HHS OCR report · 2019
Penn Medicine data breach
OCR report facts
- Covered entity
- Penn Medicine
- Entity type
- Healthcare Provider
- State
- Pennsylvania
- Individuals affected
- 917
- Submission date
- May 21, 2019
- Type of breach
- Unauthorized Access/Disclosure
- Location of breached information
- Electronic Medical Record
- Business associate present
- No
- Status
- Archive (closed)
OCR description
An employee of a staffing agency who was placed at the covered entity (CE) was arrested for fraud and the CE subsequently determined that she impermissibly accessed and used at least one patient’s protected health information (PHI) and potentially affected the PHI of 917 individuals. The types of PHI involved in the incident included names, dates of birth, social security numbers, and clinical information. The CE provided breach notification to HHS and all potentially affected individuals, ...
Text as published on the HHS OCR breach portal.
Other reports by Penn Medicine
| Covered entity | State | Entity type | Individuals | Submitted | Type of breach | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Penn Medicine | PA | Healthcare Provider | 1,050 | Jan 2, 2018 | Theft | Archive (closed) |
Frequently asked questions
How many people were affected by the Penn Medicine data breach?
The report to HHS OCR lists 917 individuals affected.
When was it reported to HHS?
It was submitted to HHS OCR on May 21, 2019.
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 Penn Medicine 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 Penn Medicine.