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Complaint Investigation

Minnewaska Community Health Services

November 24, 2025 · Starbuck, MN · 605 Main Street
Citations 1
CMS Rating 1/5
Beds 39
Provider ID 245537
Healthcare Facility
Minnewaska Community Health Services
Starbuck, MN  ·  View full profile →
Inspection Summary

Minnewaska Community Health Services in STARBUCK, MN — inspection on November 24, 2025.

Found 1 citation. Severity: Standard violations.

Health inspections identify deficiencies that facilities must correct within required timeframes. Violations range from minor documentation issues to serious safety concerns and are subject to follow-up verification.

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Inspection Findings

FF0880
Infection Control Deficiencies
Potential for More Than Minimal Harm

During observation on 11/10/25 at 12:45 p.m., director of nursing (DON) walked in hallway near dining room and was heard telling a nursing assistant to remember purple stars means gowns.

Then at 1:02 p.m.

DON applied a purple star to R5's nameplate near R5's door, then moved the dresser with PPE from the end of the hall and placed it next to R5's door.

During interview on 11/10/25 at 1:12 p.m., DON verified R5 had wounds and was on EBP. DON stated her expectation was gowns and gloves be worn during personal cares and wound cares for R5. DON indicated the facility used purple stars to notify staff residents were on EBP. DON confirmed R5 did not have a purple star up until she applied one that afternoon, and she had put purple stars up and PPE outside other residents' rooms that day who were also on EBP. DON further stated her expectation was that staff complete hand hygiene after remove gloves, prior to applying new gloves to prevent spread of infection.

The facility policy titled Enhanced Barrier Precautions, undated, identified EBP was for the prevention of transmission of multidrug resistant organisms.

The facility would have the discretion on how to communicate to staff which residents required the use of EBP, as long as staff were aware of which residents required the use of EBP prior to providing high-contact care activities.

Gowns and gloves would be available immediately near or outside a resident's room and to ensure alcohol-based hand rub was in every resident room, ideally both inside and outside of the room.

Position a trash can inside resident's room and near the exit for discarding PPE after removal.

The facility policy titled Hand Hygiene Policy, undated, identified all staff would perform proper hand hygiene to prevent spread of infection to other personnel, residents, and visitors.

The policy identified if task required gloves, to perform hand hygiene prior to donning gloves, and immediately after removing gloves.

The facility policy titled Clean Dressing Change, undated, identified facility to provide wound care in a manner to decrease potential for infection and/or cross-contamination.

Instructions included to wash hands and put on gloves.

After removing the soiled dressing, remove gloves, wash hands and put on clean gloves.

Clean wound, measure wound, remove gloves, then wash hands and put on new gloves.

Apply ointments or creams, and secure dressing, mark and initial, then dispose of gloves, and wash hands.

Facility ID:

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an F-tag violation?
F-tags are federal deficiency codes used by CMS to categorize nursing home violations. Each F-tag corresponds to a specific federal regulation (42 CFR Part 483). For example, F607 relates to abuse prevention policies, F880 relates to infection control.
Were these violations corrected?
Facilities must submit plans of correction and implement changes within required timeframes. CMS conducts follow-up inspections to verify corrections. Check the inspection report for specific correction dates and follow-up verification status.
How often do nursing home inspections happen?
CMS conducts unannounced inspections of all Medicare/Medicaid-certified nursing homes at least once per year. Additional inspections may occur based on complaints, facility-reported incidents, or follow-up to verify previous violations were corrected.
What should families do about these violations?
Families should: (1) Review the full inspection report for details, (2) Ask facility administration about specific corrective actions taken, (3) Check if this represents a pattern by reviewing prior inspections, (4) Compare with other facilities in STARBUCK, MN, (5) Report new concerns to state authorities.
Where can I see the full inspection report?
Complete inspection reports are available on Medicare.gov's Care Compare website (www.medicare.gov/care-compare). You can also request copies directly from Minnewaska Community Health Services or from the state Department of Health. Reports include deficiency codes, facility responses, and correction timelines.


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