Hackensack University Medical Center Post Acute

Pros

• The physical and occupational therapy department was excellent, with staff that were attentive and provided good care.
• The facility was clean, and the kitchen was accommodating to patients' needs.
• Many patients appreciated the variety of activities offered, such as Bingo and musical performances, which added a pleasant experience during their stay.
• Some staff members were described as great, particularly the physical therapists and food servers who contributed positively to the patients' recovery experience.
• One patient found the administration supportive in setting up outpatient services prior to discharge, demonstrating helpfulness in care transition.

Cons

• The administrative staff is described as useless and uninformed, often providing false information regarding patient care and discharge processes.
• The nursing staff is criticized for being inattentive, with reports of medication errors and neglecting patients' urgent medical needs.
• Patients experienced long wait times for assistance from nurses, sometimes waiting up to 30 minutes to use the bathroom.
• There are complaints about inadequate cleanliness, with no vacuuming or changing of bedsheets during extended stays.
• Multiple reviewers noted a significant decline in the quality of care compared to previous experiences, citing a lack of professionalism among the staff.
• The food served was described as tasteless and often cold, contributing to an overall poor experience for patients.
• There were reports of mismanagement in therapy services, including over-exertion during physical therapy leading to serious medical complications.
• Some patients felt that their concerns and complaints were consistently overlooked or disregarded by the staff, showing a lack of empathy and care.
• A specific incident mentioned involved a patient who left in worse condition than when they arrived due to neglectful care practices.
• Complaints about outdated equipment and insufficient resources for rehabilitation services were also highlighted by several reviewers.

Review

The reviews for Prospect Heights Care Center present a complex and often troubling picture of the facility, especially regarding care and administration. Many families have reported serious issues with the administrative staff, describing them as uninformed and unhelpful. One reviewer recounted a particularly distressing experience involving their mother’s discharge process. The social worker provided little notice and failed to advocate adequately for continued physical therapy, leading to a denied appeal that was based on poorly submitted paperwork. This lack of proper communication and transparency created significant stress for family members who were already dealing with the challenges of a loved one’s recovery.

Numerous accounts indicate that nursing care at Prospect Heights is inconsistent, with some staff members being attentive while others appear negligent or unqualified. Patients have reported instances where medications were not administered timely, call bells went unanswered for extended periods, and critical health concerns were overlooked by the nursing aides. For instance, one reviewer described an elderly patient experiencing severe abdominal pain who was largely ignored by the staff until re-hospitalization became necessary due to complications from neglect during physical therapy sessions. Such medical mismanagement raises serious concerns about patient safety at the facility.

Despite some positive experiences shared by individuals who had used the services in previous years or under different conditions, many recent accounts reflect dissatisfaction with care standards that seem to have declined over time. A former patient noted a stark difference in quality between their first stay in 2012, which they characterized as "fabulous," compared to a later visit in 2019 when they felt compelled to leave against medical advice due to poor nursing practices, delayed medication delivery, and overall inadequate attention to their needs. This perspective indicates that while there may be pockets of good service within the staff, systemic issues undermine patient well-being consistently across many reviews.

Therapy services at Prospect Heights received some commendation amid these criticisms; however, even here dissatisfaction prevails regarding resource availability and therapist-to-patient ratios. Several reviewers mentioned that physical therapy sessions tended to be overcrowded and lacked personalization—one individual remarked on how patients were merely walked up and down hallways rather than receiving tailored rehabilitation suited to their specific needs. Furthermore, claims about new rehabilitation equipment turned out to be exaggerated; users found existing equipment outdated or insufficiently maintained.

Compounding these operational issues are complaints about cleanliness and dietary quality within the facility. Multiple reviewers expressed disappointment over unclean environments where basic standards such as regular bed sheet changes appeared neglected. Additionally, food offerings received widespread criticism for being tasteless or inadequate—several patients noted instances where meals arrived cold or did not meet dietary requirements effectively—aspects fundamental to recovery during rehabilitation stays.

While there may be moments of positive feedback regarding certain aspects of care—ranging from dedicated physical therapists to recreational activities—testimonies overwhelmingly highlight an urgent need for improvement in areas like staffing efficiency, communication protocols among departments, medication management training for nurses, and overall attentiveness towards patient comfort and dignity. Those considering placing loved ones at Prospect Heights should carefully weigh these experiences before making a decision about rehabilitation options potentially affecting their health outcomes adversely.

In conclusion, although some individuals shared favorable interactions with specific staff members or improved personal outcomes during their stays at Prospect Heights Care Center—bolstered by amenities like engaging activity programs—the majority sentiment reflects deep concern over lapses in essential care functions that should prioritize patient safety first and foremost. Families are encouraged to conduct thorough research into available alternatives before entrusting this facility with the vital task of rehabilitation following significant health setbacks.

Restaurants

• McDonald's (0.8 miles)
• McDonald's (1 miles)
• Houston's (1.3 miles)
• The Capital Grille (2 miles)
• Suburban Diner (2.8 miles)
• Sportsmans' Tavern (3 miles)
• McDonald's (3.3 miles)

Pharmacies

• Rite Aid (0.9 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.4 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.7 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.9 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.1 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (4 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (1.2 miles)
• Bogota Press Cafe (1.2 miles)
• Starbucks (2.7 miles)
• Starbucks (6.3 miles)
• Kuppi Coffee Company (6.4 miles)
• Starbucks (6.6 miles)
• Starbucks (7.8 miles)

Theaters

• AMC DINE-IN Shops At Riverside 9 (1.4 miles)
• Dreamscape at AMC Garden State Plaza (2 miles)
• AMC Clifton Commons 16 (6.4 miles)

Hospitals

• Holy Name Medical Center (2.3 miles)
• St Joseph's Regional Medical Center (6 miles)
• Hackensack Meridian Health Pascack Valley Medical Center (6.6 miles)
• The Valley Hospital (6.7 miles)
• Milstein Hospital Building (6.7 miles)
• Russ Berrie Medical Science Pavilion (7 miles)
• NewYork-Presbyterian Allen Hospital (7.4 miles)

Parks

• Van Saun County Park (2.5 miles)
• Saddle River County Park - Dunkerhook Area (4.5 miles)
• Flat Rock Brook Nature Center (4.6 miles)
• Rutherford Memorial Park (4.9 miles)
• Saddle River County Park (5.5 miles)
• J. Hood Wright Park (6.7 miles)
• Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park (6.8 miles)

Places of Worship

• Bais Torah U'tefilah (4.9 miles)
• Clifton Blue Mosque (5.1 miles)
• Ahavas Israel (5.2 miles)
• Community Church Of Glen Rock (6 miles)
• All Saints Episcopal Church (6.1 miles)
• The Riverdale Minyan (7.3 miles)

Physicians

• Park Medical Group PA (5.6 miles)
• Paterson Community Health Center (6.6 miles)
• Kayal Orthopedic - Westwood (6.6 miles)
• Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital (6.9 miles)

Transportation

• NJT - Hawthorne Station (6.2 miles)
• MTA Subway - 181st St (6.6 miles)
• MTA Subway - 190th St (6.7 miles)
• MTA Subway - 168th St (6.9 miles)
• MTA Subway - Dyckman St (7 miles)
• MTA Subway - Inwood/207th St (7.1 miles)
• Metro North - Riverdale Station (7.3 miles)