HHS OCR report · 2016
Borgess Medical Center d/b/a Borgess Rheumatology data breach
OCR report facts
- Covered entity
- Borgess Medical Center d/b/a Borgess Rheumatology
- Entity type
- Healthcare Provider
- State
- Michigan
- Individuals affected
- 700
- Submission date
- Feb 5, 2016
- Type of breach
- Unauthorized Access/Disclosure
- Location of breached information
- Paper/Films
- Business associate present
- No
- Status
- Archive (closed)
OCR description
On April 13, 2015, the covered entity (CE), Borgess Medical Center-Borgess Rheumatology, impermissibly disclosed protected health information (PHI) due to an erroneous use of “mail merge,” which mixed up 700 patients’ names and addresses. The PHI involved in the breach included patients’ names, medications, and their association with Borgess Rheumatology as patients. The CE provided breach notification to HHS, affected individuals, and the media. Following the breach, the CE implemented a ...
Text as published on the HHS OCR breach portal.
Frequently asked questions
How many people were affected by the Borgess Medical Center d/b/a Borgess Rheumatology data breach?
The report to HHS OCR lists 700 individuals affected.
When was it reported to HHS?
It was submitted to HHS OCR on Feb 5, 2016.
What type of breach was it?
The OCR portal lists the type of breach as Unauthorized Access/Disclosure, with the breached information located in: Paper/Films.
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 Borgess Medical Center d/b/a Borgess Rheumatology 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 Borgess Medical Center d/b/a Borgess Rheumatology.