Palo Alto County Hospital
Emmetsburg, Iowa
3201 First Street, Emmetsburg, IA, 50536
Palo Alto County Hospital Quality & Safety Report
Good
CMS Official Overall: 5★ / 5
CMS data as of January 2026
This score is calculated from three federally reported CMS metrics: Health Inspections (weighted 50%), Staffing levels (25%), and Quality Measures (25%). Facilities with serious safety findings receive score deductions. For centers with 5+ Google reviews, resident feedback contributes 15% of the final score. Learn more →
Safety & Inspections
- Health deficiencies
- National median: 7
CMS data as of January 1, 2026
Staffing breakdown
Average hours of nursing care each resident receives per day, by staff role. Higher numbers generally indicate more attentive care.
- Total nurse staffing
- National median: 4.12 hrs
- Registered nurse (RN) 1.96 hrs
- Licensed practical nurse (LPN) 0.15 hrs
- Certified nursing aide (CNA) 1.81 hrs
Quality rating trend
Overall rating stable at 5 stars across 18 data points.
- Overall
- Health inspection
- Staffing
- Quality measures
Facility profile
- Type
- Skilled Nursing Facility · Building
- Capacity
- 22 certified beds · ~22 avg residents/day (98% occupancy)
- Ownership
- Government - County
- Payment accepted
- Medicaid (Medicaid)
About
Palo Alto County Hospital is a government-owned skilled nursing facility in Emmetsburg, Iowa, featuring 22 licensed beds. The center maintains a five-star overall rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, supported by a five-star staffing designation and a four-star health inspection score. Clinical performance is reflected in a three-star rating for quality measures.
Location
3201 First Street, Emmetsburg, IA, 50536, Emmetsburg, IA
Frequently asked questions
- What is the overall CMS rating for Palo Alto County Hospital?
- Palo Alto County Hospital has an overall CMS rating of 5 out of 5 stars.
- How did Palo Alto County Hospital score on health inspections?
- Palo Alto County Hospital received a health inspection rating of 4 out of 5 stars from CMS.
- What is the staffing rating for Palo Alto County Hospital?
- Palo Alto County Hospital has a staffing rating of 5 out of 5 stars, based on nurse-to-resident ratios.
- How many beds does Palo Alto County Hospital have?
- Palo Alto County Hospital has 22 certified beds.
- Does Palo Alto County Hospital accept Medicare or Medicaid?
- Yes, Palo Alto County Hospital accepts Medicaid.
- Where is Palo Alto County Hospital located?
- Palo Alto County Hospital is located at 3201 First Street, Emmetsburg, IA, 50536, Emmetsburg, Iowa.
- How can I contact Palo Alto County Hospital?
- You can reach Palo Alto County Hospital by phone at +1 712-852-5520.
Nearby facilities
- Lakeside Lutheran Home 0.4 mi
301 North Lawler Street, Emmetsburg, IA, 50536
- Emmetsburg Care Center 1.4 mi
2405 21st Street, Emmetsburg, IA, 50536
About this data
How to read this page
Star ratings vs. Care Quality Score: The Google star rating reflects visitor and family opinions collected from public reviews. The Care Quality Score is an independent metric derived entirely from federal inspection data — the two measure different things, and comparing them side-by-side gives a fuller picture.
Where this data comes from
All clinical data on this page originates from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the federal agency that certifies and inspects every Medicare- and Medicaid-participating nursing home in the United States. Reviews are imported verbatim from public Google business listings.
What to do next
Data is a starting point, not a final answer. We encourage families to visit facilities in person, observe daily routines, and speak with staff and residents. See our guide: Questions to Ask When Visiting →
Listing data sourced from CMS provider records and public Google business data. ACD-HUB independently aggregates and never accepts paid placement.