HHS OCR report ยท 2021
Charles Cole Memorial Hospital, d/b/a UPMC Cole data breach
OCR report facts
- Covered entity
- Charles Cole Memorial Hospital, d/b/a UPMC Cole
- Entity type
- Healthcare Provider
- State
- Pennsylvania
- Individuals affected
- 7,376
- Submission date
- May 7, 2021
- Type of breach
- Hacking/IT Incident
- Location of breached information
- Network Server
- Business associate present
- Yes
- Status
- Archive (closed)
OCR description
The covered entity (CE), Charles Cole Memorial Hospital dba UPMC Cole, reported that its business associate (BA) was the victim of a ransomware attack that affected the electronic protected health information (ePHI) of 7,376 individuals. The ePHI involved included names, dates of birth, and prescription information. The CE notified HHS, affected individuals, the media, and posted substitute notice on its website. In response to the breach, the BA strengthened its technical safeguards to b...
Text as published on the HHS OCR breach portal.
Frequently asked questions
How many people were affected by the Charles Cole Memorial Hospital, d/b/a UPMC Cole data breach?
The report to HHS OCR lists 7,376 individuals affected.
When was it reported to HHS?
It was submitted to HHS OCR on May 7, 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: Network Server.
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 Charles Cole Memorial Hospital, d/b/a UPMC Cole 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 Charles Cole Memorial Hospital, d/b/a UPMC Cole.