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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Body Lift Surgery Risks and Safety

Body Lift Surgery Risks and SafetyBody lift is a major plastic surgery procedure, which ideally be performed by a board certified and highly experienced plastic surgeon to minimize the risks.

In any case, the patient should be aware of the potential risks that are typically associated with any surgical procedure, including body. To make the right decision, the patient must weigh the risks against the benefits.

During the pre-operative consultation, the surgeon will discuss the risk and safety aspects of body lift with the patient. They will also evaluate the patient’s fitness to undergo a full or partial body lift. Dr. Gary Motykie is a pre-eminent cosmetic surgeon providing body lift and various other invasive and non-invasive aesthetic procedures to patients in Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Los Angeles, and surrounding communities and towns in this part of California.

 

Common Risks

Body lift surgery may be performed in either lower or upper body sites, or both. Risks will depend on the degree of correction involved, the surgical technique used, and the patient’s general health and fitness level. Common post-op risks in body lift plastic surgery procedure include:

 

Bruising and Inflammation

A common response to the body lift surgery trauma is swelling and bruising in the treated sites. Bruising will resolve quickly, but mild swelling may linger on several weeks or months. Most patients will need to wear a compression garment for some weeks to mitigate the impact of inflammation and expedite healing.

 

Numbness or Altered Skin Sensation

Tissue modification can sometimes reduce the sensitivity of the skin for a temporary period. Complete numbness in the treated area may also occur in a few cases. The normal sensation will be natural restored in most cases, but the recovery may be longer for a few patients. Permanent loss or change of sensation can occur in rare cases.

 

Allergic Reactions

The patient is exposed to anesthesia, tape, gauze, and other surgical materials, which poses the risk of an allergic reaction. The patient may experience itchiness, rashes, redness, nausea, dizziness, congestion, coughing, or vomiting. The reaction is usually short-lived, but patients with a history of allergies should disclose this fact to the surgeon during the pre-op consultation.

 

Slow Healing of Incisions

In a few cases, a major incision may pull apart following the body lift procedure or may heal poorly. This can particularly occur if the patient has not followed proper aftercare or if the wound has not been correctly sutured. Although this condition does not pose a serious health hazard, but it can delay healing and require additional bandaging to close the wound properly.

 

Seroma

Some patients may end up with fluid accumulation in tissue pockets along the incisions. This risk can be reduced when the surgeon places drainage tubes under the skin and provides a compression garment. But if the patient still gets seroma after the body lift procedure, a minor surgery may have to be performed to remove the fluid.

Excessive bleeding, skin necrosis, and deep vein thrombosis are rare risks in body lift surgery. Amazing and sagacious cosmetic surgeon Dr. Motykie receives patients from Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Los Angeles, and nearby areas for body lift.


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Body Lift Surgery Risks and Safety

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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