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Birchwood Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center

All states › New Jersey › Cranford › Birchwood Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center

205 Birchwood Ave Cranford, NJ 07016 · Union County

(908) 272-6660

All 2 nursing homes in Cranford, NJ (2 take Medicaid)

Accepts Medicare Accepts Medicaid 200 certified beds For profit

CMS certification number 315091 · See this home on Medicare Care Compare

Ratings come from CMS and are updated monthly; these are from October 2026. Check the latest inspection report and visit in person before you decide.

Is Birchwood Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center a good nursing home? Reviews, ratings and inspection record

There are no official resident reviews of nursing homes: Medicare's Care Compare publishes inspections, staffing and quality data instead. Here is what that record shows for Birchwood Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center as of October 2026.

CMS rates it 5 out of 5 stars overall, above the New Jersey average of 3.5. Inspectors issued 25 citations in the last three years. CMS reports no fines or payment denials in that time. For short-term rehab patients CMS rates quality 5 out of 5; for long-term residents, 5 out of 5.

Online reviews from families and residents are on Google Maps and other sites; they reflect individual experiences and aren't checked by CMS. The full inspection reports, including what inspectors observed, are on Medicare Care Compare.

Staffing

Nursing staff spend about 3.45 hours per resident per day at Birchwood Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center, below the New Jersey median of 3.67 (US median: 3.72). About 0.35 of those hours are from registered nurses. On weekends it falls to 3.09 hours, 10% below its all-week average. 32.4% of nursing staff left within a year (New Jersey median 38.1%).

Nursing care per resident per day 3.45 hours
Below the New Jersey median of 3.67 Registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and aides combined, from payroll records.
Registered nurse hours 0.35 per resident a day RNs handle assessments, medications and changes in condition.
Weekend nursing care 3.09 hours Per resident a day. A big drop from weekdays can mean thin weekend staffing.
Nursing staff turnover 32.4% a year Share of nursing staff who left over a year. Lower usually means steadier care.
Registered nurse turnover 38.1% a year Share of registered nurses who left over a year.
Administrators who left 0 in the past year Frequent leadership changes are worth asking about on a visit.

About this nursing home

Certified beds200
Residents per day 183 About 92% of beds filled, on average
OwnershipFor profit - Limited Liability company
Payment acceptedMedicare and Medicaid
Certified sinceSeptember 1972
Part of a chainAtlas Healthcare
Legal business nameCRANFORD SNF LLC

Paying for care at Birchwood Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center: Medicare and Medicaid

Birchwood Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center is certified for both Medicare and Medicaid. Medicare Part A can cover a short skilled-nursing or rehab stay here after a qualifying hospital stay of at least three inpatient days (observation days don't count), for up to 100 days per benefit period. Medicaid can pay for long-term care for residents who meet New Jersey's income and asset rules. Being certified doesn't guarantee a Medicaid bed is open, so ask whether the home accepts residents whose Medicaid application is still pending.

In 2026 Medicare covers days 1–20 in full after the Part A deductible ($1,736 per benefit period); for days 21–100 you pay $217 a day; after day 100 you pay all costs. Medicare doesn't pay for long-term custodial care. Medicare's coverage rules.

Health inspections

The most recent standard inspection was on December 11, 2025 and found 2 deficiencies, plus 2 from complaint inspections in the same period. In total, inspectors issued 25 citations in the last three years.

Each citation has a scope and severity letter from A to L. A–C: potential for minimal harm. D–F: potential for more than minimal harm. G–I: actual harm. J–L: immediate jeopardy to resident health or safety.

What the inspections found

Over the last three years, inspectors issued 25 citations at Birchwood Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center across 4 inspection dates, 6 of them from complaint investigations. None were at the actual-harm or immediate-jeopardy levels; 25 were "potential for more than minimal harm" (D–F) and 0 were minimal (A–C). The most common areas cited were quality of life and care (6) and resident assessment and care planning (5). The most serious was cited under the CMS rule to "procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards" (tag F0812, level F, August 6, 2024).

December 11, 2025 · 4 citations · includes complaint inspection

EHonor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Resident Rights Deficiencies · Tag F0550 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Dec 30, 2025)

DHonor the resident's right to a safe, clean, comfortable and homelike environment, including but not limited to receiving treatment and supports for daily living safely.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Resident Rights Deficiencies · Tag F0584 · Complaint inspection · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Dec 31, 2025)

DProvide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · Tag F0684 · Complaint inspection · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Dec 31, 2025)

DTry different approaches before using a bed rail. If a bed rail is needed, the facility must (1) assess a resident for safety risk; (2) review these risks and benefits with the resident/representative; (3) get informed consent; and (4) Correctly install and maintain the bed rail.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · Tag F0700 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Dec 30, 2025)

November 14, 2024 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection

DProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies · Tag F0812 · Complaint inspection · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Dec 6, 2024)

August 6, 2024 · 9 citations · includes complaint inspection

FProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies · Tag F0812 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Sep 3, 2024)

EProvide safe, appropriate dialysis care/services for a resident who requires such services.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · Tag F0698 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Sep 3, 2024)

EProvide pharmaceutical services to meet the needs of each resident and employ or obtain the services of a licensed pharmacist.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Pharmacy Service Deficiencies · Tag F0755 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Sep 3, 2024)

EProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Infection Control Deficiencies · Tag F0880 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Sep 3, 2024)

DHonor the resident's right to a safe, clean, comfortable and homelike environment, including but not limited to receiving treatment and supports for daily living safely.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Resident Rights Deficiencies · Tag F0584 · Complaint inspection · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Aug 27, 2024)

DEnsure each resident receives an accurate assessment.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies · Tag F0641 · Complaint inspection · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Sep 3, 2024)

DDevelop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies · Tag F0656 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Sep 3, 2024)

DProvide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · Tag F0686 · Complaint inspection · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Sep 3, 2024)

DEnsure the resident's doctor reviews the resident's care, writes, signs and dates progress notes and orders, at each required visit.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Nursing and Physician Services Deficiencies · Tag F0711 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Sep 3, 2024)

August 4, 2022 · 11 citations

FProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies · Tag F0812 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Sep 3, 2022)

EAssess the resident when there is a significant change in condition

Potential for more than minimal harm · Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies · Tag F0637 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Sep 3, 2022)

EProvide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · Tag F0695 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Sep 3, 2022)

EProvide pharmaceutical services to meet the needs of each resident and employ or obtain the services of a licensed pharmacist.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Pharmacy Service Deficiencies · Tag F0755 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Sep 3, 2022)

EProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Infection Control Deficiencies · Tag F0880 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Sep 3, 2022)

DHonor the resident's right to request, refuse, and/or discontinue treatment, to participate in or refuse to participate in experimental research, and to formulate an advance directive.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Resident Rights Deficiencies · Tag F0578 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Sep 3, 2022)

DEnsure each resident receives an accurate assessment.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies · Tag F0641 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Sep 3, 2022)

DEnsure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies · Tag F0658 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Sep 3, 2022)

DProvide appropriate care for a resident to maintain and/or improve range of motion (ROM), limited ROM and/or mobility, unless a decline is for a medical reason.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · Tag F0688 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Sep 3, 2022)

DEnsure drugs and biologicals used in the facility are labeled in accordance with currently accepted professional principles; and all drugs and biologicals must be stored in locked compartments, separately locked, compartments for controlled drugs.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Pharmacy Service Deficiencies · Tag F0761 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Sep 3, 2022)

DMake sure that the nursing home area is safe, easy to use, clean and comfortable for residents, staff and the public.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Environmental Deficiencies · Tag F0921 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Sep 3, 2022)

Questions to ask on a tour of Birchwood Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center

  1. CMS rates staffing 2 out of 5. How many residents does each nurse aide care for on day, evening and night shifts?
  2. Do you have a Medicaid bed open now, and will you admit someone whose Medicaid application is still pending?
  3. When is the first care-plan meeting, and can family attend?

Questions come from this home's CMS data: its inspections, staffing and ownership record.

Fines and payment denials

CMS reports no fines or payment denials for this home in the last three years.

Rating history

CMS monthOverallInspectionStaffingQuality
October 2026 5/5 4/5 2/5 5/5
August 2026 5/5 4/5 3/5 5/5
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Location

Hospitals near Birchwood Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center

The Medicare-certified hospitals closest to this nursing home, with their CMS data. Ask the home which hospital it usually sends residents to.

Hospital ratings, ER visit times and more at Hospitals In Each State
Source: CMS Care Compare. Distances are approximate.

Nearby nursing homes

Cranford Park Care Cranford · 1.1 mi away ★★☆☆☆ Inspection 2/5 · Staffing 4/5 100 beds · Medicaid
Cornell Hall Care & Rehabilitation Center Union · 1.3 mi away ★★☆☆☆ Inspection 2/5 · Staffing 2/5 177 beds · Medicaid
Mountainside Skilled Nursing and Rehab Mountainside · 3.0 mi away ★★★☆☆ Inspection 2/5 · Staffing 4/5 151 beds · Medicaid
Complete Care at Clark Clark · 3.2 mi away ★★★★☆ Inspection 4/5 · Staffing 1/5 140 beds · Medicaid
Plaza Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center Elizabeth · 3.3 mi away ★★★★☆ Inspection 4/5 · Staffing 4/5 128 beds · Medicaid

More nursing homes near Birchwood Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center ›   All nursing homes in Cranford ›

Compare Birchwood Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center with the 3 closest homes side by side ›

Other Atlas Healthcare nursing homes in New Jersey

Affiliation comes from CMS's affiliated-entity data, October 2026. All 30 Atlas Healthcare nursing homes ›

Source: CMS Provider Data Catalog (provider information, health deficiencies, penalties), October 2026. Inspection citations and penalties cover the last three years. Nursing Homes In Each State is independent and not affiliated with CMS or Medicare. About the data · Report a problem with this listing. Is this your nursing home? Feature it here.

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https://www.nursinghomesineachstate.com/new-jersey/cranford/birchwood-rehabilitation-and-healthcare-center/ · Data: CMS, October 2026 · Nursing Homes In Each State, not affiliated with CMS or Medicare.