April was the healthcare industry's biggest month for paper record breaches so far in 2018, according to data from the HHS Office for Civil Rights.
There were 612,955 breached paper or film records reported to the civil rights office in April, comprising 80 percent of the 757,344 breached paper or film records reported so far this year. These breaches included incidents involving loss, theft, improper disposal and unauthorized disclosure of patient information stored on paper or film.
Most of the records — 582,174 — were attributed to a break-in at the California Department of Developmental Services, reported to the civil rights office April 6.
During the break-in, which took place Feb. 11 at one of the department's offices in Sacramento, Calif., trespassers ransacked files, stole property and started a fire, according to a security notice the agency posted online. The agency said it had no evidence personal or health information was compromised during the incident, but noted the trespassers had access to health information files kept in the building.
Here's how many patients were affected by paper or film breaches at healthcare providers, plans or clearinghouses for each month of 2018, according to the OCR's breach portal. The month listed refers to when the incident was submitted to the civil rights office.
January: 12,268
February: 110,359
March: 3,598
April: 612,955
May: 10,986
June: 7,178
To access the OCR's breach portal, click here.