Essentia Health Northern Pines Medical Center
5★ official rating · 33 beds
Official inspection rating
Essentia Health
6 nursing homes · 1 state · 255 beds
average official
inspection rating
inspection rating
Essentia Health at a glance
- Nursing homes
- 6
- States
- 1
- Licensed beds
- 255
- Average rating
- 4.3★
- Rated 4★ or better
- 83%
Is Essentia Health a good nursing home group?
Across 6 rated homes, Essentia Health averages 4.3★ on official inspection ratings — above the roughly 3.0★ national average. 83% of its rated homes earn 4★ or better, while 17% sit at 1–2★. That’s a stronger-than-average record overall, but ratings still vary from location to location — judge each home on its own.
A group-wide number can’t tell you about the specific home near you — quality varies by location. Open each home below to see its own official inspection rating before you decide.
Essentia Health quality vs. the national average
Across the 6 homes with an official inspection rating, Essentia Health averages 4.3★. 83% are rated 4★ or better, and 17% are rated 1–2★. These are official government inspection ratings — a group-wide average hides a lot, so open each home below and judge it on its own.
| Measure | Essentia Health | National average |
|---|---|---|
| Average rating | 4.3★ | 3.0★ |
| Homes rated 4★ or better | 83% | 40% |
| Homes rated 1–2★ | 17% | 41% |
How Essentia Health’s homes are distributed
- 5★4
- 4★1
- 3★0
- 2★1
- 1★0
Essentia Health nursing home ratings by state
Where Essentia Health operates and how its homes rate in each state. Ratings are the average of that state’s homes with an official inspection rating. Pick a state to browse every nursing home there.
| State | Homes | Avg. rating |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | 6 | 4.3★ |
Highest-rated Essentia Health homes
The best-rated Essentia Health nursing homes we have on record, by official inspection rating.
Lowest-rated Essentia Health homes
The lowest-rated Essentia Health homes we have on record — the ones to look at most closely and ask the most questions about.
About Essentia Health
Essentia Health is an integrated healthcare system serving primarily Minnesota, North Dakota, and Wisconsin, combining hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, and various senior care facilities including skilled nursing homes.
Founded through the merger of Benedictine Health System and the St. Mary’s/Duluth Clinic Health System, Essentia Health emerged as a physician-led nonprofit organization, guided by Catholic values and emphasizing mission-driven care.
Corporate governance is nonprofit in nature, with dyadic leadership that pairs physicians and executives. The system is organized into regional 'markets'—East Market and West Market—each overseen by a regional president under the leadership of a system-wide CEO.
Essentia operates a modest footprint in senior care: as of the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, the system includes six long-term care (skilled nursing) facilities and five assisted and independent living facilities.
Within its broader healthcare services, Essentia also includes 14 hospitals, 80 clinics, 29 pharmacies, ambulance services, and a research & education institute, reflecting its comprehensive system-level capabilities.
Essentia Health is known for integrating senior care into its broader continuum—facilitating transitions between hospitals, clinics, and SNFs—and participating in Medicare Shared Savings and Collaborative Care Networks that connect skilled nursing partners to streamline post-acute care.
- Founded
- 2004
- Headquarters
- Duluth, Minnesota
- Website
- www.essentiahealth.org
Leadership
Researched summary — facts drawn from cited public sources, in our own words. Ratings shown are official government inspection ratings.
Where Essentia Health operates
Essentia Health runs nursing homes in Minnesota. Pick a state to see every Essentia Health home there alongside every other nursing home in the area.
All homes Essentia Health runs
Each home is listed with its official inspection rating — from government health inspections, staffing, and quality data. A visit is still the best test.
- Essentia Health Homestead
2★ official rating · 32 beds
Official inspection rating - Essentia Health Oak Crossing
5★ official rating · 84 beds
Official inspection rating - First Care Living Center
4★ official rating · 36 beds
Official inspection rating - Essentia Health Grace Home
5★ official rating · 30 beds
Official inspection rating - Essentia Health Virginia Care Cent
5★ official rating · 40 beds
Official inspection rating
Frequently asked questions about Essentia Health
- How many nursing homes does Essentia Health operate?
- Essentia Health operates 6 nursing homes across 1 state with about 255 licensed beds in total.
- What states does Essentia Health operate in?
- Essentia Health runs nursing homes in Minnesota. Its largest presence is in Minnesota.
- Is Essentia Health a good nursing home group?
- Across 6 rated homes, Essentia Health averages 4.3★ on official inspection ratings — above the roughly 3.0★ national average. 83% of its rated homes earn 4★ or better, while 17% sit at 1–2★. That’s a stronger-than-average record overall, but ratings still vary from location to location — judge each home on its own.
- Where is Essentia Health headquartered?
- Essentia Health is headquartered in Duluth, Minnesota.
- How are these ratings determined?
- The ratings shown are official government inspection ratings. They combine on-site health inspections, staffing levels, and clinical quality measures into an overall score from 1 to 5 stars for each home — the same official data families and regulators use.