UPMC NORTHWEST TRANSITIONAL CARE UNIT
Inspected within the last 6 months. Data reflects current conditions.
UPMC Northwest Transitional Care Unit has received an excellent Trust Grade of A, which indicates that it is highly recommended. It ranks #137 out of 653 facilities in Pennsylvania, placing it in the top half, and is the best option among 5 local facilities in Venango County. The facility's trend is stable, with 2 reported issues in both 2024 and 2025, and it has a strong staffing rating of 5 stars, with a turnover rate of 42%, lower than the state average. Notably, there have been no fines, and it has more RN coverage than 99% of Pennsylvania facilities, which is a significant advantage for resident care. However, there are some concerns. The facility failed to provide a clinical rationale for continuing psychotropic medications beyond 14 days without exploring non-drug alternatives for two residents, and there were issues with outdated medications not being discarded properly. Additionally, there was a failure to administer oxygen according to physician orders for one resident, which raises concerns about adherence to care protocols. Overall, while there are commendable strengths, families should be aware of these specific incidents that indicate room for improvement in care practices.
- Trust Score
- A
- In Pennsylvania
- #137/653
- Safety Record
- Low Risk
- Inspections
- Holding Steady
- Staff Stability ○ Average
- 42% turnover. Near Pennsylvania's 48% average. Typical for the industry.
- Penalties ✓ Good
- No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most Pennsylvania facilities.
- Skilled Nurses ✓ Good
- Each resident gets 213 minutes of Registered Nurse (RN) attention daily — more than 97% of Pennsylvania nursing homes. RNs are the most trained staff who catch health problems before they become serious.
- Violations ✓ Good
- Only 5 deficiencies on record. Cleaner than most facilities. Minor issues only.
The Good
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5-Star Staffing Rating · Excellent nurse staffing levels
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5-Star Quality Measures · Strong clinical quality outcomes
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Full Sprinkler Coverage · Fire safety systems throughout facility
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No fines on record
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Staff turnover below average (42%)
6 points below Pennsylvania average of 48%
Facility shows strength in staffing levels, quality measures, fire safety.
The Bad
Near Pennsylvania avg (46%)
Typical for the industry
Part of a multi-facility chain
Ask about local staffing decisions and management
The Ugly 5 deficiencies on record
Aug 2025
2 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0605
(Tag F0605)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on review of facility policy, clinical records, and staff interview, it was determined that the facility failed to provide a clinical rationale for the continued use of an as needed (PRN) psycho...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0761
(Tag F0761)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on review of facility policies, observations, and staff interviews, it was determined that the facility failed to appropriately discard outdated medications for one of one medication carts revie...
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Sept 2024
2 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Respiratory Care
(Tag F0695)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on review of facility policy and clinical records, observations, and staff interview, it was determined that the facility failed to provide oxygen according to physician's orders for one of one ...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0761
(Tag F0761)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on review of facility policy, observation, and staff interviews, it was determined that the facility failed to store controlled schedule II-V medications (medications that may be abused or cause...
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Oct 2023
1 deficiency
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Medication Errors
(Tag F0758)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on review of facility policy, clinical records, and staff interview, it was determined that the facility failed to provide evidence that non-pharmacological interventions (interventions attempte...
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Understanding Severity Codes (click to expand)
Questions to Ask on Your Visit
- "Can I speak with families of current residents?"
- "What's your RN coverage like on weekends and overnight?"
Our Honest Assessment
- • Grade A (90/100). Above average facility, better than most options in Pennsylvania.
- • No major safety red flags. No abuse findings, life-threatening violations, or SFF status.
- • No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most Pennsylvania facilities.
- • Only 5 deficiencies on record. Cleaner than most facilities. Minor issues only.
- • No significant concerns identified. This facility shows no red flags across CMS ratings, staff turnover, or federal penalties.
About This Facility
What is Upmc Northwest Transitional Care Unit's CMS Rating?
CMS assigns UPMC NORTHWEST TRANSITIONAL CARE UNIT an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars, which is considered much above average nationally. Within Pennsylvania, this rating places the facility higher than 99% of the state's 100 nursing homes. This rating reflects solid performance across the metrics CMS uses to evaluate nursing home quality.
How is Upmc Northwest Transitional Care Unit Staffed?
CMS rates UPMC NORTHWEST TRANSITIONAL CARE UNIT's staffing level at 5 out of 5 stars, which is much above average compared to other nursing homes. Staff turnover is 42%, compared to the Pennsylvania average of 46%. This relatively stable workforce can support continuity of care. RN turnover specifically is 60%, which is notably high. RNs provide skilled clinical oversight, so turnover in this role can affect medical care quality.
What Have Inspectors Found at Upmc Northwest Transitional Care Unit?
State health inspectors documented 5 deficiencies at UPMC NORTHWEST TRANSITIONAL CARE UNIT during 2023 to 2025. These included: 5 with potential for harm.
Who Owns and Operates Upmc Northwest Transitional Care Unit?
UPMC NORTHWEST TRANSITIONAL CARE UNIT is owned by a non-profit organization. Non-profit facilities reinvest revenue into operations rather than distributing to shareholders. The facility is operated by UPMC SENIOR COMMUNITIES, a chain that manages multiple nursing homes. With 16 certified beds and approximately 13 residents (about 81% occupancy), it is a smaller facility located in SENECA, Pennsylvania.
How Does Upmc Northwest Transitional Care Unit Compare to Other Pennsylvania Nursing Homes?
Compared to the 100 nursing homes in Pennsylvania, UPMC NORTHWEST TRANSITIONAL CARE UNIT's overall rating (5 stars) is above the state average of 3.0, staff turnover (42%) is near the state average of 46%, and health inspection rating (5 stars) is much above the national benchmark.
What Should Families Ask When Visiting Upmc Northwest Transitional Care Unit?
Based on this facility's data, families visiting should ask: "Can I visit during a mealtime to observe dining assistance and food quality?" "How do you handle medical emergencies, and what is your hospital transfer rate?" "Can I speak with family members of current residents about their experience?"
Is Upmc Northwest Transitional Care Unit Safe?
Based on CMS inspection data, UPMC NORTHWEST TRANSITIONAL CARE UNIT has a clean safety record: no substantiated abuse findings (meaning no confirmed cases of resident harm), no Immediate Jeopardy citations (the most serious violation level indicating risk of serious injury or death), and is not on the Special Focus Facility watch list (a federal program monitoring the lowest-performing 1% of nursing homes). The facility has a 5-star overall rating and ranks #1 of 100 nursing homes in Pennsylvania. While no facility is perfect, families should still ask about staff-to-resident ratios and recent inspection results during their visit.
Do Nurses at Upmc Northwest Transitional Care Unit Stick Around?
UPMC NORTHWEST TRANSITIONAL CARE UNIT has a staff turnover rate of 42%, which is about average for Pennsylvania nursing homes (state average: 46%). Moderate turnover is common in nursing homes, but families should still ask about staff tenure and how the facility maintains care continuity when employees leave.
Was Upmc Northwest Transitional Care Unit Ever Fined?
UPMC NORTHWEST TRANSITIONAL CARE UNIT has no federal fines on record. CMS issues fines when nursing homes fail to meet care standards or don't correct problems found during inspections. The absence of fines suggests the facility has either maintained compliance or corrected any issues before penalties were assessed. This is a positive indicator, though families should still review recent inspection reports for the full picture.
Is Upmc Northwest Transitional Care Unit on Any Federal Watch List?
UPMC NORTHWEST TRANSITIONAL CARE UNIT is not on any federal watch list. The most significant is the Special Focus Facility (SFF) program, which identifies the bottom 1% of nursing homes nationally based on persistent, serious quality problems. Not being on this list means the facility has avoided the pattern of deficiencies that triggers enhanced federal oversight. This is a positive indicator, though families should still review the facility's inspection history directly.