HHS OCR report ยท 2016
The Outer Banks Hospital data breach
OCR report facts
- Covered entity
- The Outer Banks Hospital
- Entity type
- Healthcare Provider
- State
- North Carolina
- Individuals affected
- 1,000
- Submission date
- Aug 19, 2016
- Type of breach
- Loss
- Location of breached information
- Other Portable Electronic Device
- Business associate present
- No
- Status
- Archive (closed)
OCR description
The covered entity (CE), Outer Banks Hospital, lost two unencrypted portable computer drives ("flash" drives) containing the protected health information (PHI) of approximately 1,000 individuals during a move. The types of PHI on the lost flash drives included names, addresses, birthdates, social security numbers, diagnoses/conditions, and other treatment information. The CE provided breach notification to HHS, affected individuals, and the media. In response to the breach, the CE retraine...
Text as published on the HHS OCR breach portal.
Frequently asked questions
How many people were affected by the The Outer Banks Hospital data breach?
The report to HHS OCR lists 1,000 individuals affected.
When was it reported to HHS?
It was submitted to HHS OCR on Aug 19, 2016.
What type of breach was it?
The OCR portal lists the type of breach as Loss, 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 The Outer Banks Hospital 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 The Outer Banks Hospital.