Palo Alto County Hospital
3201 First Street, Emmetsburg, IA 50536
Palo Alto County Hospital is a nursing home in Emmetsburg, Iowa. This page lists the citations, fines and star ratings that CMS publishes for it. Each one has a date and a link to CMS.
At a glance
- CMS overall star rating5 of 5
- Last standard health inspectionJuly 17, 2025 (1 year ago)
- Health citations since July 17, 20251 (Iowa average 21)
- Fines in the past three yearsNone listed by CMS
- CMS flagsNone listed by CMS
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One email per CMS update, only when something changed: a new citation, a fine, a star rating change, a new owner. Early access follows one home per address.
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CMS flags
CMS does not list this home as a Special Focus Facility or a candidate. CMS does not show an abuse icon for it. CMS lists no change of ownership in the past 12 months.
Inspections, fines and changes
This list shows every citation and fine in CMS's current data, which covers about the last three years. It also shows changes CMS made to this home's ratings and records.
CMS update of October 28, 2026
Star rating
The CMS overall star rating changed from 4 of 5 to 5 of 5.
Star rating
The CMS quality measures star rating changed from 4 of 5 to 5 of 5.
Staffing
Total nurse staffing reported to CMS went from 3.1 to 2.7 hours per resident per day.
CMS update of July 29, 2026
Star rating
The CMS quality measures star rating changed from 3 of 5 to 4 of 5.
CMS update of April 29, 2026
Star rating
The CMS overall star rating changed from 5 of 5 to 4 of 5.
Star rating
The CMS staffing star rating changed from 5 of 5 to 4 of 5.
CMS update of February 25, 2026
Star rating
The CMS overall star rating changed from 4 of 5 to 5 of 5.
Star rating
The CMS staffing star rating changed from 4 of 5 to 5 of 5.
Star rating
The CMS quality measures star rating changed from 4 of 5 to 3 of 5.
CMS update of November 20, 2025
Star rating
The CMS overall star rating changed from 5 of 5 to 4 of 5. CMS changed how it scores this rating for many homes at once.
Star rating
The CMS health inspection star rating changed from 5 of 5 to 4 of 5. CMS changed how it scores this rating for many homes at once.
CMS update of July 30, 2025
Star rating
The CMS quality measures star rating changed from 5 of 5 to 4 of 5.
Health inspection on July 17, 2025
1 citationCMS lists this as a standard inspection.
Show the 1 citation
Citation F0851. Severity F: potential for more than minimal harm, widespread.
The rule CMS cited:
Electronically submit to CMS complete and accurate direct care staffing information, based on payroll and other verifiable and auditable data.
CMS lists it as corrected on August 7, 2025.
Fire safety inspection on July 17, 2025
2 citationsCMS lists this as a standard inspection.
Show the 2 citations
Citation K0712. Severity F: potential for more than minimal harm, widespread.
The rule CMS cited:
Have simulated fire drills held at unexpected times.
CMS lists it as corrected on July 22, 2025.
CMS has cited this home for K0712 2 times since 2024.
Citation K0918. Severity F: potential for more than minimal harm, widespread.
The rule CMS cited:
Have generator or other power source capable of supplying service within 10 seconds.
CMS lists it as corrected on July 22, 2025.
CMS has cited this home for K0918 2 times since 2023.
CMS update of February 26, 2025
Star rating
The CMS quality measures star rating changed from 4 of 5 to 5 of 5. CMS changed how it scores this rating for many homes at once.
CMS update of October 30, 2024
Star rating
The CMS staffing star rating changed from 5 of 5 to 4 of 5.
Star rating
The CMS quality measures star rating changed from 5 of 5 to 4 of 5.
Fire safety inspection on August 29, 2024
2 citationsCMS lists this as a standard inspection.
Show the 2 citations
Citation K0222. Severity F: potential for more than minimal harm, widespread.
The rule CMS cited:
Add doors in an exit area that do not require the use of a key from the exit side unless in case of special locking arrangements.
CMS lists it as corrected on October 5, 2024.
Citation K0712. Severity F: potential for more than minimal harm, widespread.
The rule CMS cited:
Have simulated fire drills held at unexpected times.
CMS lists it as corrected on September 12, 2024.
CMS update of July 31, 2024
Star rating
The CMS staffing star rating changed from 4 of 5 to 5 of 5. CMS changed how it scores this rating for many homes at once.
Star rating
The CMS quality measures star rating changed from 4 of 5 to 5 of 5.
CMS update of April 25, 2024
Star rating
The CMS staffing star rating changed from 5 of 5 to 4 of 5.
Star rating
The CMS quality measures star rating changed from 3 of 5 to 4 of 5.
CMS update of February 29, 2024
Star rating
The CMS health inspection star rating changed from 4 of 5 to 5 of 5.
CMS update of January 31, 2024
Star rating
The CMS quality measures star rating changed from 2 of 5 to 3 of 5.
Fire safety inspection on December 7, 2023
2 citationsCMS lists this as a standard inspection.
Show the 2 citations
Citation K0354. Severity F: potential for more than minimal harm, widespread.
The rule CMS cited:
Follow proper procedures when the automatic sprinkler systems was out of service for more than 10 hours.
CMS lists it as corrected on December 19, 2023.
Citation K0918. Severity F: potential for more than minimal harm, widespread.
The rule CMS cited:
Have generator or other power source capable of supplying service within 10 seconds.
CMS lists it as corrected on January 8, 2024.
CMS star ratings
- 5 of 5CMS overall star rating
- 4 of 5CMS health inspection star rating
- 4 of 5CMS staffing star rating
- 5 of 5CMS quality measures star rating
Facts from CMS
- Phone
- (712) 852-5520
- Last standard health inspection
- July 17, 2025 (1 year ago)
- Certified beds
- 22
- Residents per day, on average
- 21.6
- Ownership type
- Government - County
- Legal business name
- Legal Business Name Not Available
- Chain
- Not listed by CMS
- Takes part in
- Medicaid
Fewer health citations than the Iowa average (1 vs 21).
Questions
When was Palo Alto County Hospital last inspected?
CMS lists July 17, 2025 as the date of its most recent standard health inspection.
How many citations (violations) does Palo Alto County Hospital have?
CMS lists 1 health citation since July 17, 2025. CMS also calls these deficiencies.
Has Palo Alto County Hospital been fined?
CMS lists no fines for this home in the past three years.
What is the CMS star rating of Palo Alto County Hospital?
Its CMS overall star rating is 5 of 5.
Is Palo Alto County Hospital a Special Focus Facility?
No. CMS does not list it as a Special Focus Facility or a candidate.