HHS OCR report ยท 2013
Seattle - King County Department of Public Health data breach
OCR report facts
- Covered entity
- Seattle - King County Department of Public Health
- Entity type
- Healthcare Provider
- State
- Washington
- Individuals affected
- 750
- Submission date
- May 7, 2013
- Type of breach
- Improper Disposal
- Location of breached information
- Paper/Films
- Business associate present
- No
- Status
- Archive (closed)
OCR description
The covered entity (CE), Public Health, Seattle & King County, discovered that the protected health information (PHI) of 450 to 750 clients was inadvertently disposed of improperly by being put in the regular recycling. The PHI involved in the breach included treatment or medical condition information, and may have included the social security numbers of five individuals. The CE provided breach notification to HHS, the media, and 2,300 individuals who had an appointment at the subject clini...
Text as published on the HHS OCR breach portal.
Frequently asked questions
How many people were affected by the Seattle - King County Department of Public Health data breach?
The report to HHS OCR lists 750 individuals affected.
When was it reported to HHS?
It was submitted to HHS OCR on May 7, 2013.
What type of breach was it?
The OCR portal lists the type of breach as Improper Disposal, 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 Seattle - King County Department of Public Health 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 Seattle - King County Department of Public Health.