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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Smart Graft Hair Restoration Now Offered

Smart Graft Hair Restoration Now OfferedUntil now hair restoration would typically involve a major hair transplant surgery. Even the newer follicular unit extraction (FUE) techniques are mostly inadequate and in developmental stages. Now both men and women can achieve hair restoration with an innovative technique called SmartGraft that does not involve the scalpel.

Leading cosmetic surgeon Dr. Gary Motykie is offering SmartGraft state of the art hair restoration technology. Dr. Motykie provides both plastic surgery as well as non-surgical aesthetic procedure to his patients in Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Los Angeles, and surrounding communities. Now patients can also receive SmartGraft minimally invasive hair restoration at his practice.

 

Benefits

Some of the key benefits of SmartGraft hair restoration procedure include the following:

  • Technology developed by medical experts and scientists.
  • No involvement of the scalpel.
  • In-office procedure.
  • Recovery period is one or two days.
  • Virtually no pain or discomfort involved.
  • Natural hair re-growth.
  • Permanent results.

 

Other distinguishing features of SmartGraft that set it apart from the usual hair restoration techniques include superior precision. Hair grafts are extracted, counted and separated more precisely and gently, and placed into an environmentally controlled holding container until implantation. The counting, sorting, storing and moistening of the hair grafts is fully automated, which cuts down the procedure time by one-third.

Implanting of hair graft is performed more quickly, which enhances their success rate and the patient can achieve thicker, more natural and permanent results. As an experienced cosmetic surgeon, Dr. Motykie provides a wide range of plastic surgery as well as non-invasive procedures, including SmartGraft. He receives patients from Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Los Angeles, and nearby reas.

 

Procedure

SmartGraft procedure does not require general anesthesia, but in most cases, the treatment provider may give a mild sedative to keep the patient relaxed. An assistant will shave a small area at the back of the head. The area can be shaved in small sections to keep the procedure discreet, depending on the hair length.

A local anesthetic will be applied to the targeted area. The treatment provider will use the SmartGraft device to gently remove the grafts from the donor area. The device will enable immediate collection, sorting, counting and storing of each graft in a sterile environment prior to implantation.

Once all the grafts have been collected, the implantation site is prepared and local anesthetic is applied. The treatment provider will create tiny strategic openings for the grafts to be implanted. The density, angle, and placement of each graft will determine how effective and natural looking the results turn out to be. The entire procedure can be completed in about five to six hours on average.

 

Recovery

Following a brief rest period at the provider’s office, the patient will be ready to go home. The treatment expert will give recovery instruction and how to care for the newly transplanted hair. Most patients will be in a position to return to work the next day and within a few days resume their regular routine, including exercise and playing in some sports as well.

 

Click here for Virtual Consultation

Smart Graft Hair Restoration Now Offered

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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