Birchwood Health Care Center

Safety & Inspections

Health deficiencies

National median: 7

8 above national median

Total federal penalties

$132,781

CMS data as of March 1, 2026

Staffing breakdown

Average hours of nursing care each resident receives per day, by staff role. Higher numbers generally indicate more attentive care.

Total nurse staffing

National median: 4.12 hrs

4.17 hrs near national median

Registered nurse (RN)

0.85 hrs

Licensed practical nurse (LPN)

1.07 hrs

Certified nursing aide (CNA)

2.04 hrs

Physical therapy

0.02 hrs

Quality rating trend

Overall rating improved from 2 to 3 stars over 18 data points.

Facility profile

Type

Skilled Nursing Facility · Nursing home

Capacity

100 certified beds · ~80 avg residents/day (80% occupancy)

Ownership

Non profit - Corporation

Payment accepted

Medicare Medicaid (Medicare and Medicaid)

About

Birchwood Health Care Center is a non-profit, 100-bed skilled nursing facility located in Forest Lake, Minnesota. The center holds a 3-star overall rating from CMS, reflecting a 5-star rating in quality measures, a 4-star rating for staffing levels, and a 2-star rating for health inspections. It operates as a corporate-owned provider of long-term care and rehabilitative services.

Location

604 1st St NE, Forest Lake, 55025, Forest Lake, MN

Recent reviews

• Michael horn ★★★★★ February 17, 2026

  Forest lake birchwood heath care center Wounderful staff everyone's very helpful and kind hearted i would recommend anyone who has family there Absolutely awesome 10 out of 10

• Allen Anderson ★★★★☆ November 19, 2025

  I just came here about 3 months ago. So far my experience has been very good, except for a couple issues that I think are being taken care of. The staff are very nice but sometimes communications are hard due to not understanding English. Two things. Kudos to Brianna rn, Sam cna, Bill lpn and Yollanda cna, and Megan Administrator, all who have gone outside of the protocols to give me the help that I need. Megan is the only Administrator that actually get's out and singles with the residents. I do like all the staff and have greatest respect for. Kudos to all. I would rate this place from 0 to 10 being the best a (9) nine. Al Anderson #152.

• Arden Wells ★☆☆☆☆ November 12, 2025

  My uncle was put here after surgery till he could be able to do stuff on his own. After surgery he was able to walk around by himself but as soon as he was put here they made him lay in bed for the 3 weeks and not do physical therapy when he left could barely walk. They also didn’t bath him for those 3 weeks. Don’t bring your family here.

• Heather ★☆☆☆☆ September 2, 2025

  I am extremely disappointed with the condition of the kitchen at this senior home. The level of cleanliness is unacceptable and poses serious health risks to the residents. The kitchen is consistently dirty, and the staff do not appear to follow even the most basic standards of hygiene. Employees are careless, often neglecting to wash their hands properly and failing to clean dishes and cooking areas as they should.<br><br>It is very concerning to see such disregard for the wellbeing of residents, especially in a facility where proper nutrition and sanitation are critical. The lack of care and professionalism in the kitchen staff shows a troubling indifference toward the residents’ health and quality of life.<br><br>This situation deserves immediate attention and correction. The residents deserve far better than the unsafe and unsanitary environment currently being provided.

• ChristianMetal ★★★★★ July 9, 2025

  As a nurse of 7+ years including a year of pool nursing and 2 yr travel nursing all of MN I'm suprised at people in the reviews, this facility is pretty awesome and the CNAs genuinely care about the residents. You can tell they became healthcare workers for the right reasons. It's pretty organized, this is a good facility, trust me. The only issue i had was not being able to find more stock meds, but I think I forgot where they showed me. Very clean, nice facility.

Frequently asked questions

What is the overall CMS rating for Birchwood Health Care Center?

Birchwood Health Care Center has an overall CMS rating of 2 out of 5 stars.

How did Birchwood Health Care Center score on health inspections?

Birchwood Health Care Center received a health inspection rating of 1 out of 5 stars from CMS.

What is the staffing rating for Birchwood Health Care Center?

Birchwood Health Care Center has a staffing rating of 4 out of 5 stars, based on nurse-to-resident ratios.

How many beds does Birchwood Health Care Center have?

Birchwood Health Care Center has 100 certified beds.

Does Birchwood Health Care Center accept Medicare or Medicaid?

Yes, Birchwood Health Care Center accepts Medicare and Medicaid.

Where is Birchwood Health Care Center located?

Birchwood Health Care Center is located at 604 1st St NE, Forest Lake, 55025, Forest Lake, Minnesota.

How can I contact Birchwood Health Care Center?

You can reach Birchwood Health Care Center by phone at +1 651-464-5600.

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