HHS OCR report · 2016
Brigham and Women's Hospital data breach
OCR report facts
- Covered entity
- Brigham and Women's Hospital
- Entity type
- Healthcare Provider
- State
- Massachusetts
- Individuals affected
- 1,009
- Submission date
- Jan 11, 2016
- Type of breach
- Hacking/IT Incident
- Location of breached information
- Business associate present
- No
- Status
- Archive (closed)
OCR description
An unauthorized individual obtained the network credentials of a Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) employee and used the credentials to access the employee’s work email account and potentially the employee’s personal Gmail account, which contained work-related emails. The protected health information (PHI) of 1,009 patients was potentially accessed, including names, birthdates, medical record numbers, providers’ name, dates of service, diagnoses/conditions, and treatment information. Followi...
Text as published on the HHS OCR breach portal.
Other reports by Brigham and Women's Hospital
| Covered entity | State | Entity type | Individuals | Submitted | Type of breach | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brigham and Women's Hospital | MA | Healthcare Provider | 987 | Aug 4, 2023 | Unauthorized Access/Disclosure | Archive (closed) |
| Brigham and Women's Hospital | MA | Healthcare Provider | 999 | Nov 17, 2014 | Theft | Archive (closed) |
| Brigham and Women's Hospital | MA | Healthcare Provider | 615 | Nov 26, 2012 | Theft | Archive (closed) |
Frequently asked questions
How many people were affected by the Brigham and Women's Hospital data breach?
The report to HHS OCR lists 1,009 individuals affected.
When was it reported to HHS?
It was submitted to HHS OCR on Jan 11, 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: Email.
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 Brigham and Women's Hospital 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 Brigham and Women's Hospital.