Local realtor achieves national recognition
Christina DiMinno with Bronxville-Ley Real Estate has been awarded the Seniors Real Estate Specialist designation by the Seniors Real Estate Specialist Council of the National Association of Realtors.
DiMinno joins more than 16,000 real estate professionals in North America who have earned the SRES designation. All were required to successfully complete a comprehensive course in understanding the needs, considerations and goals of real estate buyers and sellers aged 55 and older.
Christina has the unique skills associated with helping buyers and sellers of the Baby Boom generation—1946 to 1964—as well as those associated previous generations.
In particular, DiMinno likes to work with empty nesters. An empty nest is a home where the children have moved out and the homeowners are tired of the work and expense of their houses, but still want to maintain an active, vibrant lifestyle.
Bronxville-Ley Real Estate will be offering a free seminar for empty nesters on Wednesday, Sept. 25 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Bronxville library. Expert panelists will include a CPA, a financial planner, a move specialist, and a New York City real estate agent. Please contact Bronxville-Ley to reserve a seat.
“As we age, we may demand specialists in our health needs, so why not in our housing and equity needs as well?” DiMinno said. “I bring a customized approach to a client’s situation, working to fit their living situation with their overall life plan.”
The SRESC, founded in 2007, is the world’s largest association of real estate professionals focusing specifically on representing senior clients in real estate transactions. There are more than 16,000 active members of the organization worldwide.
You may contact the Christina DiMinno by telephone, 914-337-1234, or by e-mail, diminno@bronxvillerealestate.com.
Weichert Realtors’ Larchmont office recognizes top associate for regional award
Jo Ellen Ashby, regional vice president of Weichert Realtors, announced that Bonita Scarimbolo of the Larchmont office was individually recognized for her exceptional industry success during the month of July. A top producer, Scarimbolo led the region‑which is comprised of offices throughout Orange, Westchester and Rockland counties‑in resale dollar volume.
Invite this top neighborhood specialist in to learn about the real estate services that Weichert Realtors has to offer. She can be reached in Weichert’s Larchmont office at 2090 Boston Post Road, or by phone at 914-833-0800.
Since 1969, Weichert Realtors has grown from a single office into one of the nation’s leading providers of homeownership services by putting its customers first. A family of full-service real estate and financial services companies, Weichert helps customers buy and sell both residential and commercial real estate and streamlines the delivery of mortgages and home and title insurance.
Weichert leverages its customer website, www.weichert.com, one of the most visited real estate websites in the nation, to help families and individuals realize the dream of homeownership through quick and easy access to listing information and the services of its real estate professionals nationwide. For more information, Weichert’s customer service center can be reached at 1-800-USA-SOLD. Weichert franchised offices are independently owned and operated.
White Plains Hospital takes steps to reduce Affordable Care Act readmissions 
There is a lot of critical information for a patient to absorb while being discharged from the hospital. What prescriptions are needed? How often should treatments be applied? When is the next follow-up appointment?
Thankfully, patients who are leaving White Plains Hospital do not have to remember all of these details on their way out. The hospital is taking innovative steps to assist its patients during the weeks and months after their discharge. Two new programs will continue the exceptional patient care at White Plains Hospital and cut down on readmissions‑one of the key measures of the Affordable Care Act.
The hospital recently implemented a new multimedia solution called Good to Go, which is a personalized communications system developed by ExperiaHealth. It is designed to clear up any confusion that could come from an anxious discharge process.
Discharge instructions are recorded on an iPad as the nurse gives them to the patient. Included are a description of the medical condition, a summary of the patient’s medical history, and, most importantly, the regimen the patient needs to follow once he or she is home. It also provides an outline of next steps and sends appointment reminders.
In addition to the audio instructions, patients can remotely access videos, pictures and documents‑including medication information‑from their homes. All of the information is password-protected and meets HIPAA privacy standards, but, with the patient’s permission, can also be accessed by a family member or caregiver. Access can be via phone, computer or tablet enabling all relevant people to participate and assist in the recovery program.
“There is a lot of information to process about follow-up treatments and you don’t want to be confused or forget something,” said Dr. Michael Palumbo, chief medical officer at White Plains Hospital. “Good to Go is an effective way of helping patients stay organized and armed with the information they need when they leave the hospital, a crucially important element in assuring successful patient recoveries.”
Palumbo said the hospital initially invested in iPads and began using them on its maternity and medical surgical units as a pilot program.
“Based on initial results, we plan to expand the solution to our ambulatory surgery department to enhance our teaching with same-day surgery patients and family members,” Palumbo said. “The Good to Go solution is making a significant impact on how we engage our patients at discharge from the hospital. The patients, families and nursing teams have been enthusiastic and see this as a good solution.”
Hospitals using Good to Go have experienced a 15 percent reduction in readmissions and a 63 percent improvement in HCAHPS scores for questions related to discharge communication, according to data collected by ExperiaHealth.
In addition to the technological investment, White Plains Hospital recently hired a transition coach to ensure that patients adhere to their follow-up regimens after leaving the hospital. The transition coach is a licensed social worker who stays in touch with patients by phone and routine home visits after their discharge, making sure they keep their follow-up appointments and are remaining compliant with their discharge instructions. The coach serves as a personal point of contact, which helps to foster a sense of trust and accountability for the patient.
Under the Affordable Care Act, hospitals that readmit too many Medicare patients within 30 days of initial discharge face significant financial penalties in the form of reduced Medicare reimbursement.
“White Plains Hospital has been extremely proactive in its strategy to comply with the Affordable Care Act,” Palumbo said. “These investments will set the standard for health care institutions across the region, leading the way into a new era of national health care policy and—more importantly—giving our patients the best care possible.”
Mamaroneck Knights of Columbus announce new website Mamaroneck Council 2247 of the Knights of Columbus is proud to announce the launch of its new website. They have served the community for generations.
The council takes great pride in the various charities in which they take part. Recently, it assisted with the Church of St. Vito’s Festa and donated scholarships to deserving children in the community.
The website is designed to finally give the council an online presence to inform the community about the Knights’ works, including the history of the Knights, ways to join and contribute, and various other ongoing projects.
For more information, please visit the Knights of Columbus Council 2247 website at
www.knightsofcolumbusmamaroneck.com.
The next Business Briefs section will run on Oct. 4. Please send any submission for our October issue to biz@hometwn.com by Friday, Sept. 28. Each submission can include one picture. If you have any questions, email Deputy Editor Jason Chirevas at news@hometwn.com.
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