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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How to Choose The Best And Affordable Hair Restoration Option in Beverly Hills

How to Choose The Best And Affordable Hair Restoration Option in Beverly HillsAdvanced and cost-effective hair restoration techniques are now available for both men and women who suffer from hair loss and hair thinning. PRP hair restoration and SmartGraft are two such cutting edge solutions for hair re-growth.

The prudent board certified plastic surgeon  Dr. Gary Motykie provides both PRP hair restoration and SmartGraft to suitable candidates in Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Los Angeles, and surrounding locations across the landscape.

 

PRP Hair Restoration

 

Hair thinning and hair loss due to hypotrichosis, male or female pattern baldness, alopecia totalis, or alopecia areata was once believed to occur because of dead hair follicles on the scalp. However, specialists now understand that these follicles may merely be unproductive, wounded, or dormant rather than dead.

Dr. Motykie’s practice is equipped to provide fuller, thicker, and healthier hair growth through the use of the innovative Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) hair restoration treatment.

 

Effectiveness of PRP-Based Hair Restoration Treatment

The cutting-edge PRP-based hair restoration procedure harnesses the robust growth factors contained in platelets which are a type of blood cell. This helps in the healing of hair follicles that were earlier unproductive. These growth factors trigger adult stem cells found in the follicles once they are isolated and activated.

This prompts the localized growth of cells and produces new blood vessels at the follicle. It ensures that the follicles get the oxygen and hydration vital for the growth of hair.

PRP-based hair restoration treatment is a nonsurgical and minimally invasive procedure. The treatment involves taking a small amount of blood from the patient that is subsequently processed in a centrifuge to isolate the PRP and activate the required growth factors.

The patient’s scalp is numbed using a local anesthetic. After numbing the scalp, PRP is delivered via injections into the treatment site. The provider uses a very fine-gauge needle to deliver the PRP in a matrix pattern with a focus on the scalp areas with the most severe hair loss.

A majority of patients will experience fuller, thicker, healthier hair in up to two months following the initial treatment. But outstanding or impressive outcomes typically manifest within four to eight months of the treatment and will continue to enhance for up to one year. A few patients may need multiple PRP-based hair restoration sessions to accomplish their desired hair growth.

 

SmartGraft Hair Restoration

SmartGraft is a hair restoration option that does not involve the use of a scalpel or an invasive cosmetic surgery procedure. This is a superior hair restoration technology that provides various advantages to patients considering a permanent and natural solution for hair restoration:

This treatment is performed in-office using local anesthesia:

  • Minimal downtime
  • Negligible discomfort
  • No linear scarring
  • Natural hair re-growth
  • Permanent outcomes
  • No ‘buzz cut’ necessary

The SmartGraft device can excise hair grafts in a more targeted manner. Furthermore, various processes associated with these grafts such as storing, counting, sorting, and moistening can be done in an entirely automated fashion.

The process of moistening decreases the time taken to perform the procedure and enhances the rate of success of the implanted grafts. Patients experience healthier and fuller hair re-growth with permanent outcomes.

 

Only one session of the SmartGraft procedure is necessary to obtain desirable outcomes. The treatment is undertaken in-office under only local anesthesia. Experienced cosmetic surgeon Dr. Gary Motykie receives patients from Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Los Angeles, and other suburbs and cities in this part of California for hair restoration.

 

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How to Choose The Best And Affordable Hair Restoration Option in Beverly Hills

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

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