Minnesota Department of Health Facility Complaints
Allegations of physical and sexual abuse as well as neglect are investigated administratively by the Minnesota Department of Health, Office of Health Facility Complaints, (OHFC). They conduct onsite investigations, review records, speak with staff members and resident and his/her family. The OHFC does not review every complaint and therefore they are not all addressed on their website. The determine on the concerns that are investigated include, unsubstantiated, inconclusive and substantiated. The goal is a substantiated complaint which will usually require a root cause analysis and internal investigation and new policies and procedure which are then trained to the nursing home care staff.
View Resolved Minnesota Department of Health Complaints
To search the MDH website by type of result, such as “substantiated” as well as by the type of provider, city, county or provider name.
According to Minnesota Administrative Rule 4658.0015, COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATIONS AND STANDARDS.
A nursing home must operate and provide services in compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and codes, and with accepted professional standards and principles that apply to professionals providing services in a nursing home.
Contacting the Office of Health Facilities Complaints
The Office of Health Facility Complaints (OHFC) serves the general public. Complaints, questions, or concerns must relate to licensed facilities:
- Hospitals
- Nursing homes
- Boarding care homes
- Supervised living facilities
- Assisted living
- Home health agencies
For questions about complaints, call 651-201-4200 or 1-800-369-7994. For all other OHFC inquiries, call 651-201-4201.
OHFC can help patients and residents to enforce their rights.
OHFC does not charge for its services.
Resident Rights to Contact OHFC
According to Minnesota Statute 144A.13, COMPLAINTS; RESIDENT’S RIGHTS, Subdivision 1. Processing, all matters relating to the operation of a nursing home which are the subject of a written complaint from a resident and which are received by a controlling person or employee of the nursing home shall be delivered to the facility’s administrator for evaluation and action. Failure of the administrator within seven days of its receipt to resolve the complaint, or alternatively, the failure of the administrator to make a reply within seven days after its receipt to the complaining resident stating that the complaint did not constitute a valid objection to the nursing home’s operations, shall be a violation of section 144A.10. If a complaint directly involves the activities of a nursing home administrator, the complaint shall be resolved in accordance with this section by a person, other than the administrator, duly authorized by the nursing home to investigate the complaint and implement any necessary corrective measures.
Subd. 2. Resident’s rights. The administrator of a nursing home shall inform each resident in writing at the time of admission of the right to complain to the administrator about facility accommodations and services. A notice of the right to complain shall be posted in the nursing home. The administrator shall also inform each resident of the right to complain to the commissioner of health. No controlling person or employee of a nursing home shall retaliate in any way against a complaining nursing home resident and no nursing home resident may be denied any right available to the resident under chapter 504B.
For more information from the Minnesota Department of Health, Office of Health Facility Complaints concerning nursing homes, assisted living and other elder care providers view resolved complaints at the MDH website.
See resolved substantiated complaints, special focus facility initiative lists and other information on this website at the “facilities” page which is updated regularly.
If you have concerns about elder abuse or neglect contact Minnesota Attorney Kenneth LaBore at 612-743-9048 or toll free at 1-888-452-6589 or by email at KLaBore@MNnursinghomeneglect.com.
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