HHS OCR report ยท 2018
Wardell Orthopaedics, P.C. data breach
OCR report facts
- Covered entity
- Wardell Orthopaedics, P.C.
- Entity type
- Healthcare Provider
- State
- Virginia
- Individuals affected
- 552
- Submission date
- Aug 16, 2018
- Type of breach
- Unauthorized Access/Disclosure
- Location of breached information
- Other
- Business associate present
- No
- Status
- Archive (closed)
OCR description
A staff member inadvertently faxed 552 patients' billing statements to a law firm without an authorization when responding to a medical records request for two clients of the law firm. The billing statements contained protected health information (PHI), specifically, names and diagnoses. The covered entity (CE) provided breach notification to HHS, affected individuals, and the media. Following the breach, the CE obtained verbal and written confirmation from the law firm that it shredded an...
Text as published on the HHS OCR breach portal.
Frequently asked questions
How many people were affected by the Wardell Orthopaedics, P.C. data breach?
The report to HHS OCR lists 552 individuals affected.
When was it reported to HHS?
It was submitted to HHS OCR on Aug 16, 2018.
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 Wardell Orthopaedics, P.C. 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 Wardell Orthopaedics, P.C..