
Report
TheVardellReport
Thief River Care Center
Skilled nursing facility and nursing facility
2001 Eastwood Drive
Thief River Falls, MN 56701

TheVardellReport
Skilled nursing facility and nursing facility
2001 Eastwood Drive
Thief River Falls, MN 56701
Life by Vardell Presents
The deeper story, beautifully organized. Available records, historical context, and questions worth asking.
This report is free. Vardell does not certify, grade or endorse; it shows what the record documents.
The Essentials
Across 8 inspections from November 2023 to April 2026, state surveyors documented 26 findings at Thief River Care Center; 26 have a recorded correction; CMS lists 7 enforcement actions in the window.
* Partial year, through October 1, 2026.
| Year | Inspections | Findings | Of which, actual harm (level G or above) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
| 2024 | 4 | 7 | 2 |
| 2025 | 2 | 10 | 2 |
| 2026 | 1 | 5 | 0 |
Chronology
Every inspection in the record window, newest first. A finding is a deficiency an inspector cited. CMS publishes what a complaint investigation cited, not what the complaint alleged.
5 findings
The same visit included a complaint investigation.
Source: Health inspection results, as published by CMS (Health Deficiencies and Inspection Dates, Provider Data Catalog)
1 finding
Source: Health inspection results, as published by CMS (Health Deficiencies and Inspection Dates, Provider Data Catalog)
9 findings
The same visit included a complaint investigation.
Enforcement Action
Civil money penalty, $124,800 imposed January 16, 2025. CMS publishes the fine, not whether it has been paid. CMS does not tie a penalty to a survey; listed with the standard health inspection of January 16, 2025, the nearest before the penalty date.
Enforcement Action
Denial of payment imposed January 16, 2025. Status: Closed, March 14, 2025. CMS does not tie a penalty to a survey; listed with the standard health inspection of January 16, 2025, the nearest before the penalty date.
Enforcement Action
Civil money penalty, $26,685 imposed December 30, 2025. CMS publishes the fine, not whether it has been paid. CMS does not tie a penalty to a survey; listed with the standard health inspection of January 16, 2025, the nearest before the penalty date.
Source: Health inspection results, as published by CMS (Health Deficiencies and Inspection Dates, Provider Data Catalog)
1 finding
Source: Health inspection results, as published by CMS (Health Deficiencies and Inspection Dates, Provider Data Catalog)
2 findings
Source: Health inspection results, as published by CMS (Health Deficiencies and Inspection Dates, Provider Data Catalog)
2 findings
Source: Health inspection results, as published by CMS (Health Deficiencies and Inspection Dates, Provider Data Catalog)
2 findings
Source: Health inspection results, as published by CMS (Health Deficiencies and Inspection Dates, Provider Data Catalog)
4 findings
Enforcement Action
Civil money penalty, $9,315 imposed November 1, 2023. CMS publishes the fine, not whether it has been paid. CMS does not tie a penalty to a survey; listed with the standard health inspection of November 1, 2023, the nearest before the penalty date.
Enforcement Action
Denial of payment imposed November 1, 2023. Status: Closed, December 1, 2023. CMS does not tie a penalty to a survey; listed with the standard health inspection of November 1, 2023, the nearest before the penalty date.
Enforcement Action
Civil money penalty, $65,302 imposed January 3, 2024. CMS publishes the fine, not whether it has been paid. CMS does not tie a penalty to a survey; listed with the standard health inspection of November 1, 2023, the nearest before the penalty date.
Enforcement Action
Civil money penalty, $19,800 imposed April 12, 2024. CMS publishes the fine, not whether it has been paid. CMS does not tie a penalty to a survey; listed with the standard health inspection of November 1, 2023, the nearest before the penalty date.
Source: Health inspection results, as published by CMS (Health Deficiencies and Inspection Dates, Provider Data Catalog)
Severity levels follow the CMS scope and severity grid. A–C: potential for minimal harm. D–F: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm. G–I: actual harm. J–L: immediate jeopardy.
Context
A repeated citation can merit attention, but context and corrective action must be reviewed before drawing a conclusion.
Inspectors cited F689 in January 2024, January 2025, December 2025 and April 2026. This citation covers whether residents are protected from accident hazards and supervised closely enough to prevent accidents, including falls. The most serious of these was recorded at level J (immediate jeopardy). Each citation has a recorded correction, and a repeat after correction is worth a direct question.
Inspectors cited F609 in January 2024, April 2024 and April 2024. This citation covers whether suspected abuse, neglect or theft is reported to the authorities on time, with the results of the home’s investigation. None rose above level D (no actual harm, potential for more). Each citation has a recorded correction, and a repeat after correction is worth a direct question.
Inspectors cited F677 in November 2023, January 2025 and April 2026. This citation covers help with bathing, dressing, eating and toileting for residents who cannot manage alone. None rose above level D (no actual harm, potential for more). Each citation has a recorded correction, and a repeat after correction is worth a direct question.
Inspectors cited F686 in January 2025 and April 2026. This citation covers how the home prevents and treats pressure injuries (bedsores). None rose above level D (no actual harm, potential for more). Each citation has a recorded correction, and a repeat after correction is worth a direct question.
Inspectors cited F812 in November 2023 and January 2025. This citation covers how food is stored, prepared and served. None rose above level F (no actual harm, potential for more). Each citation has a recorded correction, and a repeat after correction is worth a direct question.
For Your Next Visit
Bring these to the tour. Each one comes from something in the record; the reason is under the question.
What changed in fall prevention and supervision after the last citation, and how do you check that it is still working?
Accident Hazards and Supervision: cited in four inspections, most seriously at level J.
How are staff trained to report suspected abuse or neglect, and who reports it to the state?
Reporting Suspected Abuse: cited in three inspections, most seriously at level D.
How long do residents usually wait for help with bathing, dressing or the bathroom, and how is that tracked?
Help With Daily Living: cited in three inspections, most seriously at level D.
How often are residents checked for pressure injuries and repositioned, and who is responsible for it?
Pressure Injury Care: cited in two inspections, most seriously at level D.
May we see the kitchen, and what do your own sanitation checks look like week to week?
Kitchen and Food Safety: cited in two inspections, most seriously at level F.
How many nurses and aides are on each shift, including nights and weekends, for the unit we are considering?
No staffing citation appears in this window. Staffing levels are published separately by CMS and are worth asking about directly.
What led to the 2025 fine, and has it been paid?
A $26,685 civil money penalty was imposed December 30, 2025. CMS publishes the fine, not whether it has been paid. The record holds seven enforcement actions in the window.
The Evidence
Inspection results and penalties are published by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services from surveys conducted by the Minnesota state survey agency.
Minnesota state survey agency
Inspection Nov 1, 2023 · Published Oct 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
Minnesota state survey agency
Inspection Jan 3, 2024 · Published Oct 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
Minnesota state survey agency
Inspection Apr 12, 2024 · Published Oct 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
Minnesota state survey agency
Inspection Apr 19, 2024 · Published Oct 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
Minnesota state survey agency
Inspection May 2, 2024 · Published Oct 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
Minnesota state survey agency
Inspection Jan 16, 2025 · Published Oct 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
Minnesota state survey agency
Inspection Dec 30, 2025 · Published Oct 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
Minnesota state survey agency
Inspection Apr 1, 2026 · Published Oct 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Published Oct 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · 245252
Published Oct 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
Record windowNovember 1, 2023 – October 1, 2026
Historical coverage varies by agency and location. Missing records do not mean that no complaint or violation occurred.
Data architecture: Cierto supplies the source-backed machine-readable bundle. Life by Vardell independently creates the narrative, design, and consumer report.