Birchwood Health Care Center
604 1st Street NE, Forest Lake, MN 55025 · (651) 464-5600
Non profit - Corporation · 100 certified beds
Birchwood Health Care Center has a 2-star overall rating from Medicare, out of 5. Its last standard inspection, in June 2026, found 7 citations, 1 for actual harm or immediate jeopardy (the Minnesota average is 7.1). It was fined 4 times in the last three years, $139,646 in all.
Medicare ratings
| Overall ratingStarts from the health inspection rating, then goes up or down a star for a 5-star or 1-star staffing or quality rating. | ★★★★★ 2 out of 5 stars · Below average |
| Health inspectionsFrom the two most recent standard inspections and three years of complaint inspections, compared with other homes in the same state. | ★★★★★ 1 out of 5 stars · Much below average |
| Quality measuresFrom 15 measures of how residents do, such as falls with major injury, pressure ulcers, hospital stays and getting home after a short stay. | ★★★★★ 5 out of 5 stars · Much above average |
| StaffingFrom payroll records of nurse hours per resident, adjusted for how much care residents need, and staff turnover. | ★★★★★ 4 out of 5 stars · Above average |
How to read a nursing home's star ratings
Most recent health inspection
The standard health inspection on June 12, 2026 found 7 citations. What an inspection citation means
- Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.June 12, 2026 · F0684 · Level of harm: Immediate jeopardy to resident health or safety · Residents affected: Few
- Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.June 12, 2026 · F0880 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Some
- Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.June 12, 2026 · F0550 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Few
- Provide the required documentation or notification related to the resident's needs, appeal rights, or bed-hold policies.June 12, 2026 · F0628 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Few
- Provide safe, appropriate dialysis care/services for a resident who requires such services.June 12, 2026 · F0698 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Few
- Ensure 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.June 12, 2026 · F0761 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Few
- Give residents notice of Medicaid/Medicare coverage and potential liability for services not covered.June 12, 2026 · F0582 · Level of harm: Potential for minimal harm · Residents affected: Some
Complaint inspections, last three years
Inspections after complaints found 13 citations.
- Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.May 6, 2026 · F0689 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Few
- Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.December 19, 2025 · F0880 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Few
- Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.November 13, 2025 · F0689 · Level of harm: Immediate jeopardy to resident health or safety · Residents affected: Few
- Safeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.November 13, 2025 · F0842 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Few
- Provide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.April 10, 2025 · F0677 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Few
- Create and put into place a plan for meeting the resident's most immediate needs within 48 hours of being admittedJanuary 10, 2024 · F0655 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Few
- Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.January 10, 2024 · F0656 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Few
- Develop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.January 10, 2024 · F0657 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Few
- Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.January 10, 2024 · F0689 · Level of harm: Actual harm · Residents affected: Few
- Provide appropriate care for residents who are continent or incontinent of bowel/bladder, appropriate catheter care, and appropriate care to prevent urinary tract infections.January 10, 2024 · F0690 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Few
- Ensure that nurses and nurse aides have the appropriate competencies to care for every resident in a way that maximizes each resident's well being.January 10, 2024 · F0726 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Few
- Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.January 4, 2024 · F0689 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Few
- Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.December 6, 2023 · F0609 · Level of harm: Minimal harm or potential for actual harm · Residents affected: Few
Fines and payment denials
- Fine of $90,790May 6, 2026
- Fine of $10,519November 13, 2025
- Fine of $29,234February 9, 2024
- Fine of $9,103January 4, 2024
- Medicare payment denial for 14 daysStarting July 16, 2026
Nurse staffing
Hours of nursing care per resident per day, as the home reports them to Medicare through payroll records.
| Hours per resident per day | This home | Minnesota average | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total nurse staffing | 3.86 | 4.19 | 3.86 |
| Registered nurses (RN) | 0.78 | 1.06 | 0.69 |
| Licensed practical nurses (LPN) | 0.99 | 0.61 | 0.86 |
| Nurse aides | 2.08 | 2.52 | 2.32 |
| Total nursing staff turnover | 37.7% | 42.2% | 45.8% |
About this home
| Ownership | Non profit - Corporation |
| Certified beds | 100 |
| Average residents per day | 84.3 |
| Inside a hospital | No |
| Continuing care retirement community | No |
Nursing homes nearby
- Norris Square Cottage Grove · ★★★★★ 5 out of 5 stars
- The Estates at Linden LLC Stillwater · ★★★★★ 5 out of 5 stars
- The Estates at Greeley LLC Stillwater · ★★★★★ 4 out of 5 stars
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Data from Medicare (CMS), updated October 2026, from Birchwood Health Care Center on Medicare's Care Compare and the CMS Provider Data Catalog. ParentNextStep isn't affiliated with Medicare or CMS.