All states › Pennsylvania › Pittsburgh › Southwestern Veterans Center
7060 Highland Drive Pittsburgh, PA 15206 · Allegheny County
All 26 nursing homes in Pittsburgh, PA (23 take Medicaid)
CMS certification number 39A438 · See this home on Medicare Care Compare
Is Southwestern Veterans 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 Southwestern Veterans Center as of October 2026.
CMS rates it 4 out of 5 stars overall, above the Pennsylvania average of 3.0.
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 4.40 hours per resident per day at Southwestern Veterans Center, above the Pennsylvania median of 3.64 (US median: 3.72). About 1.35 of those hours are from registered nurses. On weekends it falls to 3.79 hours, 14% below its all-week average. 46.7% of nursing staff left within a year (Pennsylvania median 44.6%).
About this nursing home
Paying for care at Southwestern Veterans Center: Medicare and Medicaid
Southwestern Veterans Center is certified for Medicaid but not Medicare, so Medicare won't pay for a rehab stay here after a hospital discharge. It can serve long-term residents covered by Pennsylvania Medicaid.
Health inspections
The most recent standard inspection was on May 15, 2026 and found 6 deficiencies, plus 2 from complaint inspections in the same period. In total, inspectors issued 38 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 38 citations at Southwestern Veterans Center across 7 inspection dates, 11 of them from complaint investigations. 1 was at the immediate-jeopardy level (J–L), CMS's most serious category, most recently on January 6, 2024 (complaint inspection). The most common areas cited were quality of life and care (14) and resident rights (10). The most serious was cited under the CMS rule to "ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents" (tag F0689, level J, January 6, 2024). 3 citations were under CMS's abuse, neglect and exploitation rules.
August 19, 2026 · 2 citations · includes complaint inspection
GProtect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody.
GEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
May 15, 2026 · 6 citations
DKeep residents' personal and medical records private and confidential.
DProvide the required documentation or notification related to the resident's needs, appeal rights, or bed-hold policies.
DProvide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
DProvide enough food/fluids to maintain a resident's health.
DEnsure that feeding tubes are not used unless there is a medical reason and the resident agrees; and provide appropriate care for a resident with a feeding tube.
DEnsure a licensed pharmacist perform a monthly drug regimen review, including the medical chart, following irregularity reporting guidelines in developed policies and procedures.
September 26, 2025 · 2 citations, includes actual harm · includes complaint inspection
GProtect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody.
GEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
April 25, 2025 · 16 citations
EHonor the resident's right to voice grievances without discrimination or reprisal and the facility must establish a grievance policy and make prompt efforts to resolve grievances.
ENot transfer or discharge a resident without an adequate reason; and must provide documentation and convey specific information when a resident is transferred or discharged.
EProvide timely notification to the resident, and if applicable to the resident representative and ombudsman, before transfer or discharge, including appeal rights.
ENotify the resident or the resident’s representative in writing how long the nursing home will hold the resident’s bed in cases of transfer to a hospital or therapeutic leave.
EProvide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.
ESafeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.
DReasonably accommodate the needs and preferences of each resident.
DEnsure each resident receives an accurate assessment.
DDevelop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
DDevelop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.
DEnsure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
DProvide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.
DProvide safe, appropriate dialysis care/services for a resident who requires such services.
DProvide care or services that was trauma informed and/or culturally competent.
DObserve each nurse aide's job performance and give regular training.
DProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
May 10, 2024 · 6 citations · includes complaint inspection
EProvide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
DLet each resident or the resident's legal representative access or purchase copies of all the resident's records.
DDevelop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.
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.
DEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
DProvide safe, appropriate dialysis care/services for a resident who requires such services.
January 6, 2024 · 3 citations, includes immediate jeopardy · includes complaint inspection
JEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
DProvide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift.
DAdminister the facility in a manner that enables it to use its resources effectively and efficiently.
November 28, 2023 · 3 citations · includes complaint inspection
EHonor the resident's right to voice grievances without discrimination or reprisal and the facility must establish a grievance policy and make prompt efforts to resolve grievances.
ETimely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
DHonor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
Questions to ask on a tour of Southwestern Veterans Center
- Inspectors cited the home at the immediate-jeopardy level on January 6, 2024 under the rule on quality of life and care. What changed afterwards, and can I see the plan of correction?
- CMS cited the home under its abuse and neglect rules on August 19, 2026. How are staff trained, and how are concerns reported?
- Do you have a Medicaid bed open now, and will you admit someone whose Medicaid application is still pending?
- 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
1 penalty in the last three years, including $245,564 in fines.
| Date | Type | Amount or length |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 28, 2023 | Fine | $245,564 |
Rating history
| CMS month | Overall | Inspection | Staffing | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 2026 | 4/5 | 2/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| August 2026 | 3/5 | 2/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
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Location
Hospitals near Southwestern Veterans Center
The Medicare-certified hospitals closest to this nursing home, with their CMS data. Ask the home which hospital it usually sends residents to.
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0.8 mi
UPMC St Margaret PittsburghEmergency room ★★★☆☆ Medicare overall 3 of 5Median ER visit 3h 53m for patients treated and sent home
- 2.2 mi
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2.7 mi
West Penn Hospital PittsburghEmergency room ★★★☆☆ Medicare overall 3 of 5Median ER visit 3h 28m for patients treated and sent home
Hospital ratings, ER visit times and more at Hospitals In Each State
Source: CMS Care Compare. Distances are approximate.
Nearby nursing homes
More nursing homes near Southwestern Veterans Center › All nursing homes in Pittsburgh ›
Compare Southwestern Veterans Center with the 3 closest homes side by side ›
Higher-rated nursing homes within 10 miles
- Upmc Magee-Womens Hospital Tcu · Pittsburgh · 5 stars · 4.2 mi
- Lgar Health and Rehabilitation · Turtle Creek · 5 stars · 6.0 mi
- Harmony Physical Rehabilitation · Monroeville · 5 stars · 8.5 mi
- Concordia at the Cedars · Monroeville · 5 stars · 8.5 mi
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.