Palo Alto County Hospital
Emmetsburg, IA · Medicaid-certified nursing home (CCN 16E668) · 22 certified beds
Health inspection: 4 · Quality measures: 4 · Staffing: 4
Federal fines: none on current record
Phone: (712) 852-5520 · Verify on Medicare Care Compare ↗
Palo Alto County Hospital has a CMS overall star rating of 4 out of 5, above the Iowa state average of 3.07 stars. Its health inspection rating and staffing rating are both also 4 out of 5.
Palo Alto County Hospital reports total nurse staffing of about 3.07 hours per resident per day, including 1.36 RN hours per resident per day, with a staffing star rating of 4 out of 5. Nursing staff turnover is reported at 17.6%.
Palo Alto County Hospital has no federal fines on record, with 0 fines totaling $0.00 and no payment denials reported to CMS. There is no CMS abuse icon flagged for this facility, and it is not part of CMS's Special Focus program.
About this facility
Palo Alto County Hospital is a government (county)-owned nursing home in Emmetsburg, Iowa, certified for 22 beds with an average daily census of 21.8 residents. It has been Medicare/Medicaid-certified since February 5, 1986, and its provider type is listed as Medicaid.
According to CMS Care Compare, the facility holds an overall star rating of 4 out of 5, which is above the Iowa state average of 3.07. Its component ratings are also strong: 4 stars for health inspections, 4 stars for quality measures, and 4 stars for staffing.
Nurse staffing data reported to CMS show total nurse staffing of approximately 3.07 hours per resident per day, including 1.36 registered nurse hours per resident per day. Nursing staff turnover is reported at 17.6%.
On penalties, CMS records show no federal fines on record for this facility (0 fines totaling $0.00), and no payment denials have been reported. There is no abuse icon flagged for this facility in the data provided, and it is not listed under CMS's Special Focus program, which is reserved for facilities CMS identifies as persistently underperforming and subject to increased inspection scrutiny.
No chain affiliation is indicated in the available data, and there is no record of an ownership change within the past 12 months, so current ratings should reflect the current operator.
This profile is based on data from CMS Medicare Care Compare; families are encouraged to verify current details directly on Care Compare before making decisions.
Questions families ask
What is this nursing home's CMS overall star rating and how does it compare to the state average?
Palo Alto County Hospital has an overall rating of 4 out of 5 stars, which is above the Iowa state average of 3.07.
Does this facility accept Medicare, Medicaid, or both?
CMS lists this facility's provider type as Medicaid; contact the facility at 7128525520 or check Medicare Care Compare to confirm Medicare participation.
How well is this facility staffed — nurse hours per resident and turnover?
Total nurse staffing is about 3.07 hours per resident per day, including 1.36 RN hours, with 17.6% nursing turnover and a staffing star rating of 4 out of 5.
Does this facility have federal fines or penalties on record?
No, CMS records show 0 fines totaling $0.00 and no payment denials for this facility.
Has CMS flagged this facility for abuse or placed it in the Special Focus program?
No abuse icon or Special Focus designation is indicated in the available CMS data for this facility.
How large is this facility and how many residents live there?
The facility is certified for 22 beds and had an average of 21.8 residents.
Who owns this facility — and is it part of a chain?
It is owned by a county government entity, and no chain affiliation is indicated in the data.
How long has this facility been Medicare/Medicaid certified?
The facility has been certified since February 5, 1986.
What do the four different CMS star ratings mean?
CMS rates facilities on overall, health inspection, staffing, and quality measures; here they are 4, 4, 4, and 4 out of 5, respectively.
Does this facility offer short-term rehabilitation as well as long-term care?
The provided data does not specify; contact the facility at 7128525520 or check the Medicare Care Compare listing to confirm.
What should I look for when touring this facility?
This data does not cover tour details; contact the facility at 7128525520 to arrange a visit and verify current conditions.
How do I verify this facility's current record on Medicare Care Compare?
You can view the most current details at https://www.medicare.gov/care-compare/details/nursing-home/16E668?state=IA.
Data: CMS Care Compare (Aug2026 refresh). Star ratings, staffing hours, and penalty records are CMS's official published measures. Always tour the facility, review the current inspection record, and verify details with Medicare before making care decisions.