HHS OCR report · 2016
New Mexico Heart Institute data breach
OCR report facts
- Covered entity
- New Mexico Heart Institute
- Entity type
- Healthcare Provider
- State
- New Mexico
- Individuals affected
- 4,185
- Submission date
- Nov 23, 2016
- Type of breach
- Unauthorized Access/Disclosure
- Location of breached information
- Other Portable Electronic Device
- Business associate present
- Yes
- Status
- Archive (closed)
OCR description
Ambucor Health Solutions, the business associate (BA) of the covered entity (CE), New Mexico Heart Institute, recovered a portable electronic device (a “thumb” drive) from a former employee that contained the protected health information (PHI) for 4,185 of the CE’s patients. The BA informed the CE that there was no indication that the PHI had been misused. The CE provided breach notification to affected individuals, the media, and HHS. Out of an abundance of caution, the BA offered affect...
Text as published on the HHS OCR breach portal.
Frequently asked questions
How many people were affected by the New Mexico Heart Institute data breach?
The report to HHS OCR lists 4,185 individuals affected.
When was it reported to HHS?
It was submitted to HHS OCR on Nov 23, 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: Other Portable Electronic Device.
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 New Mexico Heart Institute 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 New Mexico Heart Institute.