Shadyside nursing home, rehabilitation center to close this summer

PITTSBURGH — Genesis Healthcare announced it is shuttering its Pittsburgh Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center on South Negley Avenue in Shadyside on August 12.

“It just came to a breaking point for the organization where we couldn’t sustain taking care of our most vulnerable population,” said Johnny Patterson, Genesis Healthcare’s vice president of government relations.

The company is citing rising costs and a large debt owed by the local Medicaid office.

“It’s beyond our control of how we’re paid and how it comes down,” Patterson said.

According to Patterson, the local Medicaid office owes this facility more than $1.2 million in payments dating back more than a year.

“It’s hemorrhaging our ability to actively, proactively, and efficiently take care of our residents and also pay our staff,” he said.

Genesis filed notice of their intent to close with the state Tuesday.

Patterson says the company is working to transfer Pittsburgh Skilled Nursing’s 137 employees to other facilities in the area.

“We’re very happy and proactive that we have other jobs available for them where they can go to and also maintain their employment because at the end of the day, we’re talking about peoples’ livelihoods,” said Patterson.

Genesis says it is also working with this facility’s 140 patients and residents to find them care and housing at one of their other locations.

The next closest is about half a mile away, also in Shadyside.

There are others in Greentree, the North Hills, Whitehall, Bethel Park, Monroeville, and Bridgeville.

“We’re working with facilities that are close to the patient’s family who are in the area and with the patient to make sure that they’re at a place that’s safe, that’s a good nurturing, caring environment for them,” Patterson said.

Genesis says it is holding information sessions with residents next week to answer their questions and discuss plans for the future.

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