University City Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center

    3609 Chestnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19104
    • Assisted Living
    • Memory Care
    • Skilled Nursing

    Outstanding rehab care attentive staff

    I had a very positive experience here - therapy (PT/OT/SLP) was outstanding and helped me regain strength, nursing and aides were attentive, professional and caring, and dining staff served tasty, varied meals. The building and rooms are clean and newly renovated, maintenance and medication delivery were prompt, staff were approachable and communicative, and I felt confident in the care and would recommend their rehab and nursing teams.

    Current/former resident
    Jul 2026

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    Reviews

    4.59·(242)

    Overall rating

    1. 5
    2. 4
    3. 3
    4. 2
    5. 1
    • Care

      4.4
    • Staff

      4.4
    • Meals

      3.7
    • Amenities

      3.9
    • Value

      4.5

    Pros

    • Compassionate, person-centered caregiving
    • Strong rehabilitation services (PT/OT/SLP)
    • Skilled and encouraging therapy staff
    • Attentive and dedicated CNAs and nursing staff
    • Supportive maintenance and environmental services
    • Clean, well-maintained common areas and gardens
    • Newly renovated private rooms and updated decor
    • Tasty meals with a wide menu and dietary accommodations
    • Pleasant and accommodating dining staff
    • Engaging activities and social opportunities
    • Helpful social work and discharge planning support
    • On-site convenient services (in-center dialysis)
    • Welcoming front-desk and reception staff
    • Timely medication delivery and smooth transitions (in some cases)
    • Responsive administration when engaged

    Cons

    • Inconsistent staffing levels and understaffing
    • Poor family–facility communication and care-plan updates
    • Gaps in physician availability and clinical oversight
    • Inconsistent medication administration and scheduling
    • Delays in wound care and catheter/incontinence management
    • Variable nursing competency for higher-acuity needs
    • Inconsistent sanitation and housekeeping practices
    • Pest-control concerns in parts of the building
    • Slow call-bell response times and delayed assistance
    • Variable meal service quality and temperature control
    • Management follow-up and grievance-resolution gaps
    • High staff turnover and inconsistent staff conduct
    • Safety and transfer-practice inconsistencies
    • Billing and privacy process issues
    • Significant variability between units and shifts

    Summary of reviews

    Reviewers describe a facility with clear strengths in rehabilitation, therapy, and many aspects of day-to-day resident life, alongside recurring operational weaknesses. The rehabilitation program (physical, occupational, and speech therapy) receives consistent praise: therapists are described as skilled, encouraging, and effective at helping patients regain strength and independence. Several reviewers credited the therapy teams with meaningful functional improvements and timely, person-focused progress. Related supportive services such as on-site dialysis, responsive maintenance, and attractive common spaces and gardens are also frequently noted as positives.

    Staffing and hands-on caregiving present a mixed picture. Numerous accounts highlight compassionate, attentive CNAs and nurses who provide warm, person-centered care, and several administrative staff members and social workers are singled out for being helpful with discharge planning and family communication. However, there is substantial variability by unit and shift: reviewers described understaffing, slow call-bell responses, long wait times at nurses’ stations, and inconsistent bedside attention. There are specific concerns about the facility’s capacity to manage more complex clinical needs—examples include stroke care, tracheostomy and PEG management, wound care, and catheter care—suggesting gaps in either training, oversight, or staffing for higher-acuity residents.

    Clinical oversight and communication are recurring themes. Multiple reviewers reported difficulties reaching attending physicians or receiving timely updates about care plans; families also described inconsistent follow-up from unit managers and administrative staff. Medication-management weaknesses are reported as pattern-level issues (delayed or missed doses, long waits for scheduled medications), and there are several accounts indicating delayed or inconsistent wound and incontinence-related care. These operational shortcomings combine to create safety and care-quality concerns, particularly for residents with complex medical needs.

    Facility condition and dining are described unevenly. Many reviews praise clean, newly renovated rooms, tasteful decor, well-kept common areas, and appealing dining with a broad menu and accommodations for dietary needs. At the same time, other reviewers described run-down areas, cleanliness and sanitation issues, pest-control concerns, and inconsistent meal quality or temperature on delivery. This contrast suggests condition and service quality differ across units and over time.

    Management and administrative responsiveness also show variability. Several reviewers praised specific administrators and staff for proactive, person-focused leadership and timely action; other families reported poor follow-up on grievances, billing and privacy/process issues, and limited responsiveness when clinical concerns were raised. Taken together, the pattern indicates that experience at this facility can depend heavily on which unit, shift, and staff members are involved.

    For prospective residents and families: the facility offers strong rehabilitation services, engaging activities, and many examples of compassionate caregiving and attractive spaces. At the same time, it exhibits operational inconsistencies—notably around staffing levels, clinical oversight for higher-acuity needs, medication and wound/incontinence management, cleanliness in some areas, and administrative follow-up. Those considering placement should confirm staffing and clinical competencies relevant to the prospective resident’s acuity, ask about wound and catheter-care protocols, clarify physician-coverage and communication practices, and review grievance and billing procedures before admission.

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    Medicare Ratings

    3·/ 5
    • Overall

    • Health Inspection

    • Staffing

    • Quality Measures

    Ratings from the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (Care Compare). View on Medicare.gov

    Location

    Map showing location of University City Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center

    University City Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center is located at 3609 Chestnut St, Philadelphia, PA, 19104.

    About University City Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center

    University City Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center sits at 3609 Chestnut Street in Philadelphia's University City, where you'll find a mix of hospital-style care and rehabilitation services for seniors. The place cares for people who need post-acute or skilled nursing services, short-term rehab, or long-term stays, and it's part of Penn Medicine, which means it's tied into a well-known health system. The center offers a range of clinical care, with a multidisciplinary staff including SNF occupational therapists and a team of physicians and nurses who look after each resident with a focus on both health and comfort. They keep records organized through medical records coordination and manage supplies from a central location inside the building, which used to be The New Ralston House and now serves the area's geriatric needs in a mixed-use setup. With 51-200 employees, the center provides personalized treatment plans, and it aims to help people recover and return home whenever possible. Along with skilled nursing and rehab, people can get on-site kidney dialysis, long-term care services, and Urgent SNF™ stabilization, ensuring 24/7 supervision for those who need it most. The campus is convenient for families living in Philadelphia, and the leadership talks about plans for full renovations in the near future. Amenities and features are built with patient care in mind, focusing on cozy comfort and a sense of home. The center's comprehensive rehabilitation program works to restore independence, and staff take a proactive approach to meeting individuals' rehab and health needs. The center runs as a privately held company, established in 2022, and is always looking for ways to create a better, more revitalizing recovery experience for everyone in their care, putting a lot of attention on wellness and improving quality of life.

    People often ask...

    University City Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center offers assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing.

    There are 14 photos of University City Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center on Mirador.

    The full address for this community is 3609 Chestnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19104.

    No, University City Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center does not offer respite care. Respite care in assisted living communities provides temporary, short-term relief for primary caregivers by offering professional care for their loved ones. It allows individuals to stay in an assisted living community for a limited time, giving caregivers a break while ensuring residents receive necessary support and assistance with daily activities.

    Disclaimer

    Mirador Living is not affiliated with the owner or operator(s) of University City Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center. The information above has not been verified or approved by the owner or operator. For exact information, please contact University City Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center directly. There is no cost for this service. We are compensated by the community you select.

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