HHS OCR report ยท 2021
South Texas Health System data breach
OCR report facts
- Covered entity
- South Texas Health System
- Entity type
- Healthcare Provider
- State
- Texas
- Individuals affected
- 6,761
- Submission date
- Jun 7, 2021
- Type of breach
- Unauthorized Access/Disclosure
- Location of breached information
- Business associate present
- No
- Status
- Archive (closed)
OCR description
The covered entity (CE), South Texas Health System, reported that a workforce member inadvertently emailed the electronic protected health information (ePHI) of 6,761 individuals to a personal email account. The CE notified HHS, affect individuals, and the media. The ePHI involved included names and treatment information. In its mitigation efforts, the CE strengthened its administrative safeguards and retrained its workforce members.
Text as published on the HHS OCR breach portal.
Frequently asked questions
How many people were affected by the South Texas Health System data breach?
The report to HHS OCR lists 6,761 individuals affected.
When was it reported to HHS?
It was submitted to HHS OCR on Jun 7, 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: Email.
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 South Texas Health 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 South Texas Health System.