A Healthy Addition Westchester Medical Group Opens New Rye Facility

A Healthy Addition
Westchester Medical Group Opens New Rye Facility

– By Paul Hicks –

The Westchester Medical Group (WMG), a multi-specialty practice based in White Plains, will expand its services later this month when it opens an additional medical facility in Rye. The newly renovated space at 1 Theall Road will house primary care physicians, as well a wide range of specialty outpatient services, including pediatrics, cardiology, dermatology and neurology.

The move, which will occur in stages, will allow WMG to consolidate several of its smaller offices at the 65,000 square foot building, formerly the Lillian Vernon headquarters. Included among the initial occupants will be six internists who are now at 269 Purchase St. and six members of its OB/GYN practice who are moving from 14 Rye Ridge Plaza. Also, Drs. John Ettenson and Steven Greenberg, who recently joined WMG, will relocate their Rye Brook ophthalmology practices to the new building.

When the move is completed in the second quarter of 2007, patients will have the use of laboratory, radiology, pharmacy and urgent care services at the Rye site, as well as at the White Plains office. The Theall Road location is close to the Osborn Retirement Community and readily accessible from I-95, just off Playland Parkway.

WMG, which is physician owned and managed, has 450 employees, including more than 100 physicians, making it one of the two largest medical group practices in Westchester County (Mt. Kisco Medical Group is the other). Other recent additions to the staff include several internists with practices in Larchmont and a group of physicians in White Plains who specialize in nephrology, cardiology, gastroenterology and endocrinology.

According to WMG President Dr. Simeon Schwartz, the growth in staff and expansion of facilities have been made possible in large part because of various improvements in systems and technology. One of the innovative developments at WMG has been the conversion from traditional charts and files to electronic medical records. The EMRs allow physicians to communicate test results and other information both with patients and with other staff members in each of the offices.

Patients are also able to access the interactive features of WMG's website through a password-login security system. This allows them to check their medical records, communicate with their physicians and request such services as prescription renewals. Included in the patient information on the website is a list of the numerous insurance plans that are accepted by WMG. Also shown are medical credentials of all the physicians, most of whom are affiliated with both White Plains and Greenwich hospitals.

Dr. Barney Newman, WMG's Medical Director, noted that the group's “systems and practice goals allow us to emphasize coordinated, efficient care, and we measure our quality on a continuing basis.” Recently, WMG received recognition for the quality of its services in the areas of both diabetes and heart/stroke care. For more information about the Westchester Medical Group, visit www.westchestermed.com.