Browns Valley Health Center
Within standard 12-15 month inspection cycle. Federal law requires annual inspections.
Browns Valley Health Center has received a Trust Grade of A, indicating an excellent reputation and high recommendation status among nursing facilities. It ranks #10 out of 337 in Minnesota, placing it in the top 3% of facilities statewide, and is the only option in Traverse County. However, the facility is experiencing a worsening trend, with the number of issues increasing from 2 in 2024 to 3 in 2025. Staffing is a strength here, with a rating of 5 out of 5 stars and a turnover rate of 39%, which is below the state average. While the facility has no fines on record, some concerns were noted during inspections; for instance, staff did not wear hair restraints in the kitchen, and there were issues with food safety, including unmarked food in the refrigerator. Additionally, there was a failure to properly disinfect a glucometer used for blood glucose monitoring, which could pose health risks for residents. Overall, the facility has strong staffing but needs to address its compliance and safety practices.
- Trust Score
- A
- In Minnesota
- #10/337
- Safety Record
- Low Risk
- Inspections
- Getting Worse
- Staff Stability ○ Average
- 39% turnover. Near Minnesota's 48% average. Typical for the industry.
- Penalties ✓ Good
- No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most Minnesota facilities.
- Skilled Nurses ✓ Good
- Each resident gets 52 minutes of Registered Nurse (RN) attention daily — more than average for Minnesota. RNs are trained to catch health problems early.
- Violations ○ Average
- 6 deficiencies on record. Average for a facility this size. Mostly minor or procedural issues.
The Good
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5-Star Staffing Rating · Excellent nurse staffing levels
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4-Star Quality Measures · Strong clinical quality outcomes
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Full Sprinkler Coverage · Fire safety systems throughout facility
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No fines on record
-
Staff turnover below average (39%)
9 points below Minnesota average of 48%
Facility shows strength in staffing levels, quality measures, fire safety.
The Bad
Near Minnesota avg (46%)
Typical for the industry
Part of a multi-facility chain
Ask about local staffing decisions and management
The Ugly 6 deficiencies on record
Mar 2025
3 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0760
(Tag F0760)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, interview and document review, the facility failed to ensure professional standards of practice were follo...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Infection Control
(Tag F0880)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation and interview, the facility failed to disinfect a multi-use glucometer( a machine that is used for blood gl...
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CONCERN
(F)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Food Safety
(Tag F0812)
Could have caused harm · This affected most or all residents
Based on observation, interview, and document review, the facility failed to ensure staff wore hair restraints in the kitchen. Further, the facility failed to ensure food and beverages stored in the r...
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Apr 2024
2 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Quality of Care
(Tag F0684)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, interview and document review, the facility failed to ensure proper wheelchair positioning was implemented...
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CONCERN
(F)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Staffing Data
(Tag F0851)
Could have caused harm · This affected most or all residents
Based on interview and document review, the facility failed to submit complete and accurate direct care staffing information, including information for licensed practical nursing staff, based on payro...
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Mar 2023
1 deficiency
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Resident Rights
(Tag F0550)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, interview and document review, the facility failed to maintain dignity for 1 of 1 resident (R13) who utili...
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Understanding Severity Codes (click to expand)
Questions to Ask on Your Visit
- "Can I speak with families of current residents?"
- "What's your RN coverage like on weekends and overnight?"
Our Honest Assessment
- • Grade A (90/100). Above average facility, better than most options in Minnesota.
- • No major safety red flags. No abuse findings, life-threatening violations, or SFF status.
- • No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most Minnesota facilities.
- • 39% turnover. Below Minnesota's 48% average. Good staff retention means consistent care.
- • No significant concerns identified. This facility shows no red flags across CMS ratings, staff turnover, or federal penalties.
About This Facility
What is Browns Valley Health Center's CMS Rating?
CMS assigns Browns Valley Health Center an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars, which is considered much above average nationally. Within Minnesota, this rating places the facility higher than 99% of the state's 100 nursing homes. This rating reflects solid performance across the metrics CMS uses to evaluate nursing home quality.
How is Browns Valley Health Center Staffed?
CMS rates Browns Valley Health Center's staffing level at 5 out of 5 stars, which is much above average compared to other nursing homes. Staff turnover is 39%, compared to the Minnesota average of 46%. This relatively stable workforce can support continuity of care.
What Have Inspectors Found at Browns Valley Health Center?
State health inspectors documented 6 deficiencies at Browns Valley Health Center during 2023 to 2025. These included: 6 with potential for harm.
Who Owns and Operates Browns Valley Health Center?
Browns Valley Health Center is owned by a non-profit organization. Non-profit facilities reinvest revenue into operations rather than distributing to shareholders. The facility is operated by ST. FRANCIS HEALTH SERVICES, a chain that manages multiple nursing homes. With 31 certified beds and approximately 26 residents (about 84% occupancy), it is a smaller facility located in BROWNS VALLEY, Minnesota.
How Does Browns Valley Health Center Compare to Other Minnesota Nursing Homes?
Compared to the 100 nursing homes in Minnesota, Browns Valley Health Center's overall rating (5 stars) is above the state average of 3.2, staff turnover (39%) is near the state average of 46%, and health inspection rating (4 stars) is above the national benchmark.
What Should Families Ask When Visiting Browns Valley Health Center?
Based on this facility's data, families visiting should ask: "Can I visit during a mealtime to observe dining assistance and food quality?" "How do you handle medical emergencies, and what is your hospital transfer rate?" "Can I speak with family members of current residents about their experience?"
Is Browns Valley Health Center Safe?
Based on CMS inspection data, Browns Valley Health Center has a clean safety record: no substantiated abuse findings (meaning no confirmed cases of resident harm), no Immediate Jeopardy citations (the most serious violation level indicating risk of serious injury or death), and is not on the Special Focus Facility watch list (a federal program monitoring the lowest-performing 1% of nursing homes). The facility has a 5-star overall rating and ranks #1 of 100 nursing homes in Minnesota. While no facility is perfect, families should still ask about staff-to-resident ratios and recent inspection results during their visit.
Do Nurses at Browns Valley Health Center Stick Around?
Browns Valley Health Center has a staff turnover rate of 39%, which is about average for Minnesota nursing homes (state average: 46%). Moderate turnover is common in nursing homes, but families should still ask about staff tenure and how the facility maintains care continuity when employees leave.
Was Browns Valley Health Center Ever Fined?
Browns Valley Health Center has no federal fines on record. CMS issues fines when nursing homes fail to meet care standards or don't correct problems found during inspections. The absence of fines suggests the facility has either maintained compliance or corrected any issues before penalties were assessed. This is a positive indicator, though families should still review recent inspection reports for the full picture.
Is Browns Valley Health Center on Any Federal Watch List?
Browns Valley Health Center is not on any federal watch list. The most significant is the Special Focus Facility (SFF) program, which identifies the bottom 1% of nursing homes nationally based on persistent, serious quality problems. Not being on this list means the facility has avoided the pattern of deficiencies that triggers enhanced federal oversight. This is a positive indicator, though families should still review the facility's inspection history directly.