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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Breast Reduction Plastic Surgery Procedure Steps

Breast Reduction Plastic Surgery Procedure StepsBreast reduction is a body contouring plastic surgery designed to reduce the size and volume of breasts to make them more proportionate to the rest of the body. At the time of pre-op consultation, the surgeon will educate the patient about various aspects of breast reduction, including the steps involved in the surgery.

Patients often feel more confident when they have a clear understanding of what the surgical procedure is going to entail.

They may even review some photographs or a video of the breast reduction procedure at the surgeon’s office, if required. Experienced and perceptive cosmetic surgeon Dr. Gary Motykie provides breast reduction to patients in Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Los Angeles, and other suburbs and neighborhoods in this region of the nation.

 

 

Consultation

The breast reduction surgery process will begin with a comprehensive consultation with the surgeon. At this stage, the surgeon will determine the patient’s candidacy for breast reduction, assess her personal cosmetic needs and goals, and provide her pre- and post-surgical care instructions for a safe and successful surgery. A general health exam will be performed, and in some cases, specialized mammograms may also be ordered.

 

Anesthesia

General anesthesia is mostly used to perform a major plastic surgery procedure such as breast augmentation. However, local anesthesia with IV sedation may also be applied in some cases. Once the patient is brought into the operating room, she will be placed under anesthesia before the procedure begins.

The aspect of general anesthesia will be performed by an anesthesiologist or a registered nurse anesthetist. They will usually remain present throughout the procedure to monitor the patient’s response to anesthesia. The patient will be unconscious through the surgery and will have no recollection of it when she wakes up.

 

Incision Placement

The surgeon may typically perform breast reduction surgery using one of these incisions techniques: an anchor shaped incision, a vertical incision, or a scar-less incision. The anchor incision is made around the lower half of the areola border, going vertically down the breast, and then horizontally across the breast crease.

The vertical incision will be placed around the lower half of the areola, and proceeding vertically down the breast to minimize scarring. A scar-less incision will involve very small incisions made in discreet locations through which fat tissue can be removed via liposuction.

 

Fat and Skin Reduction

Through the incisions, the surgeon will remove loose skin and excess fat tissue from the lower part of the breasts. If the patient only has fatty tissue in the breasts, and no glandular tissue, this can be removed more easily using only the liposuction technique. This will reduce tissue trauma, and the patient will have a faster recovery and minimal scarring.

 

Repositioning of the Nipples

In some cases, the surgeon will reposition the nipples to a raised level to create a natural look of the breasts. The nipple will be detached from the breast and then grafted to a more youthful location. This step is often necessary when substantial breast reduction is involved.

 

Closing the Incision

Once the surgery is completed, the surgeon will carefully close the incisions with removable or dissolvable sutures. Focused and wonderful cosmetic surgeon Dr. Motykie receives patients from Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Los Angeles, and other cities and suburbs in this part of SoCal for breast reduction.

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Breast Reduction Plastic Surgery Procedure Steps

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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