Boundary Waters Care Center
Within standard 12-15 month inspection cycle. Federal law requires annual inspections.
Boundary Waters Care Center in Ely, Minnesota, has a Trust Grade of B, which indicates it's a good choice, falling within the 70-79 range. It ranks #9 out of 337 facilities statewide, placing it in the top half of Minnesota nursing homes, and it is the top facility out of 17 in St. Louis County. However, the facility is experiencing a worsening trend, with the number of issues increasing from 10 in 2023 to 11 in 2024. Staffing is a strong point, rated 5 out of 5 stars, with a turnover rate of 30%, which is significantly better than the Minnesota average of 42%. Despite these strengths, the facility has faced some concerns, including $10,059 in fines, which is considered average but may indicate some compliance issues. There is more RN coverage than 82% of Minnesota facilities, ensuring better oversight of resident care. Specific incidents reported include a resident not receiving necessary range of motion services, leading to a decline in their mobility, and the facility failing to provide bedtime snacks for residents who may not ask for them, potentially affecting their nutrition. Additionally, there were concerns about the security of electronic medical records, which were left open and accessible to unauthorized individuals, posing a risk to resident confidentiality.
- Trust Score
- B
- In Minnesota
- #9/337
- Safety Record
- Moderate
- Inspections
- Getting Worse
- Staff Stability ○ Average
- 30% turnover. Near Minnesota's 48% average. Typical for the industry.
- Penalties ✓ Good
- $10,059 in fines. Lower than most Minnesota facilities. Relatively clean record.
- Skilled Nurses ✓ Good
- Each resident gets 76 minutes of Registered Nurse (RN) attention daily — more than 97% of Minnesota nursing homes. RNs are the most trained staff who catch health problems before they become serious.
- Violations ⚠ Watch
- 21 deficiencies on record. Higher than average. Multiple issues found across inspections.
The Good
-
5-Star Staffing Rating · Excellent nurse staffing levels
-
5-Star Quality Measures · Strong clinical quality outcomes
-
Full Sprinkler Coverage · Fire safety systems throughout facility
-
No fines on record
-
Staff turnover below average (30%)
18 points below Minnesota average of 48%
Facility shows strength in staffing levels, quality measures, fire safety.
The Bad
16pts below Minnesota avg (46%)
Typical for the industry
Below median ($33,413)
Minor penalties assessed
The Ugly 21 deficiencies on record
Oct 2024
5 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Notification of Changes
(Tag F0580)
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 notify the provider of a resident presenting with me...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0688
(Tag F0688)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on interview and record review the facility failed to assess, monitor, and implement interventions to prevent decreased ra...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Respiratory Care
(Tag F0695)
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 oxygen tubing was changed according to facil...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0825
(Tag F0825)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, interview and record review, the facility failed to provide physical therapy and occupational therapy as o...
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CONCERN
(F)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0809
(Tag F0809)
Could have caused harm · This affected most or all residents
Based on interview and document review, the facility failed to ensure a nutrient and/or calorie substantive snack was offered and provided after the evening meal and before bedtime. This had the abili...
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Jan 2024
6 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0582
(Tag F0582)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on interview and document review, the facility failed to provide the Skilled Nursing Facility Advanced Beneficiary Notice (SNFABN; CMS-10055) to 2 of 3 residents (R17, R137) reviewed whose Medic...
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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 interview and document review, the facility failed to ensure provider orders to monitor blood pressure were followed fo...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Pressure Ulcer Prevention
(Tag F0686)
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 follow provider interventions for wound care for 1 o...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Accident Prevention
(Tag F0689)
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, facility failed to ensure staff properly utilized a total body mechanical l...
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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
Based on observation, interview and document review the facility failed to ensure residents were offered proper hand sanitization prior to meals. This had the potential to impact all residents that co...
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CONCERN
(F)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0583
(Tag F0583)
Could have caused harm · This affected most or all residents
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, interview, and record review the facility failed to ensure the electronic medical record (EMR) was secured...
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Apr 2023
10 deficiencies
1 Harm
SERIOUS
(G)
Actual Harm - a resident was hurt due to facility failures
Deficiency F0688
(Tag F0688)
A resident was harmed · 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 provide range of motion (ROM) services to prevent a ...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Assessment Accuracy
(Tag F0641)
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 their Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessment was ac...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0657
(Tag F0657)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** R10's quarterly MDS, dated [DATE], indicated resident was severely cognitively impaired and had diagnoses of Alzheimer's dementi...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0685
(Tag F0685)
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 communication devices were available to maint...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Accident Prevention
(Tag F0689)
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 comprehensively assess to assure safety with smoking...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Laboratory Services
(Tag F0770)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on interview and documentation review, the facility failed to ensure labs were drawn according to physician orders to determine therapeutic dosing for 1 of 5 (R7) residents reviewed for unnecess...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Infection Control
(Tag F0880)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observation, interview and document review, the facility failed to ensure appropriate infection control measures were maintained for 1 of 1 (R25) resident reviewed for infection control.
Fin...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Pressure Ulcer Prevention
(Tag F0686)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, interview, and document review, the facility failed to provide timely repositioning to prevent worsening p...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Food Safety
(Tag F0812)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
Based on observation, interview and document review, the facility failed to store food in accordance with professional standards for food service safety, monitoring of refrigerator temperatures. This ...
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MINOR
(C)
Minor Issue - procedural, no safety impact
Deficiency F0661
(Tag F0661)
Minor procedural issue · This affected most or all residents
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on interview and document review, the facility failed to ensure a comprehensive discharge summary was provided at the time...
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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
- • 30% turnover. Below Minnesota's 48% average. Good staff retention means consistent care.
- • 21 deficiencies on record, including 1 serious (caused harm) violation. Ask about corrective actions taken.
- • $10,059 in fines. Above average for Minnesota. Some compliance problems on record.
About This Facility
What is Boundary Waters Care Center's CMS Rating?
CMS assigns Boundary Waters Care 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 Boundary Waters Care Center Staffed?
CMS rates Boundary Waters Care Center's staffing level at 5 out of 5 stars, which is much above average compared to other nursing homes. Staff turnover is 30%, compared to the Minnesota average of 46%. This relatively stable workforce can support continuity of care.
What Have Inspectors Found at Boundary Waters Care Center?
State health inspectors documented 21 deficiencies at Boundary Waters Care Center during 2023 to 2024. These included: 1 that caused actual resident harm, 19 with potential for harm, and 1 minor or isolated issues. Deficiencies causing actual harm indicate documented cases where residents experienced negative health consequences.
Who Owns and Operates Boundary Waters Care Center?
Boundary Waters Care Center is owned by a non-profit organization. Non-profit facilities reinvest revenue into operations rather than distributing to shareholders. The facility operates independently rather than as part of a larger chain. With 42 certified beds and approximately 28 residents (about 67% occupancy), it is a smaller facility located in ELY, Minnesota.
How Does Boundary Waters Care Center Compare to Other Minnesota Nursing Homes?
Compared to the 100 nursing homes in Minnesota, Boundary Waters Care Center's overall rating (5 stars) is above the state average of 3.2, staff turnover (30%) is significantly lower than the state average of 46%, and health inspection rating (3 stars) is at the national benchmark.
What Should Families Ask When Visiting Boundary Waters Care 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 Boundary Waters Care Center Safe?
Based on CMS inspection data, Boundary Waters Care 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 Boundary Waters Care Center Stick Around?
Boundary Waters Care Center has a staff turnover rate of 30%, 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 Boundary Waters Care Center Ever Fined?
Boundary Waters Care Center has been fined $10,059 across 1 penalty action. This is below the Minnesota average of $33,179. While any fine indicates a compliance issue, fines under $50,000 are relatively common and typically reflect isolated problems that were subsequently corrected. Families should ask what specific issues led to these fines and confirm they've been resolved.
Is Boundary Waters Care Center on Any Federal Watch List?
Boundary Waters Care 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.