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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Get Rid of Your Double Chin

Get Rid of Your Double Chin
Get Rid of Your Double Chin

Excess fat in the neck area is described by terms such as double chin, wattle neck, and jowls. The condition can be addressed successfully with liposuction plastic surgery, but not every patient is willing to undergo a surgical procedure for cosmetic reasons. In such cases, now most candidates have a non-surgical double chin reduction option in the form of CoolMini treatment.

This innovation has come about recently when the FDA expanded its approval of CoolSculpting to include the CoolMini device, which is designed to reduce submental fat or double chin. Leading cosmetic surgeon Dr. Gary Motykie provides CoolMini treatment to patients in Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Los Angeles, and surrounding communities.

Reduction of Submental Fat

CoolSculpting has been cleared by the FDA for several years for fat reduction in relatively larger areas such as the abdomen and thighs. The technique involves a unique cooling process that aims at freezing the unwanted fat cells. This causes the eventual elimination of these targeted fat cells from the body. Now the same cooling principle can be applied in smaller pockets such as the area below the chin.

For patients who are averse to the idea of receiving liposuction plastic surgery for the reduction of double chin will stand to benefit the new FDA cleared miniature applicator called the CoolMini. According to a study by the American Society of Dermatologic Surgery, as many as 68% of the population is dissatisfied with the presence of fat deposits in the chin and neck areas.

Procedure

CoolMini applicator is designed to clear a smaller amount of neck fat relatively faster and more efficiently. The first goal should be to achieve about 20% reduction in under-chin fat. This will typically require about one to two treatment sessions of one hour each. During the session, the provider will clamp the neck fat into the curved jaws of the CoolMini applicator.

The focused delivery of cold temperature will numb the area quickly, resulting in minimal or no pain during the treatment. However, some patients may experience temporary pain, redness and swelling during the post-treatment phase. As an experienced cosmetic surgeon, Dr. Motykie provides CoolMini treatment to patients in Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Los Angeles, and nearby areas.

FDA Clearance

CoolMini applicator has been cleared by the FDA on the basis of a clinical trial involving 60 patients between the ages of 22 and 65. Following the trial, patients were able to notice results in about three weeks, and the optimal results were seen in about one to three months. During the clinical trial, no significant adverse events were observed and patients did not experience any serious discomfort or downtime.

Several experts are of the opinion that CoolSculpting of the neck with the new CoolMini applicator, which is specifically designed for this purpose, is showing remarkable outcomes for the reduction of double chin. Smaller pockets of fat can now be treated non-surgically with CoolMini procedure with excellent results. Dr. Motykie is one of the earliest adopters of this amazing technology to deliver best in class treatments to his patients.

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Get Rid of Your Double Chin

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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