigation efforts...
Text as published on the HHS OCR breach portal.
Frequently asked questions
How many people were affected by the Mercy Medical Center- North Iowa data breach?
The report to HHS OCR lists 1,971 individuals affected.
When was it reported to HHS?
It was submitted to HHS OCR on Nov 26, 2018.
What type of breach was it?
The OCR portal lists the type of breach as Unauthorized Access/Disclosure, with the breached information located in: Electronic Medical Record.
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 Mercy Medical Center- North Iowa 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 Mercy Medical Center- North Iowa.