HHS OCR report · 2018
Northwest Surgical Specialists, P.C. data breach
OCR report facts
- Covered entity
- Northwest Surgical Specialists, P.C.
- Entity type
- Healthcare Provider
- State
- Washington
- Individuals affected
- 2,050
- Submission date
- Oct 5, 2018
- Type of breach
- Hacking/IT Incident
- Location of breached information
- Business associate present
- No
- Status
- Archive (closed)
OCR description
An employee who is not involved in patient care followed a link in a phishing email to a website and provided credentials allowing access to the employee’s email account on May 9, 2018. On May 22, 2018, upon discovering that an unknown individual gained access to the account and created unauthorized rules, the covered entity (CE) immediately notified its IT department. The CE also retained a computer forensic investigation firm that discovered that the compromised account’s activity could not...
Text as published on the HHS OCR breach portal.
Frequently asked questions
How many people were affected by the Northwest Surgical Specialists, P.C. data breach?
The report to HHS OCR lists 2,050 individuals affected.
When was it reported to HHS?
It was submitted to HHS OCR on Oct 5, 2018.
What type of breach was it?
The OCR portal lists the type of breach as Hacking/IT Incident, 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 Northwest Surgical Specialists, 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 Northwest Surgical Specialists, P.C..