Palo Alto County Hospital in Emmetsburg, IA
In a medical emergency, call 911. This page is for information only.
About Palo Alto County Hospital
Palo Alto County Hospital is a critical access hospital in Emmetsburg, Palo Alto County, Iowa. It reports its ownership to Medicare as public (local government). It provides emergency services. It is listed as a Level IV trauma center. It does not currently have a CMS Overall Star Rating, which usually means it reports too few measures to be rated. It has 47 licensed beds, according to state license data via HIFLD. It meets the CMS Birthing-Friendly designation criteria for maternity care. The nearest other listed hospital is Avera Holy Family Hospital, about 21 mi away.
Quality ratings
How this hospital compares with the national rate on each measure group:
Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Hospital General Information. How star ratings work.
Emergency room times
Lower times are better. Reporting period ending September 2025. Source: CMS Timely and Effective Care. What these numbers mean.
What patients say
- Would definitely recommend84%
- Rated the hospital 9 or 1089%
- Completed surveys26
Survey period ending September 2025. Source: CMS HCAHPS Patient Survey.
Map
43.11924, -94.69053
Nearby hospitals
- Avera Holy Family Hospital826 North 8th Street, Estherville, IA · Level IV traumaCritical access hospital21 mi
- Spencer Municipal Hospital1200 1st Avenue East, Spencer, IA · Level IV traumaAcute care hospital23 mi
- Kossuth Regional Health Center1515 South Phillips Street, Algona, IA · Level IV traumaCritical access hospital24 mi
Frequently asked questions
Where is Palo Alto County Hospital located?
Palo Alto County Hospital is at 3201 1st Street, Emmetsburg, IA 50536 in Palo Alto County.
Does Palo Alto County Hospital have an emergency room?
Yes. Palo Alto County Hospital reports emergency services to Medicare, and patients spent a median of 103 minutes in its emergency department before leaving. In a life-threatening emergency, call 911.
What is the CMS star rating of Palo Alto County Hospital?
Palo Alto County Hospital does not have a current CMS Overall Star Rating. CMS only rates hospitals that report enough measures; critical access, psychiatric, VA and many small hospitals are often unrated, which says nothing about their quality.
Is Palo Alto County Hospital a trauma center?
Yes. It is listed as a Level IV trauma center in the HIFLD hospitals data, which is compiled from state trauma registries (source date April 2024). Trauma designations are renewed periodically, so confirm with the Iowa EMS or trauma program. In an emergency, call 911: paramedics take seriously injured patients to the right trauma center.
What is the phone number of Palo Alto County Hospital?
The main phone number on record with Medicare is (712) 852-5500.
Would patients recommend Palo Alto County Hospital?
In the most recent HCAHPS patient survey (26 completed surveys), 84% of patients said they would definitely recommend the hospital, and 89% rated it 9 or 10 out of 10.
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