Palo Alto County Health System, Emmetsburg

Palo Alto County Health System (PACHS) provides a full continuum of primary health care from health promotion to end of life care for residents of Palo Alto County. The main entities of PACHS include Palo Alto County Hospital, three medical clinics, long term care services, independent senior living apartments, home care, county ambulance and emergency services. PACHS is a member of the MercyOne Network, which offers opportunities for recruitment, training, education and networking.

Palo Alto County Hospital is a county public hospital organized under Chapter 347 of the Code of Iowa and governed by a seven member Board of Trustees elected for staggered 6-year terms. The Hospital is licensed as a critical access hospital by the State of Iowa to operate up to 25 acute and swing beds and 22 long term care beds. The Hospital participates in Medicare and Medicaid and is an active member of the Iowa Hospital Association.

Palo Alto County Hospital became a partner with the Mercy Health Network – North Iowa on September 1, 1994. The Hospital’s Board of Trustees signed a management contract with Mercy, which made available a variety of management services including assistance with long-range planning, staff development and training, plus physician recruitment and retention. In the current health environment, affiliations will be critical for rural hospitals to stay abreast of new developments and technologies and gain the additional advantages of collective purchasing agreements and sharing resources to benefit the patients we serve.

PALO ALTO COUNTY HOSPITAL AND FAMILY PRACTICE CLINICS

Palo Alto County Hospital is a modern 25 bed licensed critical access hospital. The hospital has been located at its present facility since 1965, but has a rich history of caring for the medical needs of residents in various locations dating back to 1921. The hospital includes a wide range of diagnostic, rehabilitation, and medical care that include inpatient and outpatient surgery, acute and intermediate care (swing bed), therapy services (including Cardiac, Pulmonary, Occupational, and Speech Therapy), Obstetrics, Home Health, Hospice, County Ambulance Services, and Emergency Services. Family Practice Clinics are located in Emmetsburg, Graettingerand West Bend.

EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES

Working together, Palo Alto County Hospital and the Palo Alto County Ambulance Services provide emergency care for the residents of Palo Alto County. Advanced care ambulance services are located in the towns of Emmetsburg, Graettinger, Ruthven, and West Bend with first-responder units in the towns of Ayrshire and Mallard. The hospital’s emergency department is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week with an on-site physician, nurse and paramedic.

COMMUNITY HEALTH SERVICES

Community Health Services is conveniently located at Palo Alto County Hospital for coordination of care between hospital, medical clinic, and public health services. Community Health offers Medicare certified home health services, home care aide/homemaker services, Hospice, and Public Health nursing services. Whether recovering from an illness or injury, or just needing help with personal care needs to remain independent in their own home, residents of Palo Alto County can find the care they need at Palo Alto County Community Health Services.

PARC HALL

PARC Hall is a 22-bed long-term care facility, conveniently attached to Palo Alto County Hospital. All resident’s rooms are private, with large handicapped accessible bathrooms and extra large closet space. Each room is large enough to accommodate a bedroom area as well as a comfortable living space for personal items and furniture. A large bright dining area, activity room, and outdoor patio welcome residents in the common areas. An attentive, caring staff knows each patient personally and offers a caring personal touch.

WILLOW RIDGE

Willow Ridge is an independent living apartment complex for seniors. It has 28 apartments in various one and two bedroom styles. Each apartment is equipped with a full kitchen, although one main meal a day is provided in the spacious common dining area. Each apartment has handicapped accessible bathrooms, hook-up for washers and dryers, large walk-in closets, and individual heating and cooling. Cable, utilities, Life-Line security system and weekly light housekeeping are also included in the monthly rent. Garage spaces are available for residents on a first come basis along with ample parking available outside. Common areas include a large activity room, dining room, two fireplace lounges, outdoor patio area, coin operated washers and dryers, and extra storage closets for each resident. Willow Ridge is attached to PARC Hall, Family Practice Clinic –Emmetsburg, and Palo Alto County Hospital, which offers piece-of-mind knowing that medical care is close by…just down the hall.