HHS OCR report · 2021
The University of North Carolina Hospitals data breach
OCR report facts
- Covered entity
- The University of North Carolina Hospitals
- Entity type
- Healthcare Provider
- State
- North Carolina
- Individuals affected
- 8,114
- Submission date
- Jul 19, 2021
- Type of breach
- Hacking/IT Incident
- Location of breached information
- Business associate present
- No
- Status
- Archive (closed)
OCR description
The covered entity (CE), The University of North Carolina Hospitals, reported that an employee was the victim of an email phishing attack that affected the electronic protected health information (ePHI) of 8,114 individuals. The ePHI involved included names, addresses, dates of birth, diagnoses, Social Security numbers, drivers’ license numbers, and other treatment information. The CE notified HHS. affected individuals, the media, and provided substitute notice. The CE also provided compli...
Text as published on the HHS OCR breach portal.
Frequently asked questions
How many people were affected by the The University of North Carolina Hospitals data breach?
The report to HHS OCR lists 8,114 individuals affected.
When was it reported to HHS?
It was submitted to HHS OCR on Jul 19, 2021.
What type of breach was it?
The OCR portal lists the type of breach as Hacking/IT Incident, 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 The University of North Carolina Hospitals 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 University of North Carolina Hospitals.