HHS OCR report ยท 2015
Partners HealthCare System, Inc. data breach
OCR report facts
- Covered entity
- Partners HealthCare System, Inc.
- Entity type
- Healthcare Provider
- State
- Massachusetts
- Individuals affected
- 3,321
- Submission date
- May 1, 2015
- Type of breach
- Hacking/IT Incident
- Location of breached information
- Network Server
- Business associate present
- No
- Status
- Archive (closed)
OCR description
Fifty employees providing unauthorized access to their email accounts as a result of a phishing email sent to 392 employees of Partners HealthCare, the covered entity (CE). Those email accounts contained the protected health information (PHI) of 3,321 individuals and included names, addresses, dates of birth, social security numbers, diagnoses, medications, and other treatment information. The CE provided breach notification to HHS, affected individuals, and the media. Following the breach...
Text as published on the HHS OCR breach portal.
Other reports by Partners HealthCare System, Inc.
| Covered entity | State | Entity type | Individuals | Submitted | Type of breach | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Partners HealthCare System, Inc. | MA | Healthcare Provider | 2,450 | Feb 5, 2018 | Hacking/IT Incident | Archive (closed) |
Frequently asked questions
How many people were affected by the Partners HealthCare System, Inc. data breach?
The report to HHS OCR lists 3,321 individuals affected.
When was it reported to HHS?
It was submitted to HHS OCR on May 1, 2015.
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 Partners HealthCare System, Inc. 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 Partners HealthCare System, Inc..