HHS OCR report · 2016
Hospital for Special Surgery data breach
OCR report facts
- Covered entity
- Hospital for Special Surgery
- Entity type
- Healthcare Provider
- State
- New York
- Individuals affected
- 647
- Submission date
- Mar 17, 2016
- Type of breach
- Unauthorized Access/Disclosure
- Location of breached information
- Business associate present
- No
- Status
- Archive (closed)
OCR description
The Hospital for Special Surgery, the covered entity (”CE”) reported that an employee failed to safeguard the PHI by sending the email without using the BCC designation; in doing so, the email revealed the PHI of 647 patients participating in a research study to the other participants. The electronic protected health information (ePHI) included the individuals’ email addresses and general information regarding the research study. The CE provided notice to OCR and the affected individuals. Fo...
Text as published on the HHS OCR breach portal.
Other reports by Hospital for Special Surgery
| Covered entity | State | Entity type | Individuals | Submitted | Type of breach | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hospital for Special Surgery | NY | Healthcare Provider | 937 | Jan 21, 2014 | Theft | Archive (closed) |
Frequently asked questions
How many people were affected by the Hospital for Special Surgery data breach?
The report to HHS OCR lists 647 individuals affected.
When was it reported to HHS?
It was submitted to HHS OCR on Mar 17, 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: 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 Hospital for Special Surgery 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 Hospital for Special Surgery.