Franciscan Health Center
Nursing Home Facility
3910 Minnesota Avenue, Duluth, MN 55802
n February 1995, St. Francis Health Services of Morris, Minnesota, sponsored by the Diocese of St. Cloud, purchased Surf & Sand Nursing Home and re-named the facility the "Franciscan Health Center". At the Franciscan Health Center, because of our small size, we are more able to enhance each individual's life with professional and caring services, and to help resident’s achieve their highest potential. The Franciscan Health Center is a Medicare and Medicaid certified facility providing all levels of care: short term stays for rehabilitative care and long term care. Franciscan also provides services and programs for special needs including respite care.
Operated by St. Francis Health Services, which runs 13 communities in our directory.
With 47 beds, Franciscan Health Center is smaller than most nearby options, senior care communities in Duluth average about 87 beds. Smaller communities often mean more consistent day-to-day staffing and a calmer environment, while larger ones may have more specialized services on site. Which suits a particular person depends on the level of care needed.
Federal reporting puts occupancy at about 78% of its licensed beds.
Medicare rates this community 1 out of 5 stars overall, a score based on health inspections, staffing levels and quality measures. Communities in Duluth average about 2.1 stars. The individual scores differ noticeably: 4 stars for staffing against 2 stars for health inspections, so it is worth reading both before deciding. Its most recent standard health inspection was in February 2026 and recorded 14 deficiencies.
Residents receive about 3.8 hours of nursing care per day on average, including 1.2 hours from a registered nurse. Nursing staff turnover over the past year was about 46%.
The community is located in Saint Louis County, MN.
Inspection record
In its last three standard inspections and any complaint visits, federal inspectors cited 41 problems at Franciscan Health Center. None of them caused harm to a resident. 7 came from investigating complaints by residents or families.
Findings from the most recent inspection cycle
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Could cause more than minimal harm, widespread
Nursing and Physician Services
Provide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift.
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Could cause more than minimal harm, a pattern
Pharmacy Service
Ensure drugs and biologicals used in the facility are labeled in accordance with currently accepted professional principles; and all drugs and biologicals must be stored in locked compartments, separately locked, compartments for controlled drugs.
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Could cause more than minimal harm, a pattern
Nutrition and Dietary
Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
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Could cause more than minimal harm, a pattern
Infection Control
Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
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Could cause more than minimal harm, one or a few residents
Resident Assessment and Care Planning
Ensure each resident receives an accurate assessment.
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Could cause more than minimal harm, one or a few residents
Resident Assessment and Care Planning
PASARR screening for Mental disorders or Intellectual Disabilities
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Could cause more than minimal harm, one or a few residents
Resident Assessment and Care Planning
Develop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.
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Could cause more than minimal harm, one or a few residents
Quality of Life and Care
Provide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.
Show 6 more
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Could cause more than minimal harm, one or a few residents
Quality of Life and Care
Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
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Could cause more than minimal harm, one or a few residents
Quality of Life and Care
Provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.
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Could cause more than minimal harm, one or a few residents
Quality of Life and Care
Provide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.
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Could cause more than minimal harm, one or a few residents
Infection Control
Develop and implement policies and procedures for flu and pneumonia vaccinations.
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Could cause more than minimal harm, one or a few residents
Infection Control
Educate residents and staff on COVID-19 vaccination, offer the COVID-19 vaccine to eligible residents and staff after education, and properly document each resident and staff member's vaccination status.
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Could cause more than minimal harm, one or a few residents
Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation
Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
A citation on its own does not mean poor care, and most are corrected within weeks. What matters most is how serious the findings were and whether the same problems keep coming back. When you visit, it is fair to ask the administrator what inspectors found and what has changed since.
Franciscan Health Center offers nursing home care and senior living.
Facility details
- Organization type Non profit - Corporation
- Beds / units 47
- Occupancy 78%
- Nursing hours per resident/day 3.8
- Annual staff turnover 46%
- Last health inspection February 2026
Resident & family reviews
No one has shared a review of Franciscan Health Center yet. If you or someone you love has lived here, what you saw could help another family make this decision with more confidence.