HHS OCR report · 2017
Carolina Oncology Specialists data breach
OCR report facts
- Covered entity
- Carolina Oncology Specialists
- Entity type
- Healthcare Provider
- State
- North Carolina
- Individuals affected
- 1,551
- Submission date
- Oct 16, 2017
- Type of breach
- Unauthorized Access/Disclosure
- Location of breached information
- Electronic Medical Record
- Business associate present
- No
- Status
- Archive (closed)
OCR description
On or about August 11, 2017, the covered entity (CE), Carolina Oncology Specialists, received correspondence from credit card companies addressed to three of its patients using the CE’s address. On September 6, 2017, one of the three patients reported a suspicious credit card transaction to the CE. The CE investigated and found that the perpetrator of the fraudulent transaction was a former employee who had had access to 1,551 patient files containing names, addresses, birthdates, social secu...
Text as published on the HHS OCR breach portal.
Frequently asked questions
How many people were affected by the Carolina Oncology Specialists data breach?
The report to HHS OCR lists 1,551 individuals affected.
When was it reported to HHS?
It was submitted to HHS OCR on Oct 16, 2017.
What type of breach was it?
The OCR portal lists the type of breach as Unauthorized Access/Disclosure, with the breached information located in: Electronic Medical Record.
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 Carolina Oncology Specialists 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 Carolina Oncology Specialists.