HHS OCR report ยท 2017
Saint Thomas Rutherford Hospital data breach
OCR report facts
- Covered entity
- Saint Thomas Rutherford Hospital
- Entity type
- Healthcare Provider
- State
- Tennessee
- Individuals affected
- 2,837
- Submission date
- Jun 22, 2017
- Type of breach
- Improper Disposal
- Location of breached information
- Paper/Films
- Business associate present
- No
- Status
- Archive (closed)
OCR description
The covered entity (CE), Saint Thomas Rutherford Hospital, reported that protected health information (PHI) was impermissibly disclosed when it was scattered alongside a road for four miles. The PHI included the names, dates of birth, claims information, and health diagnoses and conditions of 837 individuals. The CE provided breach notification to HHS, affected individuals, and the media. Following the breach, the CE conducted an internal investigation and transferred all of its offsite s...
Text as published on the HHS OCR breach portal.
Frequently asked questions
How many people were affected by the Saint Thomas Rutherford Hospital data breach?
The report to HHS OCR lists 2,837 individuals affected.
When was it reported to HHS?
It was submitted to HHS OCR on Jun 22, 2017.
What type of breach was it?
The OCR portal lists the type of breach as Improper Disposal, 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 Saint Thomas Rutherford Hospital 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 Saint Thomas Rutherford Hospital.