Notice of Data Incident
August 1, 2023

Dear Patients:
We post this Notice pursuant to the United States Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (“HIPAA”) to inform you about a data incident involving an unauthorized release of patient Protected Health Information (“PHI”), as that is defined by HIPAA, at Gary Motykie, M.D., a Medical Corporation and Gary Motykie, M.D. (“Practice”), a covered entity under HIPAA.

PHI, as defined by HIPAA, is information that is “created, received, maintained, or transmitted by or on behalf of the health care component of the Covered Entity.” § 164.105 (a)(2)(i)(D). Information that is created or received by a Covered Entity and that relates to the past, present, or future physical or mental health or condition of an individual; or the past, present, or future payment for the provision of healthcare to an individual is considered PHI. PHI is required to be protected when transmitted or maintained in any form by a Covered Entity. Individual identifiers (including but not limited to name, address, telephone number, fax, email address, social security number, medical record number, etc.) maintained in a designated record set along with health information (including but not limited to x-rays, images, scans, physician notes, diagnoses, treatment, eligibility approvals, claims, remittances, etc.) are collectively considered PHI.

Event Description:
On or about June 6, 2023, an initial technical analysis of the Practice’s information technology network determined an unauthorized release of PHI occurred to an unknown third party. The initial analysis determined that the unknown third party accessed the Practice’s network. It was further determined that the unknown third party acquired some of the Practice’s patient’s unencrypted PHI and that party was not authorized to do so and did so in an unlawful manner.

The information that may have been accessed or acquired during this unauthorized access included:

  • First and last name 
  • Social Security Number (if provided)
  • Address
  • Driver’s license or identification card number
  • Financial account or payment card number, in combination with any required CVV code
  • Intake forms, which may include medical information and history
  • Images taken in connection with the services rendered at our office
  • Health insurance information (if provided)
Steps Taken to Address:
Upon discovery, the Practice took the following immediate steps to address the situation:
  • Computers and servers replaced
  • Network passwords changed
  • Endpoint detection, virus, and malware detection tools and software installed on workstations and server
  • Limitations concerning Internet access
  • Access controls put in place for users based on role and responsibility
  • Server policies in place
  • Device locking mechanisms
  • Multi factor authentication enabled
  • Network segregation efforts
  • Encryption of devices
  • Additional workforce training
Risk Assessment:

The Practice conducted a risk assessment to evaluate the potential harm to potentially impacted individuals. Based on that assessment, it is determined that there is a high risk of harm. It is essential for potentially impacted individuals to remain vigilant in monitoring their personal accounts and data and promptly report any suspicious activity to law enforcement or their financial institutions.

Assistance and Resources:
Starting on or about June 22, 2023, letters were mailed to patients providing the following resources to assist the potentially impacted individuals, offering at no cost:
  • two (2) years of no cost Triple Bureau Credit Monitoring/Triple Bureau Credit Report/Triple Bureau Credit Score/Cyber Monitoring services.
  • the services also include reviewing whether Information appears on the dark web and alert the individual if such Information is found online.
  • proactive fraud assistance to help with any questions in event a potentially impacted persons becomes a victim of fraud.

Steps to Prevent Future Incidents: We deeply regret any inconvenience or concern this Incident may cause. The Practice is taking numerous steps to help prevent similar Incidents in the future. We will continue to review and enhance our security measures, policies, and employee training.

If you failed to receive your letter in the mail, and/or if there is a concern your mailing address has changed since you were a patient at the Practice, please contact 1-800-405-6108 or call our office immediately at 310-246-2355 from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Pacific time, Monday through Friday.

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Bleach facial: Is it an anti-aging secret or a toxic trend?

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Motykie joins The Doctors to discuss adding bleach to an at-home facial: Is it an anti-aging secret or a toxic trend? Watch Video Now

Bleach facial: Is it an anti-aging secret or a toxic trend?

 

Beverly Hills plastic surgeon, Dr. Gary Motykie, says that face is probably the most important part of an individual’s aesthetic appearance. An attractive face contributes substantially to an attractive overall personality and self-confidence. Therefore, extra care must be taken to ensure that the facial skin remains preserved naturally and does not face any external damage as far as possible.

One of the risks that many people take about their face is when they use bleach facials at home without any professional guidance or supervision. Bleach, as the name suggests, is a very strong chemical agent that is typically designed to make the clothes cleaner, brighter, and whiter. However, when the same bleaching process is used on the face, it requires thorough professional care to ensure nothing goes wrong.

Risks of At-home Bleach Facials

Most at-home bleach facial packages do provide instructions for application, but it may not always be possible for an individual to follow those instructions with perfect care. Such treatments are typically used when a person is busy or in a hurry to go for a social event. The chances of making an error in the usage or application process become higher under such circumstances.

If the concentration of the bleach is slightly higher than what is recommended, it can cause damage to the facial skin. It may be possible to repair such damage later on, but it makes little sense to expose facial skin to such risks in the first place. In any case, a repair and restoration process can only work up to a certain degree, but it cannot substitute the natural, original condition of the skin.

Custom Facials from Motykie Med Spa

Before recommending the appropriate facial treatment, the experts at Motykie med spa will perform a thorough skincare analysis. Keeping in view the patient’s personal aesthetic goals and skin condition, a custom, step-by-step skincare plan will be developed. The following facial treatments may be recommended depending on a patient’s needs:

Motykie Med Spa Signature Custom Facial (60 minutes)

This treatment is designed to help prevent skin damage due to toxins, pollutants and stress, and maintain and improve the complexion. It can help reveal the best skin possible with deep exfoliation, steam cleansing, extraction, custom mask and relaxation massage.

Gentleman’s Facial (60 minutes)

This customized skincare facial treatment for men includes giving special attention to extraction of beard in-grown hairs and calming inflammation that may be associated with it.

Fire & Ice Facial (60 minutes)

This facial treatment is designed to achieve instant effects for the skin, including tightening, brightening and smoothing. Skin resurfacing is performed with this intensive clinical treatment. The results are reduction in fine lines and wrinkle, smoother and softer skin, and cellular renewal.

Dermaplaning Treatment (60 minutes)

This innovative treatment involves safely scraping away the outer dead cells in the skin and ‘peach fuzz’ to reveal clear, smooth and undamaged skin. This treatment can help improve the appearance of acne scarred skin and smooth out minor facial wrinkles.

HydraFacial is another non-invasive facial spa therapy provided at Dr. Motykie’s medical spa that is designed to restore youthful, healthy skin.

To see more services and treatments provided by Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Motykie in Beverly Hills | Los Angeles and his team please visit:

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