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.

IPL Photofacials

Achieve the Luminous, Even-toned Skin You Desire With Our IPL Photofacials!

Although the terms “IPL,” “phototherapy,” “photorejuvenation,” and “photofacial” may sound a bit technical and abstract, it is important to familiarize yourself with these types of non-invasive skin rejuvenation services, which can offer remarkable benefits for the health and appearance of your skin, and are ideal treatments for aesthetic issues associated with sun-damaged (“photo-aged”) skin.

IPL stands for “intense pulsed light,” and IPL photorejuvenation treatments are performed to enhance the appearance of the skin by exposing sun spots, freckles, and other pigmentation irregularities to short pulses of visible light. In doing so, the collagen and blood vessels below the epidermis begin to constrict, reducing redness and wrinkles. At the same time, the temperature in your skin’s melanin (responsible for creating dark or hyper-pigmented areas of skin) is raised to such a point that it shatters the cells containing the pigment. Your body’s natural, instinctive response is to replace these cells with new, healthy skin cells, thereby giving the complexion a more youthful and even-toned appearance.

Contact us Today

IPL photofacials produce dramatic results with little downtime and minimal risk of side effects. These quick, in-office treatments (20-30 minutes) can conveniently fit into even the busiest of schedules, and are optimally suited to treat and improve the following visible signs of aged, sun-damaged skin, such as:

  • Wrinkles and fine lines
  • Sun spots, age spots, and freckles
  • Blotchy, irregular pigmentation
  • Rosacea, broken capillaries, and facial redness
  • Acne, enlarged pores

On average, a series of 3-5 photofacial treatments scheduled at 4-week intervals is sufficient to address and resolve most patients’ skin concerns.

Your Photofacial Experience At Motykie Medical Spa

As one of the few medical spas currently offering photofacial treatments with Alma Lasers’ Harmony XL AFT (Advanced Florescent Pulsed Light), arguably one of the most cutting-edge IPL phototherapy technologies available, the highly-experienced staff at Motykie Medical Spa is committed to ensuring that you achieve optimal results from your photofacial treatments.

We are also pleased to offer a second IPL service called “IPL PRO,” which combines the traditional IPL photofacial treatment with a specially formulated chemical peel (generally comprised of retinoic acid, glycolic acid, and trichloroacetic acid) to expedite exfoliation and accelerate rapid cell turnover, which serves to maximize and intensify the treatment and produce more dramatically rejuvenating results.

To learn more about our intense pulsed light (IPL) or IPL Pro photofacial services, please click here.

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