HHS OCR report ยท 2020
UT Southwestern Medical Center data breach
OCR report facts
- Covered entity
- UT Southwestern Medical Center
- Entity type
- Healthcare Provider
- State
- Texas
- Individuals affected
- 15,535
- Submission date
- Aug 13, 2020
- Type of breach
- Unauthorized Access/Disclosure
- Location of breached information
- Other
- Business associate present
- No
- Status
- Archive (closed)
OCR description
The covered entity (CE), UT Southwestern, reported that a workforce member sent the electronic protected health information (ePHI) of 15,535 individuals to an unauthorized entity. The CE notified HHS, affected individuals, and the media. In its mitigation efforts, the CE retrained its staff on the proper methods of safeguarding and securing its ePHI.
Text as published on the HHS OCR breach portal.
Other reports by UT Southwestern Medical Center
| Covered entity | State | Entity type | Individuals | Submitted | Type of breach | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UT Southwestern Medical Center | TX | Healthcare Provider | 43,048 | Dec 9, 2024 | Unauthorized Access/Disclosure | Archive (closed) |
| UT Southwestern Medical Center | TX | Healthcare Provider | 778 | Sep 24, 2024 | Unauthorized Access/Disclosure | Archive (closed) |
| UT Southwestern Medical Center | TX | Healthcare Provider | 2,045 | Mar 27, 2024 | Unauthorized Access/Disclosure | Archive (closed) |
| UT Southwestern Medical Center | TX | Healthcare Provider | 98,437 | Jul 24, 2023 | Hacking/IT Incident | Archive (closed) |
| UT Southwestern Medical Center | TX | Healthcare Provider | 3,640 | Feb 5, 2021 | Unauthorized Access/Disclosure | Archive (closed) |
Frequently asked questions
How many people were affected by the UT Southwestern Medical Center data breach?
The report to HHS OCR lists 15,535 individuals affected.
When was it reported to HHS?
It was submitted to HHS OCR on Aug 13, 2020.
What type of breach was it?
The OCR portal lists the type of breach as Unauthorized Access/Disclosure, with the breached information located in: Other.
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 UT Southwestern Medical Center 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 UT Southwestern Medical Center.