Home / Minnesota / Mountain Lake
Good Samaritan Society - Mountain Lake
745 Basinger Memorial Drive, Mountain Lake, MN 56159 · Cottonwood County · (507) 427-2464
48 certified beds, about 47 residents a day · Non profit - Corporation · Medicare and Medicaid since 1991
Certified for Medicaid Certified for Medicare
Overall
4 of 5
Health inspections
3 of 5
Staffing
5 of 5
Quality measures
4 of 5
CMS Care Compare ratings, data as of September 1, 2026 · CCN 245549 · See it on Medicare.gov · Compare with other homes
The record in brief
At its most recent standard inspection, on August 12, 2026, inspectors cited 3 health deficiencies (the Minnesota average is 7.1, the national average 9.2).
Of 14 health citations since June 2024, 3 were rated as actual harm or immediate jeopardy to residents (1 immediate jeopardy).
CMS lists 1 fine totaling $14,069 in the last three years; the largest was $14,069, and the latest is dated February 12, 2025.
Nurses and nurse aides worked 3.73 hours per resident per day, against 4.19 across Minnesota and 3.86 nationally. Registered nurses accounted for 0.84 of those hours.
35.3% of nursing staff left within the year CMS measured (Minnesota average 42.2%).
CMS links it to Good Samaritan Society, an affiliated group of 92 nursing homes.
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.
406/24
102/25
307/25
304/26
308/26
Potential for minimal harm Potential for more than minimal harm Actual harm Immediate jeopardy Found on a complaint visit
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 14 health citations on file.
Severity
Isolated
Pattern
Widespread
Immediate jeopardy
1J
0K
0L
Actual harm
2G
0H
0I
Potential for more than minimal harm
9D
1E
1F
Potential for minimal harm
0A
0B
0C
August 12, 2026Standard inspection · 3 citations
- E Provide pharmaceutical services to meet the needs of each resident and employ or obtain the services of a licensed pharmacist.
Inspectors wroteBased on observation, interview, and document review, the facility failed to reconcile liquid controlled narcotic medications in 1 of 2 medication cart to prevent potential diversion for 5 sampled residents (R7, R8, R26, R36, and R53).
- D Provide the required documentation or notification related to the resident's needs, appeal rights, or bed-hold policies.
Inspectors wroteBased on interview and document review the facility failed to notify the ombudsman of 1 of 2 (R49) sampled resident discharges.
- D Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Inspectors wroteBased on interview and document review, the facility failed to ensure employee illnesses were tracked to identify when employee would be able to return to work after an illness, depending upon their symptoms for 2 of 3 sampled staff (nursing assistant (NA)-B with gastrointestinal illness.
April 29, 2026Complaint inspection · 3 citations
- G Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Inspectors wroteBased on interview and document review the facility failed to follow care planned fall interventions for 1 of 3 residents (R5) reviewed for falls. This resulted in actual harm when R5 fell and required a visit to the emergency department resulting in a fractured left femur and needed surgical intervention. The facility had implemented appropriate corrective action prior to the onsite investigation, so the deficiency is being cited at past non-compliance.
- G Ensure that residents are free from significant medication errors.
Inspectors wroteBased on interview and document review, the facility failed to ensure medications were administered to the correct resident for 1 of 3 residents (R3) reviewed for medication errors. This failure resulted in actual harm for R3 when she developed bradycardia (abnormally slow heart rate) which required ongoing monitoring and intravenous therapy in the emergency department (ED). The facility had implemented appropriate corrective action prior to the onsite investigation, so the deficiency is being cited at past non-compliance. R3's Face Sheet dated 10/23/25, indicated R3 had dementia and Alzheimer's Disease. R3's [NAME] Accountability For Excellence (SAFE) Event Incident Report dated 3/25/26, indicated R3 was found with another resident's crushed medications in a drink. R3 became sleepy and was sent to ED. [...]
- D Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
Inspectors wroteBased on interview and record review the facility failed to develop/implement the care plan to include vulnerabilities for 3 of 3 residents (R1, R2, R3) who's care plans were reviewed for comprehension. R1R1's Face Sheet dated 2/16/22, indicated R1 had dementia and mild cognitive impairment. R1's Minnesota Vulnerable Adult Assessment (MVAA) dated 2/19/26, indicated R1 was unable to report abuse/ neglect concerns, defend self from verbal/physical attacks, and manage financial affairs. R1's care plan dated 4/29/26, did not identify or include the following vulnerability findings for R1: unable to report abuse/ neglect concerns, defend self from verbal/physical attacks, and manage financial affairs. R2R2's Face Sheet dated 10/9/2023, indicated R2 had mild cognitive impairment. [...]
July 3, 2025Standard inspection, Complaint inspection · 3 citations
- D Immediately tell the resident, the resident's doctor, and a family member of situations (injury/decline/room, etc.) that affect the resident.
Inspectors wroteBased on interview and document review, the facility failed to notify the resident representative and the medical provider following discovery of a deep tissue injury (DTI) (pressure injury where damage occurs to the underlying tissue before becoming visible on skin surface) for 1 of 1 resident (R196) reviewed for notification of change.
- D Ensure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
Inspectors wroteBased on observation, interview, and document review the facility failed to ensure professional standards of practice were followed during administration of nasal spray for 1 of 1 resident (R19) observed for medication administration.
- D Provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.
Inspectors wroteBased on interview and document review, the facility failed to assess, monitor and implement pressure relieving interventions for 1 of 1 resident (R196) who developed an unstageable pressure ulcer to the coccyx (small, triangular bone located at the bottom of the spine) area.
February 12, 2025Complaint inspection · 1 citation
- J Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
Inspectors wroteBased on observation, interview, and document review the facility failed properly assess and monitor blood sugars, failed to identify signs and symptoms of hyperglycemia, and failed to follow continuous glucose monitor (CGM) manufacturer recommendations for placement and rechecking blood sugars for 1 of 4 residents (R1) who was admitted to intensive care unit with a blood sugar of over 1000 mg/dl (milligrams/deciliter). This resulted in an immediate jeopardy (IJ) for R1. The IJ began on 1/29/25, when R1 was demonstrating symptoms of hyperglycemia but R1's blood sugar according to the CGM was 52 mg/dl and was administered glucose tablets without confirming blood sugar via finger stick. The administrator, director of nursing (DON) and regional nurse consultant (RNC) were notified of the IJ on 2/12/25 at 4:00 p.m. [...]
June 26, 2024Standard inspection · 4 citations
- F Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
Inspectors wroteBased on observation, interview, and policy review, that facility failed to ensure beverageware and metal pans were completely dry before storing to prevent bacterial growth. This had potential to affect all 47 residents who resided in the facility.
- D Allow residents to self-administer drugs if determined clinically appropriate.
Inspectors wroteBased on observation, interview, and document review, the facility failed to ensure 1 of 1 resident (R196) observed to have medications at bedside, had been appropriately assessed and deemed appropriate to self-administer medications. Findings Include: R196's facesheet printed on 6/26/2024, indicated diagnoses of malignant neoplasm of colon (colon cancer), polyneuropathy (nerve pain), and pain. R196's admission Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessment dated [DATE], indicated an admission date of 6/7/24, and no cognitive impairment. R196's care plan on 6/24/24, did not indicate R196's ability to self-administer medications. R196's physicians orders on 6/24/24 did not indicate R196 could self-administer medications. [...]
- D Ensure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
Inspectors wroteBased on observation and interview, the facility failed to ensure professional standards of practice were followed during administration of eyedrops for 2 of 3 residents (R197 and R7) observed for medication administration.
- D Develop and implement policies and procedures for flu and pneumonia vaccinations.
Inspectors wroteBased on interview and document review, the facility failed to ensure 1 of 5 residents (R36) reviewed for immunizations were offered and/or provided the pneumococcal vaccine series as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to help reduce the risk of associated infection(s).
Fire safety inspections
6 fire safety citations on file: 4 on August 12, 2026, 2 on July 3, 2025.
Every fire safety citation6 citations
- E Provide properly protected cooking facilities.
- E Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems.
- E Have properly installed electrical wiring and gas equipment.
- E To conduct inspection, testing and maintenance of fire doors by qualified individuals.
- F Provide properly protected cooking facilities.
- E Install corridor and hallway doors that block smoke.
Fines and payment denials
| Date | Penalty | Amount or length |
|---|---|---|
| February 12, 2025 | Fine | $14,069 |
A payment denial means Medicare and Medicaid stopped paying for new admissions for that period.
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) | 3.73 | 4.19 | 3.86 |
| Registered nurses | 0.84 | 1.06 | 0.69 |
| All nursing staff on weekends | 3.17 | 3.71 | 3.42 |
| Nurse aides | 2.34 | ||
| Licensed practical nurses | 0.55 | ||
| Nursing staff turnover (share who left in a year) | 35.3% | 42.2% | 45.8% |
| Registered nurse turnover | 11.1% | 38.6% | 42.9% |
| Administrators who left | 0 |
CMS expects 3.15 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 3.96 on weekdays and 3.17 on weekends, 20% lower on weekends (nationally, weekends ran 15% lower). Contract or agency staff worked 0.1% of nursing hours, against 5.3% nationally. Total nursing hours per resident went from 3.58 in April to June 2025 to 3.73 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 | 3.73 | 0.84 | 3.96 | 3.17 | 0.1% | 0 of 90 | 47 |
| Oct to Dec 2025 | 3.66 | 0.96 | 3.90 | 3.05 | 0.0% | 0 of 92 | 47 |
| Jul to Sep 2025 | 3.58 | 0.87 | 3.82 | 2.99 | 0.1% | 0 of 92 | 47 |
| Apr to Jun 2025 | 3.58 | 0.78 | 3.82 | 2.98 | 0.0% | 0 of 91 | 47 |
| 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.
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 | 24.1 | 18.2 | 13.9 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with a catheter inserted and left in their bladder Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 1.1 | 1.9 | 0.8 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with a urinary tract infection Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 1.1 | 2.6 | 1.6 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents experiencing one or more falls with major injury Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 5.0 | 4.0 | 3.2 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents whose ability to walk independently worsened Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 21.0 | 20.5 | 14.1 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with pressure ulcers Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 1.1 | 5.2 | 4.6 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents who received an antipsychotic medication Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 2.2 | 17.1 | 15.4 |
Owners and operators
Legal business name: THE EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN GOOD SAMARITAN SOCIETY. CMS links this home to Good Samaritan Society, a group of 92 nursing homes averaging 3.1 stars overall.
| Name | Role | Type | Share | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sanford | 5% or greater direct ownership interest | Organization | 100% | 01/01/2019 |
| Brown, George | Corporate director | Individual | 01/01/2025 | |
| Dykhouse, Dana | Corporate director | Individual | 05/30/2024 | |
| Engbrecht, Wesley | Corporate director | Individual | 05/30/2024 | |
| Gassen, William | Corporate director | Individual | 05/30/2024 | |
| Gulsvig, Neil | Corporate director | Individual | 05/30/2024 | |
| Herseth Sandlin, Stephanie | Corporate director | Individual | 05/30/2024 | |
| Lundeen, Mark | Corporate director | Individual | 05/30/2024 | |
| McCausland, Maureen | Corporate director | Individual | 01/01/2025 | |
| Molbert, Lauris | Corporate director | Individual | 05/30/2024 | |
| North, Andrew | Corporate director | Individual | 05/30/2024 | |
| Schieffer, Kevin | Corporate director | Individual | 01/01/2025 | |
| Shulkin, David | Corporate director | Individual | 05/30/2024 | |
| Teiken, Brent | Corporate director | Individual | 05/30/2024 | |
| Ventling-Herrmann, Marnie | Corporate director | Individual | 05/30/2024 | |
| Wenzel, Thomas | Corporate director | Individual | 01/01/2025 | |
| Fluit, Joel | Corporate officer | Individual | 10/01/2022 | |
| Gassen, William | Corporate officer | Individual | 05/30/2024 | |
| Middleton, Aimee | Corporate officer | Individual | 01/27/2022 | |
| Olson, Nicholas | Corporate officer | Individual | 04/08/2024 | |
| Schema, Nathan | Corporate officer | Individual | 01/01/2022 | |
| The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society | Operational/managerial control | Organization | 01/01/2019 | |
| Morrison, Tony | Operational/managerial control | Individual | 01/01/2019 | |
| Reese, Anne | Operational/managerial control | Individual | 08/23/2011 | |
| Van Kley, Brett | Operational/managerial control | Individual | 08/01/2019 | |
| Morrison, Tony | Adp of the SNF | Individual | 01/01/2019 | |
| Reese, Anne | Adp of the SNF | Individual | 08/23/2011 | |
| Van Kley, Brett | Adp of the SNF | Individual | 08/01/2019 |
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 residents and families raise a complaint or grievance, and how fast is it answered?Inspectors cited 3 problems in this area, most recently on August 12, 2026: "Provide the required documentation or notification related to the resident's needs, appeal rights, or bed-hold policies."
- How do you prevent falls and pressure injuries, and how are families told when one happens?Inspectors cited 3 problems in this area, most recently on April 29, 2026: "Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents."
- When is the care plan meeting, and can family attend it?Inspectors cited 3 problems in this area, most recently on April 29, 2026: "Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured."
- How are medications reviewed, and how often are antipsychotic or sedating drugs used?Inspectors cited 2 problems in this area, most recently on August 12, 2026: "Provide pharmaceutical services to meet the needs of each resident and employ or obtain the services of a licensed pharmacist."
- Who is on the floor on Saturday and Sunday, and how many residents does each aide care for?Weekend nurse staffing here was 3.17 hours per resident per day, below the Minnesota average of 3.71.
Other nursing homes nearby
- Good Samaritan Society - Windom Windom, 10.8 mi · 1 of 5 stars · 35 citations
- Good Samaritan Society - St. James St. James, 15.2 mi · 5 of 5 stars · 11 citations
- St. John Lutheran Home Springfield, 20.5 mi · 4 of 5 stars · 14 citations
- Colonial Manor Nursing Home Lakefield, 21.2 mi · 1 of 5 stars · 34 citations
- Good Samaritan Society - Jackson Jackson, 22.3 mi · 4 of 5 stars · 13 citations
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.
- 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 Good Samaritan Society - Mountain Lake's Medicare star rating?
- CMS rates Good Samaritan Society - Mountain Lake 4 out of 5 stars overall, with 3 for health inspections, 5 for staffing and 4 for quality measures (CMS data as of September 1, 2026).
- How many deficiencies did Good Samaritan Society - Mountain Lake get at its last inspection?
- 3 health deficiencies at the standard inspection on August 12, 2026. The Minnesota average is 7.1.
- Has Good Samaritan Society - Mountain Lake been fined?
- Yes. CMS lists 1 fine totaling $14,069 in the last three years.
- Does Good Samaritan Society - Mountain Lake 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 Good Samaritan Society - Mountain Lake?
- CMS lists 28 owners and managers, and links the home to Good Samaritan Society. Legal business name: THE EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN GOOD SAMARITAN SOCIETY.
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.