HHS OCR report · 2017
UNC Health Care System data breach
OCR report facts
- Covered entity
- UNC Health Care System
- Entity type
- Healthcare Provider
- State
- North Carolina
- Individuals affected
- 27,113
- Submission date
- Dec 8, 2017
- Type of breach
- Theft
- Location of breached information
- Desktop Computer
- Business associate present
- No
- Status
- Archive (closed)
OCR description
UNC Health Care System, the covered entity (CE), reported that a computer was stolen that contained 27,113 patients’ files of a newly acquired medical practice (Burlington Dermatology). The types of protected health information (PHI) involved in the breach included names, addresses, birthdates, phone numbers, employment information, and social security information. 3,132 of the 27,113 individuals are deceased and the CE had no contact information for the next of kin or personal representati...
Text as published on the HHS OCR breach portal.
Frequently asked questions
How many people were affected by the UNC Health Care System data breach?
The report to HHS OCR lists 27,113 individuals affected.
When was it reported to HHS?
It was submitted to HHS OCR on Dec 8, 2017.
What type of breach was it?
The OCR portal lists the type of breach as Theft, with the breached information located in: Desktop Computer.
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 UNC Health Care System 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 UNC Health Care System.