Federal nursing home survey record · CMS-certified nursing home· Not a state assisted-living licensing record
BIRCHWOOD HEALTH CARE CENTER
FOREST LAKE, MN · 100 certified beds · Last Life Safety survey June 12, 2026
CMS Certification Number 245200 · first certified December 1974
Ownership
Operated by LIFESPARK · Non profit - Corporation
No change of ownership on CMS record since January 1, 2016, when the records begin.
Position within MN
16 citations — more than 70% of the 338 certified nursing homes in MN. Compared within MN rather than nationally because which state a facility is in explains about 30% of the variation in citation counts between facilities, while bed count explains under 1%. State survey agencies differ far more than the buildings do. How this is calculated
The latest survey found 6 citations; the earlier surveys in the window averaged 5. With 3 surveys on file this is a direction of travel, not a conclusion.
When is the next survey likely?
The window opens May 2027 — about 7 months from now. This facility’s last Life Safety survey was June 2026. Facilities in MN are typically surveyed 11–14 months after the last one (median 13), measured over 613 consecutive surveys in the last two years of CMS records.
A range the record supports, not a prediction of a date. State agencies vary widely — from about 11 months in Pennsylvania to three years in Maryland. How the window is measured
Get an email about BIRCHWOOD HEALTH CARE CENTER
One email when it happens. No account; stop it any time with one click.
2 inspection-and-testing tags have been cited here at more than one survey. Nationally, that pattern is common: about three quarters of cited facilities have at least one repeated tag, and half of the facilities ever cited for sprinkler inspection and testing are cited for it again. A repeat is usually a recordkeeping gap rather than a new hazard.
Physical environment (health survey)
8 physical-environment citations on the health survey. Cited by the health surveyors under Appendix PP, not the Life Safety Code surveyor: equipment in safe operating condition, the call system, bed rails, pest control, hazards, the environment. Counted separately from the 16 Life Safety citations above. The Physical Environment Index
How that compares
Compared with the median facility in MN, and nationally. Surveyors differ markedly between states, so the MN figure is the meaningful one.
| Measure | Citations |
|---|---|
| This facility | 16 |
| Median facility in MN | 12 |
| Median facility nationally | 11 |
Survey history
| Survey date | Citations |
|---|---|
| February 9, 2024 | 4 |
| April 10, 2025 | 6 |
| June 12, 2026 | 6 |
Most-cited tags
| Tag | What the surveyor checks | Times cited | Last cited |
|---|---|---|---|
| K-0222 | Add doors in an exit area that do not require the use of a key from the exit side unless in case of special locking arrangements. | 2 | 2026-06-12 |
| K-0363 | Install corridor and hallway doors that block smoke. | 2 | 2026-06-12 |
| K-0291 | Install emergency lighting that can last at least 1 1/2 hours. | 2 | 2026-06-12 |
| K-0918 | Have generator or other power source capable of supplying service within 10 seconds. | 1 | 2026-06-12 |
| K-0324 | Provide properly protected cooking facilities. | 1 | 2025-04-10 |
| K-0341 | Install a fire alarm system that can be heard throughout the facility. | 1 | 2025-04-10 |
| K-0293 | Have properly located and lighted "Exit" signs. | 1 | 2024-02-09 |
| K-0781 | Have restrictions on the use of portable space heaters. | 1 | 2024-02-09 |
What the citations cover
- Smoke Deficiencies 7
- Egress Deficiencies 5
- Gas, Vacuum, and Electrical Systems Deficiencies 2
- Services Deficiencies 1
- Other 1
| Category | Citations |
|---|---|
| Smoke Deficiencies | 7 |
| Egress Deficiencies | 5 |
| Gas, Vacuum, and Electrical Systems Deficiencies | 2 |
| Services Deficiencies | 1 |
| Miscellaneous Deficiencies | 1 |
Every citation on file
As published by CMS, newest survey first. Descriptions are CMS’s own wording.
June 12, 2026 — 6 citations
| Tag | What the surveyor checks | Status |
|---|---|---|
| K-0222 | Add doors in an exit area that do not require the use of a key from the exit side unless in case of special locking arrangements. | Deficient, Provider has date of correction (July 30, 2026) |
| K-0291 | Install emergency lighting that can last at least 1 1/2 hours. | Deficient, Provider has date of correction (July 30, 2026) |
| K-0311 | Have an enclosure around a vertical opening shaft. | Deficient, Provider has date of correction (July 30, 2026) |
| K-0363 | Install corridor and hallway doors that block smoke. | Deficient, Provider has date of correction (July 30, 2026) |
| K-0521 | Ensure heating and ventilation systems that have been properly installed according to the manufacturer's instructions. | Deficient, Provider has date of correction (July 30, 2026) |
| K-0918 | Have generator or other power source capable of supplying service within 10 seconds. | Deficient, Provider has date of correction (July 30, 2026) |
April 10, 2025 — 6 citations
| Tag | What the surveyor checks | Status |
|---|---|---|
| K-0222 | Add doors in an exit area that do not require the use of a key from the exit side unless in case of special locking arrangements. | Deficient, Provider has date of correction (May 27, 2025) |
| K-0291 | Install emergency lighting that can last at least 1 1/2 hours. | Deficient, Provider has date of correction (May 27, 2025) |
| K-0324 | Provide properly protected cooking facilities. | Deficient, Provider has date of correction (May 27, 2025) |
| K-0341 | Install a fire alarm system that can be heard throughout the facility. | Deficient, Provider has date of correction (May 27, 2025) |
| K-0353 | Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems. | Deficient, Provider has date of correction (May 27, 2025) |
| K-0363 | Install corridor and hallway doors that block smoke. | Deficient, Provider has date of correction (May 27, 2025) |
February 9, 2024 — 4 citations
| Tag | What the surveyor checks | Status |
|---|---|---|
| K-0293 | Have properly located and lighted "Exit" signs. | Deficient, Provider has date of correction (March 11, 2024) |
| K-0321 | Ensure that special areas are constructed so that walls can resist fire for one hour or have an approved fire extinguishing system. | Deficient, Provider has date of correction (March 11, 2024) |
| K-0781 | Have restrictions on the use of portable space heaters. | Deficient, Provider has date of correction (March 11, 2024) |
| K-0930 | Ensure proper storage of liquid oxygen. | Deficient, Provider has date of correction (March 11, 2024) |
Reflects the CMS posting of August 1, 2026. Surveys conducted in the last few months may not appear yet.