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

Facelift Plastic Surgery Procedure Steps

Facelift Plastic Surgery Procedure Steps

A facelift is a time-tested and popular plastic surgery procedure designed to take several years off the patient’s face and restore a youthful facial appearance. At the time of pre-op consultation, the surgeon will discuss various steps involved in the facelift procedure and help the patient make an informed decision.

Once the patient has a fabulous understand of the facelift surgery procedure, their anxiety levels will lower and they will be better prepared for the surgery. Dr. Gary Motykie is an experienced cosmetic surgeon providing facelift and various other procedures to patients in Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Los Angeles, and surrounding locations.

 

Anesthesia

As a first step in facelift plastic surgery, the patient will be placed under general or local anesthesia. The surgeon will make the appropriate recommendation for the type of anesthesia after considering various factors. Prior to general anesthesia, the patient’s medical history and current health condition will be carefully evaluated.

The anesthesiologist may remain present throughout the facelift surgery procedure to monitor the patient’s condition. Local anesthesia with IV sedation may be used in certain cases, particularly where less invasive or partial facelift is to be performed.

 

Creating the Incisions

The procedure will begin with the surgeon creating incisions in discreet locations to keep the potential scars inconspicuous. However, the effectiveness of the surgery will not be compromised due to incision size and location. Incisions above the hairline are commonly used to hide the scars.

In some cases, the incisions will be located in the natural facial creases to keep the subsequent scars discreet. Incision size may slightly vary according to the surgical technique applied and the extent of skin and fat removal involved.

 

Skin and Muscle Tightening

The cosmetic surgeon will lift the facial skin from the underlying tissue through the incisions. Excess fat pockets will be removed, excess skin will be trimmed away, and underlying weak muscles will be tightened to lift facial contours. Once the procedure is over, the surgeon will re-drape the skin with stitches or staples.

The incision area will then be wrapped with a bandage. Board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Motykie receives patients from Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Los Angeles, and nearby areas for facelift surgery.

 

Combining with Other Surgeries

The surgeon may sometimes perform facelift in conjunction with other procedures such as neck lift, neck liposuction, facial liposuction, chin lift, rhinoplasty, or upper face procedures such as forehead lift or an eyelid lift surgery.

The advantage with combined procedures is that the overall surgery becomes less invasive, more cost-effective, and produces more natural looking and comprehensive results. The procedure will involve additional steps in case of combined surgery, but it can be performed at one time and will subject the patient to anesthesia, surgery, and recovery only once.

 

Observation

After the completion of facelift surgery, the patient will be moved to a recovery area for observation. The trained medical staff will keep checking the patient’s vital signs and allow them to recover from the immediate effects of the surgery and anesthesia. Most patients will be able to return home the same day of surgery.

 

Click here for Virtual Consultation

Facelift 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:

Spread the love

Comments are closed.