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First Care Medical Services

EIN 41-0706143 · Fosston, MN

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood89 out of 100GovernanceGood80 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WE ARE CALLED TO MAKE A HEALTHY DIFFERENCE IN PEOPLE'S LIVES.

Income
$35.9 million
Spending
$32.5 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
9.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 97%
Employees
259
Volunteers
1
Highest pay
$586,207, physician & section chair

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 89 out of 100. Higher than 81% of charities in its peer group (health care, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 23% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (health care, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    1 of 3 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (1)
  1. $26.8 million spent. FIRST CARE MEDICAL SERVICES, DBA ESSENTIA HEALTH FOSSTON, IS ORGANIZED AND SHALL BE OPERATED EXCLUSIVELY FOR CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL, AND SCIENTIFIC PURPOSES. MORE SPECIFICALLY, ESSENTIA HEALTH FOSSTON IS CREATED AND ORGANIZED TO OWN, MAINTAIN, OPERATE AND CONDUCT, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, AND TO ASSIST AND COORDINATE ACTIVITIES OF FACILITIES FOR HEALTH CARE, EDUCATION, CARE FOR THE AGED AND SOCIAL SERVICES, INCLUDING CHARITABLE CARE TO PERSONS UNABLE TO PAY.ESSENTIA HEALTH FOSSTON HAS A CRITICAL ACCESS HOSPITAL WITH 43 LICENSED BEDS AND PRIMARY CARE CLINICS SERVING POLK, CLEARWATER, MAHNOMEN, AND RED LAKE COUNTIES. THE HOSPITAL IS DESIGNATED AS ACUTE STROKE READY AND OFFERS EMERGENCY CARE 24 HOURS A DAY. ESSENTIA HEALTH FOSSTON OFFERS INPATIENT AND OUTPATIENT SERVICES INCLUDING IMAGING/RADIOLOGY, LAB, SURGERY, AND REHABILITATION.ESSENTIA HEALTH FOSSTON HAS A SKILLED NURSING FACILITY WITH 50 LICENSED BEDS CONNECTED TO THE HOSPITAL THAT SERVES PEOPLE WHO NEED SKILLED CARE BEYOND THE HOSPITAL AND WANT TO REMAIN IN THE COMMUNITY. IN ADDITION, PRAIRIE PINES COMMUNITY HOUSING PROVIDES ASSISTED LIVING APARTMENTS WITH A MENU OF SERVICES THAT CAN BE ASSESSED BASED ON NEED.ESSENTIA HEALTH FOSSTON EMPLOYS APPROXIMATELY 145 FULL TIME EQUIVALENTS. THE HOSPITAL PROVIDED APPROXIMATELY 1,300 HOSPITAL PATIENT DAYS AND 27,000 OUTPATIENT VISITS DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2025. THE CLINICS HAD NEARLY 25,000 ENCOUNTERS AND THE SKILLED NURSING FACILITY PROVIDED 10,000 RESIDENT DAYS DURING THE SAME TIME PERIOD.DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2025, ESSENTIA HEALTH FOSSTON PROVIDED THE FOLLOWING COMMUNITY BENEFITS: $272,000 IN CHARITY CARE, $229,000 COSTS IN EXCESS OF MEDICAID PAYMENTS, $94,000 IN COMMUNITY SERVICES, AND $23,000 IN HEALTH PROFESSION EDUCATION.ESSENTIA HEALTH IS THE PARENT ORGANIZATION OF AN INTEGRATED HEALTH SYSTEM THAT INCLUDES THIS ORGANIZATION AND ALL ENTITIES THAT ARE OWNED OR CONTROLLED, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, BY ESSENTIA HEALTH (COLLECTIVELY, THE "SYSTEM OR "ESSENTIA HEALTH").

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since January 1994.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.

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