HHS OCR report · 2015
VA Black Hills Health Care System data breach
OCR report facts
- Covered entity
- VA Black Hills Health Care System
- Entity type
- Healthcare Provider
- State
- South Dakota
- Individuals affected
- 1,168
- Submission date
- Aug 4, 2015
- Type of breach
- Unauthorized Access/Disclosure
- Location of breached information
- Paper/Films
- Business associate present
- No
- Status
- Archive (closed)
OCR description
The covered entity (CE), Veterans Affairs, reported that between May 15 and 17, 2015, paper records containing protected health information (PHI) were left in an outside trash dumpster on its Hot Springs campus. The breach affected 1,168 individuals and involved names, partial and full social security numbers, addresses, and dates of birth. Following the breach, the CE destroyed the records. Although the CE complied with its breach notification requirements, as a result of OCR’s substantia...
Text as published on the HHS OCR breach portal.
Frequently asked questions
How many people were affected by the VA Black Hills Health Care System data breach?
The report to HHS OCR lists 1,168 individuals affected.
When was it reported to HHS?
It was submitted to HHS OCR on Aug 4, 2015.
What type of breach was it?
The OCR portal lists the type of breach as Unauthorized Access/Disclosure, with the breached information located in: Paper/Films.
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 VA Black Hills 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 VA Black Hills Health Care System.