HHS OCR report ยท 2021
UTMP Surgical Oncology data breach
OCR report facts
- Covered entity
- UTMP Surgical Oncology
- Entity type
- Healthcare Provider
- State
- Tennessee
- Individuals affected
- 1,310
- Submission date
- Aug 16, 2021
- Type of breach
- Unauthorized Access/Disclosure
- Location of breached information
- Paper/Films
- Business associate present
- No
- Status
- Archive (closed)
OCR description
UTMP Surgical Oncology, the covered entity (CE), reported that an employee mailed the protected health information of 1,310 individuals using postcards that were not protected. The PHI involved included names, addresses, and diagnoses. The CE notified HHS, affected individuals, and the media. In its mitigation efforts, the CE sanctioned the responsible employee and implemented additional administrative safeguards to better protect its PHI.
Text as published on the HHS OCR breach portal.
Frequently asked questions
How many people were affected by the UTMP Surgical Oncology data breach?
The report to HHS OCR lists 1,310 individuals affected.
When was it reported to HHS?
It was submitted to HHS OCR on Aug 16, 2021.
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 UTMP Surgical Oncology 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 UTMP Surgical Oncology.