HHS OCR report ยท 2020
City of Detroit Health Department data breach
OCR report facts
- Covered entity
- City of Detroit Health Department
- Entity type
- Healthcare Provider
- State
- Michigan
- Individuals affected
- 1,945
- Submission date
- Apr 27, 2020
- Type of breach
- Unauthorized Access/Disclosure
- Location of breached information
- Network Server
- Business associate present
- No
- Status
- Archive (closed)
OCR description
City of Detroit Health Department, the covered entity (CE), reported that a misconfiguration of an online dashboard allowed the protected health information (PHI) of 1,945 individuals to be viewable by others. The PHI involved clinical and demographic information. The CE notified HHS, affected individuals, and the media. The CE took several corrective actions in response to the breach including administrative and technical safeguards.
Text as published on the HHS OCR breach portal.
Frequently asked questions
How many people were affected by the City of Detroit Health Department data breach?
The report to HHS OCR lists 1,945 individuals affected.
When was it reported to HHS?
It was submitted to HHS OCR on Apr 27, 2020.
What type of breach was it?
The OCR portal lists the type of breach as Unauthorized Access/Disclosure, 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 City of Detroit Health Department 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 City of Detroit Health Department.