Lakewood Health System
Within standard 12-15 month inspection cycle. Federal law requires annual inspections.
Lakewood Health System has a Trust Grade of B+, which means it is above average and generally recommended for families considering a nursing home. It ranks #50 out of 337 facilities in Minnesota, placing it in the top half, and #2 out of 3 in Todd County, indicating that only one local option is better. The facility is improving, having reduced reported issues from 5 in 2023 to just 1 in 2024. Staffing is a strength, with a 5/5 rating and a turnover rate of 36%, which is lower than the state average, suggesting that staff are experienced and familiar with residents' needs. While there are some positives, there are also concerns; for example, a serious incident occurred where a resident fell and fractured her leg due to inadequate supervision, which is alarming. Additionally, the facility has been cited for not properly storing food, leading to potential food safety risks, and for leaving garbage dumpsters open, which could attract pests. Overall, while Lakewood Health System has strengths in staffing and a positive overall rating, families should be aware of these specific incidents and the need for continued oversight.
- Trust Score
- B+
- In Minnesota
- #50/337
- Safety Record
- Moderate
- Inspections
- Getting Better
- Staff Stability ○ Average
- 36% 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 57 minutes of Registered Nurse (RN) attention daily — more than average for Minnesota. RNs are trained to catch health problems early.
- Violations ○ Average
- 8 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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Full Sprinkler Coverage · Fire safety systems throughout facility
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No fines on record
-
Staff turnover below average (36%)
12 points below Minnesota average of 48%
Facility shows strength in staffing levels, fire safety.
The Bad
Near Minnesota avg (46%)
Typical for the industry
The Ugly 8 deficiencies on record
Jul 2024
1 deficiency
1 Harm
SERIOUS
(G)
📢 Someone Reported This
A family member, employee, or ombudsman was alarmed enough to file a formal complaint
Actual Harm - a resident was hurt due to facility failures
Quality of Care
(Tag F0684)
A resident was harmed · 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 adequate supervision to prevent wandering to unsafe places...
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Nov 2023
4 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Transfer Notice
(Tag F0623)
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 notify the ombudsman of a facility initiated transfer for 1 of 1 r...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0576
(Tag F0576)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
Based on interview and document review, the facility failed to ensure resident mail was delivered on Saturdays for 5 of 5 residents (R2, R40, R46,R49, R27) who voiced concerns with mail delivery. This...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Grievances
(Tag F0585)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
Based on observation, interview and document review, the facility failed to ensure grievance procedures were posted in prominent locations throughout the facility for residents and resident representa...
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MINOR
(C)
📢 Someone Reported This
A family member, employee, or ombudsman was alarmed enough to file a formal complaint
Minor Issue - procedural, no safety impact
Abuse Prevention Policies
(Tag F0607)
Minor procedural issue · This affected most or all residents
Based on observation and interview, the facility failed to ensure the posting of conspicuous signage of employee rights related to retaliation against the employee for reporting a suspected crime. Thi...
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Aug 2023
1 deficiency
CONCERN
(D)
📢 Someone Reported This
A family member, employee, or ombudsman was alarmed enough to file a formal complaint
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 interview, observation and document review, the facility failed to implement assessed intervention to prevent reoccurre...
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Jun 2022
2 deficiencies
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 food items were properly stored and dated in 1 of 1 kitchens and 2 of 2 kitchenettes in the facility to prevent food...
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CONCERN
(F)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Garbage Disposal
(Tag F0814)
Could have caused harm · This affected most or all residents
Based on observation and interview, the facility failed to ensure proper containment of garbage in the outside dumpsters to prevent harboring pests and rodents. This had the potential to affect all 74...
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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 B+ (85/100). Above average facility, better than most options in Minnesota.
- • No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most Minnesota facilities.
- • 36% turnover. Below Minnesota's 48% average. Good staff retention means consistent care.
- • 8 deficiencies on record, including 1 serious (caused harm) violation. Ask about corrective actions taken.
About This Facility
What is Lakewood Health System's CMS Rating?
CMS assigns Lakewood Health System 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 Lakewood Health System Staffed?
CMS rates Lakewood Health System's staffing level at 5 out of 5 stars, which is much above average compared to other nursing homes. Staff turnover is 36%, compared to the Minnesota average of 46%. This relatively stable workforce can support continuity of care.
What Have Inspectors Found at Lakewood Health System?
State health inspectors documented 8 deficiencies at Lakewood Health System during 2022 to 2024. These included: 1 that caused actual resident harm, 6 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 Lakewood Health System?
Lakewood Health System is owned by a for-profit company. For-profit facilities operate as businesses with obligations to shareholders or private owners. The facility operates independently rather than as part of a larger chain. With 87 certified beds and approximately 81 residents (about 93% occupancy), it is a smaller facility located in STAPLES, Minnesota.
How Does Lakewood Health System Compare to Other Minnesota Nursing Homes?
Compared to the 100 nursing homes in Minnesota, Lakewood Health System's overall rating (5 stars) is above the state average of 3.2, staff turnover (36%) is near the state average of 46%, and health inspection rating (4 stars) is above the national benchmark.
What Should Families Ask When Visiting Lakewood Health System?
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 Lakewood Health System Safe?
Based on CMS inspection data, Lakewood Health System 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 Lakewood Health System Stick Around?
Lakewood Health System has a staff turnover rate of 36%, 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 Lakewood Health System Ever Fined?
Lakewood Health System 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 Lakewood Health System on Any Federal Watch List?
Lakewood Health System 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.