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.

Blog

Body Love Starts On The Inside

Highly renowned plastic surgeon Dr. Gary Motykie is leading the charge toward a new approach to cosmetic procedures. “As much as surgeons love to perform surgery,” he says, “sometimes it is not the answer and not in the best interest of a patient.”

Body Love Starts On The Inside

Photo credit: Ethan Miller/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

Turn on the TV or flip through a magazine, and you’ll see images of beautiful women who appear to have it all. Often, these images start a stream of internal “if onlys”: If only I had bigger breasts, then I’d be happy. If only my butt was smaller, then I’d feel comfortable in a bikini.

Certainly, plastic surgeon Dr. Motykie performs his fair share of cosmetic procedures for these very beauty concerns. But, he’s also here to tell you, “not so fast,” when it comes to your internal “if only” dialogue.

The role of beauty in self-esteem

Beauty is a powerful thing. According to Motykie, attraction to beauty is hard wired into humanity’s DNA, so there’s no escaping the fact that beauty truly does matter. Motykie says, “It is inescapable and natural,” to desire beauty, and “there is no doubt that increasing physical beauty can increase one’s positive body image.”

The problem, however, is that beauty is not the only building block for healthy self-esteem. Imagining that increased beauty can fix all of your self-doubt and body-image problems is a little like imagining a Band-Aid can fix a broken bone. “Most people try to separate internal and external beauty,” says Motykie. “More often, they are entwined in a spiral relationship.” This is why Motykie strives to incorporate holistic health into his plastic surgery practice, and also why he’s known to turn patients away if they’re better served by a different approach to their beauty concerns — like diet, exercise and even mental health counseling.

When is surgery the best approach?

That said, Motykie is clear that surgery is an excellent option for many men and women who want to bolster their self-esteem. Sometimes, unflattering physical characteristics — like asymmetric breasts, loose skin after pregnancy, disproportionate facial features or physical deformities following cancer or traumatic injury — cause mental anguish and aren’t treatable with diet and exercise alone. These individuals are good candidates for surgical procedures.

He is clear, however, that surgery isn’t the only answer and it should never stand alone. “A positive body image is achieved in many different ways, including diet, exercise or surgery. I believe a combined approach of all three leads to the most powerful, permanent and long-lasting results for positive body image.” Motykie typically prescribes a mixture of non-invasive procedures, nutritional changes and an exercise regimen, even for the best surgical candidates.

How to find the right surgeon for you

If you feel that plastic surgery is a good option for you and your body image, Motykie cautions that you do your research before selecting a surgeon. “Today, you’ll find anyone from podiatrists to brain surgeons offering cosmetic treatments,” he says.

Instead of using and old doctor, Motykie suggests working with a board certified plastic surgeon. “The true art of plastic surgery is to carefully listen to each patient’s desires from surgery, determine their own unique aesthetic sense and then use experience to achieve personalized beauty and improved overall body image.”

More on health and wellness

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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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