Bigfork Valley Communities
258 Pine Tree Drive, Bigfork, MN 56628 · Itasca County · (218) 743-3177
40 certified beds, about 21 residents a day · Government - Hospital district · Medicare and Medicaid since 1988
CMS Care Compare ratings, data as of September 1, 2026 · CCN 245529 · See it on Medicare.gov · Compare with other homes
The record in brief
At its most recent standard inspection, on December 11, 2025, inspectors cited 2 health deficiencies (the Minnesota average is 7.1, the national average 9.2).
Of 13 health citations since November 2023, 1 was rated as actual harm or immediate jeopardy to residents.
CMS lists no fines against this home in the last three years.
Nurses and nurse aides worked 6.04 hours per resident per day, against 4.19 across Minnesota and 3.86 nationally. Registered nurses accounted for 2.09 of those hours.
26.7% of nursing staff left within the year CMS measured (Minnesota average 42.2%).
Health inspections
Federal rules call for a standard inspection at least every 15 months, plus a visit whenever a complaint is filed. Each mark below is one citation, colored by how serious inspectors rated it. How to read a citation.
Under each citation, the quoted text is the inspector's own summary from the federal statement of deficiencies (CMS form 2567), word for word apart from a privacy scrub; CMS removes residents' and staff names before it publishes the text. The full notes are on Medicare.gov.
Where its citations fall on CMS's grid
CMS rates every citation by how much harm it caused (rows) and how many residents it touched (columns). The count in each box is this home's, across all 13 health citations on file.
July 10, 2026Complaint inspection · 3 citations
- H Protect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody.
Inspectors wroteBased on observation, interview and document review, the facility failed to protect the residents' right to be free from mental and physical abuse from a resident (R4) for 5 of 6 residents (R5, R6, R7, R8, R9). This resulted in psychosocial harm for R5, R6, R7, R8, R9 who displayed and or/verbalized fear which included avoiding R4 and using garbage cans to barricade doors to prevent R4 from entering their rooms.
- E Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
Inspectors wroteBased on interview and document review the facility failed to report to the state agency (SA) resident-to-resident abuse that resulted in mental anguish for 4 of 6 residents (R5, R6, R7, R8) reviewed for abuse.
- E Respond appropriately to all alleged violations.
Inspectors wroteBased on interview and document review the facility failed to thoroughly investigate and failed to implement protection interventions resulting in ongoing incidents of physical abuse for 4 of 6 residents (R4, R5, R6, R7) reviewed for resident-to-resident abuse.
December 11, 2025Standard inspection · 2 citations
- D Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
Inspectors wroteBased on interview and document review, the facility failed to complete a medication assessment per doctor's orders for 1 of 5 resident (R19) reviewed for unnecessary medication.
- C Post nurse staffing information every day.
Inspectors wroteBased on observation, interview, and document review the facility failed to include the daily census and actual hours worked by nursing staff. This had the potential to affect all 21 residents, staff and visitors who wished to review the information.
November 14, 2025Complaint inspection · 1 citation
- D Honor the resident's right to voice grievances without discrimination or reprisal and the facility must establish a grievance policy and make prompt efforts to resolve grievances.
Inspectors wroteBased on interview and document review the facility failed to follow up on grievances related to call light response times for 2 of 3 residents (R1, R4) reviewed for grievances.
October 23, 2024Standard inspection · 5 citations
- D Ensure residents do not lose the ability to perform activities of daily living unless there is a medical reason.
Inspectors wroteBased on observation, interview and document review, the facility failed to assist with personal hygiene as directed by the care plan for 1 of 3 (R17) residents reviewed for activities of daily living (ADLs).
- D Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Inspectors wroteBased on observation, interview and document review, the facility failed to ensure a transfer belt was utilized while transferring 1 of 1 residents (R11) reviewed for ambulation.
- D Ensure a licensed pharmacist perform a monthly drug regimen review, including the medical chart, following irregularity reporting guidelines in developed policies and procedures.
Inspectors wroteBased on interview and document review, the facility failed to ensure they received an appropriate physician response to a gradual dose reduction for use for 1 of 5 (R9) residents reviewed for unnecessary medication.
- D Implement gradual dose reductions(GDR) and non-pharmacological interventions, unless contraindicated, prior to initiating or instead of continuing psychotropic medication; and PRN orders for psychotropic medications are only used when the medication is necessary and PRN use is limited.
Inspectors wroteBased on interview and document review, the facility failed to ensure behavior monitoring and gradual dose reduction (GDR) or justification of continued use was identified for 1 of 5 (R9) residents reviewed for unnecessary medication who were on a psychotropic medication.
- D Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Inspectors wroteBased on observation, interview and document review, the facility failed to use standard and enhanced barrier precautions (EBP); and failed to maintain proper infection control procedures for insulin administration for 1 of 3 (R17) residents reviewed for activities of daily living (ADL's).
November 15, 2023Standard inspection · 2 citations
- E Develop and implement policies and procedures for flu and pneumonia vaccinations.
Inspectors wroteBased on interview and document review, the facility failed to offer and provide education regarding the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine 20 variant (PVC20) education for those elegible as directed by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) for 5 of 5 residents (R2, R4, R16, R17, R71) reviewed for immunizations.
- D Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Inspectors wroteBased on observation and interview the facility failed to ensure proper placement of a full mechanical lift sling to ensure a safe transfer for 1 of 2 (R2) observed during full mechanical lift transfers.
Fire safety inspections
21 fire safety citations on file: 5 on December 11, 2025, 8 on October 23, 2024, 8 on November 15, 2023.
Every fire safety citation21 citations
- F Provide properly protected cooking facilities.
- F Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems.
- E Ensure that special areas are constructed so that walls can resist fire for one hour or have an approved fire extinguishing system.
- D Ensure smoke barriers are constructed to a 1 hour fire resistance rating.
- D Have simulated fire drills held at unexpected times.
- F Ensure that special areas are constructed so that walls can resist fire for one hour or have an approved fire extinguishing system.
- F Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems.
- F Ensure smoke barriers are constructed to a 1 hour fire resistance rating.
- F Ensure heating and ventilation systems that have been properly installed according to the manufacturer's instructions.
- F Have simulated fire drills held at unexpected times.
- F Have generator or other power source capable of supplying service within 10 seconds.
- E Install emergency lighting that can last at least 1 1/2 hours.
- D Ensure proper usage of power strips and extension cords.
- F Ensure that special areas are constructed so that walls can resist fire for one hour or have an approved fire extinguishing system.
- F Follow proper procedures when the fire alarm was out of service for more than 4 hours.
- F Ensure smoke barriers are constructed to a 1 hour fire resistance rating.
- F Have properly installed electrical wiring and gas equipment.
- F Ensure heating and ventilation systems that have been properly installed according to the manufacturer's instructions.
- F Have simulated fire drills held at unexpected times.
- E Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems.
- D Properly select, install, inspect, or maintain portable fire extinguishes.
Fines and payment denials
CMS lists no fines or payment denials against this home in the last three years. The national average is 0.9 fines per home.
Staffing
Hours of care per resident per day, from the payroll records every home sends CMS. Higher means more staff time with each resident.
| Measure | This home | Minnesota | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| All nursing staff (RN, LPN and aides) | 6.04 | 4.19 | 3.86 |
| Registered nurses | 2.09 | 1.06 | 0.69 |
| All nursing staff on weekends | 4.89 | 3.71 | 3.42 |
| Nurse aides | 3.60 | ||
| Licensed practical nurses | 0.34 | ||
| Nursing staff turnover (share who left in a year) | 26.7% | 42.2% | 45.8% |
| Registered nurse turnover | 11.1% | 38.6% | 42.9% |
| Administrators who left | 0 |
CMS expects 3.23 hours a day for residents as sick as this home's (its case-mix figure). The staffing star compares the two.
Staffing by quarter, from daily payroll records
Every nursing home sends CMS its staff hours for each day (the Payroll Based Journal). Here they are added up by quarter. The latest quarter is the one behind the figures above. In January to March 2026, nursing staff hours per resident were 6.50 on weekdays and 4.89 on weekends, 25% lower on weekends (nationally, weekends ran 15% lower). Contract or agency staff worked 16.8% of nursing hours, against 5.3% nationally. Total nursing hours per resident went from 6.00 in April to June 2025 to 6.04 in January to March 2026.
| Quarter | All nursing staff | Registered nurses | Weekdays | Weekends | Contract staff share | Days with no RN hours | Residents a day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan to Mar 2026 | 6.04 | 2.09 | 6.50 | 4.89 | 16.8% | 0 of 90 | 21 |
| Oct to Dec 2025 | 5.29 | 1.97 | 5.63 | 4.44 | 6.8% | 0 of 92 | 22 |
| Jul to Sep 2025 | 5.11 | 1.79 | 5.55 | 4.00 | 0.0% | 0 of 92 | 22 |
| Apr to Jun 2025 | 6.00 | 1.92 | 6.37 | 5.08 | 0.0% | 0 of 91 | 20 |
| United States, Jan to Mar 2026 | 3.75 | 0.62 | 3.92 | 3.33 | 5.3% | 0.5% of days | |
| Minnesota, Jan to Mar 2026 | 4.19 | 1.05 | 4.38 | 3.73 | 5.2% | 0.8% of days |
Hours per resident per day: staff hours in the quarter divided by resident days (the daily census CMS derives from resident assessments). Registered nurses include the director of nursing and RNs with administrative duties; aides include nurse aides in training and medication aides, as in CMS's own staffing measure. How these are calculated.
Staff pay reports
Staff pay at this home
No staff pay figure for this home has passed review yet. A figure appears only after at least 5 reports from at least 3 different people, sent over at least 60 days, have passed review. If you work here, your report helps start one.
Official wage estimates for Minnesota
| Job | Median | Middle half | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota, all employers | |||
| CNAs (nursing assistants) | $22.44 | $19.39 to $23.72 | 29,120 |
| LPNs and LVNs | $30.65 | $28.83 to $34.26 | 12,840 |
| Registered nurses | $48.80 | $42.76 to $55.17 | 70,110 |
| United States, nursing care facilities | |||
| CNAs (nursing assistants) | $20.67 | $17.91 to $22.55 | 534,270 |
| LPNs and LVNs | $33.86 | $30.05 to $37.40 | 188,210 |
| Registered nurses | $41.11 | $37.85 to $47.68 | 142,270 |
Hourly wages; the middle half runs from the 25th to the 75th percentile. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. BLS has no separate estimate for medication aides. These are survey estimates for whole occupations, not figures for any one home.
Quality measures
The measures CMS uses for the quality star. Lower is better for every one of them.
| Measure | This home | Minnesota | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of long-stay residents whose need for help with daily activities has increased Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 15.1 | 18.2 | 13.9 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with a catheter inserted and left in their bladder Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 2.6 | 1.9 | 0.8 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with a urinary tract infection Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 7.6 | 2.6 | 1.6 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents experiencing one or more falls with major injury Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 0.0 | 4.0 | 3.2 |
| Percentage of short-stay residents who newly received an antipsychotic medication Short Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 0.0 | 1.9 | 1.6 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents whose ability to walk independently worsened Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 14.1 | 20.5 | 14.1 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with pressure ulcers Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 4.0 | 5.2 | 4.6 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents who received an antipsychotic medication Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 14.3 | 17.1 | 15.4 |
Short-term rehab results
For a stay to recover after a hospital visit, these are the results CMS publishes for Bigfork Valley Communities's Medicare short-stay residents. How to read these, and what Medicare pays for.
CMS reports none of these results for this home: The number of residents or resident stays is too small to report. Call the facility to discuss this quality measure.
Source: CMS Skilled Nursing Facility Quality Reporting Program - Provider Data, released 2026-09-30. Better, no different and worse are CMS's own comparisons with the national rate, after adjusting for how sick residents were. Medians of homes and the state counts are worked out by us from the same file.
Owners and operators
Legal business name: NORTHERN ITASCA HOSPITAL DISTRICT.
| Name | Role | Type | Share | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anselmo, Gregory | Managing control - governing body | Individual | 01/01/2025 | |
| Cook, Clinton | Managing control - governing body | Individual | 01/01/2021 | |
| Cook, Gregory | Managing control - governing body | Individual | 09/02/2014 | |
| Fredrickson, Kurt | Managing control - governing body | Individual | 11/28/2023 | |
| Gilbertson, Carol | Managing control - governing body | Individual | 01/01/2023 | |
| Heinecke, Daniel | Managing control - governing body | Individual | 01/01/2025 | |
| Kittridge, Teresa | Managing control - governing body | Individual | 05/05/2025 | |
| Lamont, Tom | Managing control - governing body | Individual | 09/03/2019 | |
| Rahier, Gordon | Managing control - governing body | Individual | 01/01/2021 | |
| Salmela, Larry | Managing control - governing body | Individual | 01/03/2017 | |
| Sedgwick, Sally | Managing control - governing body | Individual | 10/03/2023 | |
| Sursely, Dan | Managing control - governing body | Individual | 01/01/2019 | |
| Watson, Heidi | Managing control - governing body | Individual | 01/03/2011 | |
| Niemala, Amanda | Corporate director | Individual | 01/02/2008 | |
| Anderson, Darla | Corporate officer | Individual | 11/02/2020 | |
| Hough, Nathan | Corporate officer | Individual | 04/01/2024 | |
| Northern Itasca Hospital District | Operational/managerial control | Organization | 01/01/1975 | |
| Anderson, Jessica | Operational/managerial control | Individual | 12/30/2024 | |
| Hough, Nathan | Operational/managerial control | Individual | 04/01/2024 | |
| McKellar, Paula | Operational/managerial control | Individual | 08/11/2025 | |
| Scrivner, Jeffrey | Operational/managerial control | Individual | 08/01/2002 | |
| Anderson, Darla | Adp of the SNF | Individual | 11/05/2020 | |
| Anderson, Jessica | Adp of the SNF | Individual | 12/30/2024 | |
| Hough, Nathan | Adp of the SNF | Individual | 05/07/2024 | |
| McKellar, Paula | Adp of the SNF | Individual | 08/11/2025 | |
| Scrivner, Jeffrey | Adp of the SNF | Individual | 08/01/2002 |
As listed in the CMS ownership file, which names owners with a 5% or greater stake and the people and companies with operational or managerial control.
Questions to ask on a visit
Chosen from this home's own inspection record.
- How do you prevent falls and pressure injuries, and how are families told when one happens?Inspectors cited 4 problems in this area, most recently on December 11, 2025: "Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals."
- How are allegations of abuse or neglect reported and investigated, and who tells the family?Inspectors cited 3 problems in this area, most recently on July 10, 2026: "Protect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody."
- How are medications reviewed, and how often are antipsychotic or sedating drugs used?Inspectors cited 2 problems in this area, most recently on October 23, 2024: "Ensure a licensed pharmacist perform a monthly drug regimen review, including the medical chart, following irregularity reporting guidelines in developed policies and procedures."
- What changed in infection control since the last inspection, and who on staff is the infection preventionist?Inspectors cited 2 problems in this area, most recently on October 23, 2024: "Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program."
Minnesota contacts for a concern about a nursing home
These are the official offices in Minnesota. NursingHomeClear cannot take or act on complaints.
- Inspections and complaints: Minnesota Department of Health, Health Regulation Division, the state agency that inspects nursing homes for CMS and takes complaints about care.
- Resident advocate: Minnesota Office of Ombudsman for Long-Term Care, 1-800-657-3591. The long-term care ombudsman is a free, confidential advocate for residents and families, set up under the federal Older Americans Act.
- State inspection reports: MDH Nursing and Boarding Care Home Survey and Complaint Inspection Findings, where Minnesota publishes its own records on licensed homes.
Common questions
- What is Bigfork Valley Communities's Medicare star rating?
- CMS rates Bigfork Valley Communities 3 out of 5 stars overall, with 2 for health inspections, 5 for staffing and 3 for quality measures (CMS data as of September 1, 2026).
- How many deficiencies did Bigfork Valley Communities get at its last inspection?
- 2 health deficiencies at the standard inspection on December 11, 2025. The Minnesota average is 7.1.
- Has Bigfork Valley Communities been fined?
- CMS lists no fines in the last three years.
- Does Bigfork Valley Communities accept Medicaid?
- It is certified to take Medicaid (CMS lists it as "Medicare and Medicaid"). Certification does not mean a Medicaid bed is open: ask the admissions office.
- Who owns Bigfork Valley Communities?
- CMS lists 26 owners and managers. Legal business name: NORTHERN ITASCA HOSPITAL DISTRICT.
Sources
- Ratings, staffing and fines: CMS Provider Information, released September 30, 2026, data as of September 1, 2026.
- Citations: CMS Health Deficiencies and Fire Safety Deficiencies.
- Owners: CMS Ownership. Penalties: CMS Penalties.
- Staffing by quarter: CMS Payroll Based Journal Daily Nurse Staffing, April 2025 to March 2026, summed by NursingHomeClear.
- Inspector summaries: CMS Full Statement of Deficiencies (CMS-2567 text), data as of September 1, 2026. Each quote is the part of the statement before the detailed findings.
- Inspection reports with the inspectors' full notes are on this home's Medicare.gov page.
- Something wrong on this page? Ask for a correction. We fix errors in our copy of the data; findings themselves can only be changed by CMS and the state.
- NursingHomeClear is independent and not affiliated with CMS, Medicare or any state agency. This page reports federal records; it does not rate, recommend or endorse any home, and it is not medical or legal advice.