HHS OCR report ยท 2017
Washington State Department of Social and Health Services data breach
OCR report facts
- Covered entity
- Washington State Department of Social and Health Services
- Entity type
- Healthcare Provider
- State
- Washington
- Individuals affected
- 515
- Submission date
- Nov 16, 2017
- Type of breach
- Unauthorized Access/Disclosure
- Location of breached information
- Business associate present
- No
- Status
- Archive (closed)
OCR description
On September 20, 2017, the covered entity (CE), Washington State Department of Social and Health Services, discovered that a breach incident occurred when a Western State Hospital staff member emailed a spreadsheet to another staff member and misdirected the email to a private email address. The breach involved the names, hospital admission dates, medical record numbers, birthdates, and diagnoses of 515 individuals. The CE provided breach notification to HHS, affected individuals, and the m...
Text as published on the HHS OCR breach portal.
Other reports by Washington State Department of Social and Health Services
| Covered entity | State | Entity type | Individuals | Submitted | Type of breach | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington State Department of Social and Health Services | WA | Health Plan | 648 | Aug 20, 2020 | Unauthorized Access/Disclosure | Archive (closed) |
| Washington State Department of Social and Health Services | WA | Health Plan | 3,950 | Aug 9, 2011 | Unauthorized Access/Disclosure | Archive (closed) |
Frequently asked questions
How many people were affected by the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services data breach?
The report to HHS OCR lists 515 individuals affected.
When was it reported to HHS?
It was submitted to HHS OCR on Nov 16, 2017.
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 Washington State Department of Social and Health Services 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 Washington State Department of Social and Health Services.