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HomeIowaPalo Alto County Hospital

Palo Alto County Hospital

3201 First Street, Emmetsburg, IA 505367128525520WebsiteGoogle Maps
3.9on Google(26 reviews)
4/5Above Average
Accepts Medicaid Sprinkler System

CMS data snapshot: July 2026

Health
4/5
Staffing
4/5
Quality
4/5
Beds
22
certified

How Palo Alto County Hospital Compares in Iowa

Facility results compared with averages for CMS-certified nursing homes in Iowa. Ratings, staffing and turnover measure different parts of care and should be reviewed together.

CMS overall rating
4/5
IA average
3.1/5
Above state average
Health inspection rating
4/5
IA average
2.8/5
Above state average
Staffing rating
4/5
IA average
3.6/5
Above state average
Nursing hours per resident
3.07 hrs/day
IA average
3.81 hrs/day
Below state average
RN hours per resident
1.36 hrs/day
IA average
0.74 hrs/day
Above state average
Staff turnover
17.6%
IA average
44.1%
Lower than state average

Comparisons use the matching CMS state averages without a proprietary combined score. Review the comparison methodology.

What the Data Highlights

Its 4/5 overall CMS rating is above the Iowa average of 3.1/5.
Its 4/5 health inspection rating is above the Iowa average of 2.8/5.
Reported nursing time is 3.07 hours per resident per day, below the state average of 3.81.
Reported RN time is 1.36 hours per resident per day, above the state average of 0.74.

Health Inspection Trend

A side-by-side view of the two CMS inspection cycles included in the current dataset.

Previous cycle
0
deficiency citations
Inspected Aug 29, 2024
Most recent cycle
1
deficiency citation
Inspected Jul 17, 2025
The most recent cycle recorded 1 more deficiency citation than the previous cycle.

Citation counts alone do not show severity. Review the inspection details below for scope, severity and correction status.

Cost & Demographics

Semi-Private Room
$7,148/mo
Iowa median
Private Room
$8,091/mo
Iowa median
Palo Alto County 65+
1,965
22.0% of county
County Population
8,938
Palo Alto County

Cost data: Genworth/CareScout Cost of Care Survey (2024). Demographics: U.S. Census Bureau ACS (2022).

Swipe tabs for staffing, quality and ownership.

Palo Alto County Hospital is a 4-star Medicaid certified nursing home in Emmetsburg, Iowa with 22 certified beds. It has been operating since 1986. Its overall CMS rating is 4 out of 5.

Beds
22
Avg Residents/Day
21.8
Ownership
Government - County
Provider Type
Medicaid
In Hospital
Yes
First Approved
Feb 5, 1986
Sprinklers
Yes
Council
Resident
County
Palo Alto
Last Inspection
Jul 17, 2025
Deficiencies (Cycle 1)
1
Weighted Score
12.0
Infection Citations
0

Deficiency Citations (1)

F0851Potential for Harm

Electronically submit to CMS complete and accurate direct care staffing information, based on payroll and other verifiable and auditable data.

Survey: Jul 17, 2025Corrected: NoCycle: 1
Total Fines
$0
Number of Fines
0
Payment Denials
0
Total Penalties
0

No penalties on record.

Staffing hours per resident per day. The black line shows the national average.

Nurse Aide1.57 hrs
National avg: 2.32 hrs
LPN0.13 hrs
National avg: 0.86 hrs
RN1.36 hrs
National avg: 0.69 hrs
Total Nursing3.07 hrs
National avg: 3.86 hrs
Weekend Total2.30 hrs
National avg: 0.00 hrs
Physical Therapist0.00 hrs
National avg: 0.07 hrs
Total Turnover
17.6%
RN Turnover
14.3%
Administrators Left
0

Quality measures as percentages of residents. Lower is better for all measures.

Ownership Type
Government - County
Recent Change
No

Owners & Managers (1)

NameRoleTypeOwnership %Since
Ownership Data Not AvailableN/AN/A

Compare Nearby Nursing Homes

Compare CMS ratings and recorded fines for Palo Alto County Hospital and nearby alternatives.

All Iowa facilities
Palo Alto County Hospital
Emmetsburg, IACurrent facility
CMS
4/5
Health
4/5
Staffing
4/5
Recorded fines: None
Lakeside Lutheran Home
Emmetsburg, IA2,112 ft
CMS
3/5
Health
3/5
Staffing
5/5
Recorded fines: None
Emmetsburg Care Center
Emmetsburg, IA1.3 mi
CMS
1/5
Health
1/5
Staffing
3/5
Recorded fines: $25,695
Ruthven Community Care Center
Ruthven, IA10.6 mi
CMS
4/5
Health
4/5
Staffing
4/5
Recorded fines: None
West Bend Health and Rehabilitation
West Bend, IA16.6 mi
CMS
4/5
Health
3/5
Staffing
3/5
Recorded fines: None
Estherville Community Care Center
Estherville, IA20.6 mi
CMS
3/5
Health
3/5
Staffing
4/5
Recorded fines: None
Laurens Care Center
Laurens, IA20.6 mi
CMS
4/5
Health
3/5
Staffing
5/5
Recorded fines: None
FacilityDistanceCMSHealthStaffingRecorded fines
Palo Alto County Hospital
Emmetsburg, IA · Current facility
—4/54/54/5None recorded
Lakeside Lutheran Home
Emmetsburg, IA
2,112 ft3/53/55/5None recorded
Emmetsburg Care Center
Emmetsburg, IA
1.3 mi1/51/53/5$25,695
Ruthven Community Care Center
Ruthven, IA
10.6 mi4/54/54/5None recorded
West Bend Health and Rehabilitation
West Bend, IA
16.6 mi4/53/53/5None recorded
Estherville Community Care Center
Estherville, IA
20.6 mi3/53/54/5None recorded
Laurens Care Center
Laurens, IA
20.6 mi4/53/55/5None recorded

Distance is approximate. Ratings and enforcement data use the current CMS snapshot; recorded fines are not a complete measure of care quality. How nearby facilities are selected.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the CMS rating for Palo Alto County Hospital?▾
Palo Alto County Hospital has an overall CMS rating of 4 out of 5 stars, with a health inspection rating of 4/5, staffing rating of 4/5, and quality measures rating of 4/5. This facility is rated above average.
How much does Palo Alto County Hospital cost per month?▾
While individual facility pricing is not publicly available, the median nursing home cost in Iowa is $7,148/month for a semi-private room and $8,091/month for a private room (Genworth/CareScout 2024). Palo Alto County Hospital participates in Medicaid, which may cover some or all costs depending on eligibility.
Has Palo Alto County Hospital had any health inspection violations?▾
Palo Alto County Hospital had 1 deficiency citations in its most recent health inspection (Jul 17, 2025). The current CMS dataset records no fines for this facility.
What are the staffing levels at Palo Alto County Hospital?▾
Palo Alto County Hospital provides 3.07 total nursing staff hours per resident per day, including 1.36 RN hours, 0.13 LPN hours, and 1.57 nurse aide hours. The total staff turnover rate is 17.6%.
How many beds does Palo Alto County Hospital have?▾
Palo Alto County Hospital has 22 certified beds with an average of 21.8 residents per day, resulting in approximately 99% occupancy. The facility is Government - County owned.
Are there other nursing homes near Palo Alto County Hospital?▾
Yes. This page lists 6 nearby nursing homes in Iowa, including 2 in Emmetsburg. Compare their CMS ratings, staffing, inspections and fines before choosing a facility.
What do patients and families say about Palo Alto County Hospital?▾
On Google Maps, Palo Alto County Hospital has a rating of 3.9 out of 5 based on 26 reviews. This is an independent rating from visitors and families, separate from the official CMS government rating of 4/5.