Buffalo Lake Health Care Center
703 West Yellowstone Trail · Buffalo Lake, MN · 55314 · 3208335364
49 certified beds Non profit - Corporation
Why this verdict
- Inspection results are getting worse cycle over cycle, not better.
- Staffing hours comfortably above national benchmarks.
- No federal fines or payment denials in CMS’s 3-year window.
The composite number cleared 76 points, but Recommended is gated: inspection record below the Recommended bar. That rule is part of the published method.
The complete Safety Report — $19
Everything on this page plus the full citation-by-citation history with inspector findings, the complete penalty record, staffing vs benchmarks, side-by-side nearby comparisons, and the printable tour checklist. One PDF, emailed in minutes, yours to keep and share with family.
Red flags
No red flags in the current CMS record. Genuinely good news — pair it with an in-person tour before deciding.
Score breakdown
Quality-measure stars are deliberately excluded — they're largely self-reported by facilities. Full method.
CMS ratings & staffing
Overall: 4 of 5 Inspections: 3 of 5 Staffing: 5 of 5 Quality measures: 2 of 5
| Total nurse hours / resident-day | 4.81 | 3.48 min · 4.1 strong |
|---|---|---|
| RN hours / resident-day | 0.91 | 0.55–0.75 |
| Weekend hours / resident-day | 3.97 | ≈ weekday level |
| Nursing turnover / year | 32% | median 45% |
| Fines (3-yr window) | none |
Inspection citations (13 in the current record)
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Potential for harm · E January 8, 2026
Immediately tell the resident, the resident's doctor, and a family member of situations (injury/decline/room, etc.) that affect the resident.
Corrected March 5, 2026 · Resident Rights
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Potential for harm · D January 8, 2026
PASARR screening for Mental disorders or Intellectual Disabilities
Corrected March 5, 2026 · Resident Assessment and Care Planning
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Potential for harm · D January 8, 2026
Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
Corrected March 5, 2026 · Quality of Life and Care
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Potential for harm · D January 8, 2026
Ensure therapeutic diets are prescribed by the attending physician and may be delegated to a registered or licensed dietitian, to the extent allowed by State law.
Corrected March 5, 2026 · Nutrition and Dietary
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Potential for harm · F January 8, 2026
Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
Corrected March 5, 2026 · Nutrition and Dietary
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Potential for harm · F January 8, 2026
Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Corrected March 5, 2026 · Infection Control
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Potential for harm · D January 8, 2026
Implement a program that monitors antibiotic use.
Corrected March 5, 2026 · Infection Control
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Potential for harm · F January 8, 2026
Designate a qualified infection preventionist to be responsible for the infection prevent and control program in the nursing home.
Corrected March 5, 2026 · Infection Control
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Potential for harm · D December 28, 2023 · found via complaint
Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
Corrected February 28, 2024 · Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation
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Potential for harm · D December 20, 2023
Immediately tell the resident, the resident's doctor, and a family member of situations (injury/decline/room, etc.) that affect the resident.
Corrected February 23, 2024 · Resident Rights
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Potential for harm · D December 20, 2023
Keep residents' personal and medical records private and confidential.
Corrected February 23, 2024 · Resident Rights
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Potential for harm · D December 20, 2023
Notify the resident or the resident’s representative in writing how long the nursing home will hold the resident’s bed in cases of transfer to a hospital or therapeutic leave.
Corrected February 23, 2024 · Resident Rights
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Potential for harm · D December 20, 2023
Develop and implement policies and procedures for flu and pneumonia vaccinations.
Corrected February 23, 2024 · Infection Control
Better-scoring options nearby
No better-scoring facility within 25 miles in the current data. See the whole state.
Family & resident reviews — a separate signal, never mixed into the score
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Source: CMS Care Compare (public domain), data as of June 1, 2026 · CCN 245589 · certified since November 1, 1991. The score is a screen, not a verdict on any one resident's experience — read how it's computed, then visit in person.