Photo Provided Staff at Peterson Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center and Seneca Rehabilitation Hospital pose in front of the building’s new sign.

WHEELING –Peterson Healthcare and Rehabilitation Hospital announced Friday it has changed ownership, and will operate as two partner organizations to better serve the healthcare needs of the Ohio Valley community.

The long-time Wheeling facility now becomes Peterson Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center, for its skilled nursing and long-term care services; and Seneca Rehabilitation Hospital for its acute in-patient rehabilitation services. The two organizations, combined, will continue to offer a full range of services for patients seeking acute care, or short- and long-term care, for a wide variety of health conditions.

The new ownership team is a group of individuals who are experts in skilled nursing facility management and operations, with experience primarily in Ohio and the Midwest. The ownership change was effective on April 9, 2024. The seller was Guardian Healthcare, of Brockway, Pennsylvania. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The location, at 20 Homestead Ave. in Wheeling, has been home to healthcare facilities since 1944, according to the Ohio County Public Library. First known as Peterson Home, plans for the current building took shape in 1958, and in 1994, it was renamed Peterson Rehabilitation Hospital and Geriatric Center. In 2004, Peterson was purchased by Guardian Healthcare.

Both Peterson Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center and Seneca Rehabilitation Hospital will benefit from the hands-on attention that comes from their small, but very skilled “non-corporate” ownership team. This team has overseen operations at similar-sized care centers in rural and suburban communities and bring many new ideas that have been very successful at other skilled nursing centers.

Peterson Rehabilitation Specializing in Short- and Long-Term Care

“Our facilities’ residents and staff will be in very good hands because our new leadership team has years of know-how in creating very compassionate and skilled care teams,” said Heather Borkoski, Administrator of Peterson Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center. “We will blend our current dedicated staff with their team of experts, creating a strong combination for residents, patients, and staff.”

Peterson Rehabilitation has 150 beds for skilled nursing and long-term care residents. The facility provides a broad spectrum of services, including long- and short-term nursing care and rehabilitation, in an intimate and compassionate environment. In addition, Peterson also accommodates hospice care and has an extensive outpatient evaluation and treatment department, as well as a lymphedema program.

Seneca Rehabilitation Hospital Focuses on Acute Care Therapy

“Our patients will experience minimal immediate changes and will be cared for by essentially the same team of nurses, therapists, physicians, and assistants they’ve come to know and trust,” said Tomasz Jankowski, CEO of Seneca Rehabilitation Hospital. “As we progress, we’ll be growing our services and incorporating additional best practices to make the patient experience superior.”

Seneca Rehabilitation Hospital provides acute in-patient rehabilitation; and post-hospital, short-term, and comprehensive nursing care. This 22-bed in-patient facility provides innovative therapies designed to help patients achieve independence and return home or to their community. Focused on rehabilitative disabilities and chronic illness conditions, the typical impairments treated by Seneca Rehabilitation Hospital include stroke recovery, spinal cord and traumatic brain injuries, as well as neurological impairments, fractures, multiple joint replacements, and others.

The facilities will see new signage and branding in the coming weeks.