HHS OCR report ยท 2017
SSM Dean Medical Group data breach
OCR report facts
- Covered entity
- SSM Dean Medical Group
- Entity type
- Healthcare Provider
- State
- Wisconsin
- Individuals affected
- 4,800
- Submission date
- Jan 10, 2017
- Type of breach
- Unauthorized Access/Disclosure
- Location of breached information
- Business associate present
- No
- Status
- Archive (closed)
OCR description
The covered entity (CE), SSM Health, inadvertently sent email addressed to the wrong recipient patients due to an improperly sorted data file. The protected health information (PHI) involved in the breach included the full names of approximately 4,800 individuals. Following the breach, the CE attempted to provide breach notification to the affected individuals and provided media notification. During the course of its investigation, OCR discovered that the CE's notice to the affected individua...
Text as published on the HHS OCR breach portal.
Frequently asked questions
How many people were affected by the SSM Dean Medical Group data breach?
The report to HHS OCR lists 4,800 individuals affected.
When was it reported to HHS?
It was submitted to HHS OCR on Jan 10, 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 SSM Dean Medical Group 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 SSM Dean Medical Group.