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Hospice Care

Hospice Of Palo Alto County

3201 First Street, Emmetsburg, IA 50536

Other
33 Years Certified
5 Patients/Day

Contact Hospice Of Palo

(712) 852-5419Get Directions

3201 First Street
Emmetsburg, IA 50536

About Hospice Of Palo Alto County

Hospice overview and quality summary

Hospice Of Palo Alto County is an hospice care provider in Emmetsburg, IA, serving patients and families in Palo Alto County and the surrounding area. Medicare certified since 1993, Hospice Of Palo Alto County has provided 33 years of end-of-life and palliative care to the community.

Hospice Of Palo Alto County serves an average of 5 patients per day, covering 14 ZIP codes across its service area. 13% of care is delivered in patients' homes, consistent with the hospice philosophy of enabling comfort care in familiar surroundings.

The facility's Hospice Care Index score is 10 out of 10, a composite measure of care quality and efficiency. 4 physicians are affiliated with this hospice.

When choosing hospice care in Emmetsburg, IA, consider quality ratings, caregiver satisfaction surveys, the hospice's experience with your loved one's condition, and the service area. Since hospice care is typically delivered in the home, the responsiveness and availability of the care team are critical factors.

At a Glance

Star RatingNot Rated
OwnershipOther
Certified Since1993
CountyPalo Alto
Avg Daily Census5 patients
Service Area14 ZIP codes
HCI Score10/10
Affiliated Doctors4

Caregiver Satisfaction

CAHPS Hospice Survey results from bereaved family caregivers

Emotional & Spiritual Support

How well the hospice team provided emotional and spiritual support

Above Average
95%

95% of caregivers gave Hospice Of Palo Alto County a top rating for emotional & spiritual support, above the national average of 90%.

Treated with Respect

Whether the patient was treated with dignity and respect

Above Average
98%

98% of caregivers gave Hospice Of Palo Alto County a top rating for treated with respect, above the national average of 90%.

Help with Symptoms

How well the hospice team managed pain and other symptoms

Above Average
91%

91% of caregivers gave Hospice Of Palo Alto County a top rating for help with symptoms, above the national average of 74%.

Team Communication

How well the hospice team communicated with the family

Above Average
89%

89% of caregivers gave Hospice Of Palo Alto County a top rating for team communication, above the national average of 81%.

Getting Timely Care

Whether the patient received help as soon as it was needed

Above Average
94%

94% of caregivers gave Hospice Of Palo Alto County a top rating for getting timely care, above the national average of 77%.

Training for Family Caregivers

Whether sufficient training was provided to care for the patient

Below Average
71%

71% of caregivers gave a top rating for training for family caregivers, below the national average of 75%.

Overall Rating (9-10)

Percentage of caregivers rating the hospice 9 or 10 out of 10

Above Average
96%

96% of caregivers gave Hospice Of Palo Alto County a top rating for overall rating (9-10), above the national average of 81%.

Would Recommend

Percentage of caregivers who would definitely recommend this hospice

Above Average
97%

97% of caregivers gave Hospice Of Palo Alto County a top rating for would recommend, above the national average of 84%.

Source: CMS CAHPS Hospice Survey · Vertical markers indicate national average

Quality Process Measures

CMS hospice care quality indicators vs. national benchmarks

Treatment Preferences Documented

Patients whose treatment preferences were discussed and documented

100.0%

Natl: 99.5%

Average

Beliefs & Values Addressed

Patients whose beliefs and values were addressed in the plan of care

90.5%

Natl: 98.3%

Below Average

Pain Screening

Patients screened for pain upon hospice admission

100.0%

Natl: 98.3%

Average

Comprehensive Pain Assessment

Patients with pain who received a comprehensive pain assessment

100.0%

Natl: 94.8%

Above Average

Dyspnea Screening

Patients screened for shortness of breath upon admission

100.0%

Natl: 99.0%

Average

Composite Process Score

Composite measure of all hospice care process quality measures

90.5%

Natl: 91.6%

Average

Hospice Care Index

Composite quality score with 10 sub-measures

10/10

Overall HCI Score

National average: 8.8/10

Hospice Of Palo Alto County's Hospice Care Index (HCI) score is 10 out of 10, above the national average of 8.8. This composite score reflects stronger-than-average performance across measures of nursing continuity, care transitions, and presence near death.

91.3% of Hospice Of Palo Alto County's patients received visits from the hospice team in their final days of life, significantly above the national average of 47.9%. This is one of the most meaningful quality indicators — having the hospice team present during the final hours provides critical comfort to both patients and families.

Visits Near Death

Patients with visits in last 3 days of life

100%

Natl: 89.5%

100th pctl

Nurse Care Minutes

Average nurse care minutes per routine home care day

15.5

Natl: 13.4

79th pctl

Weekend Nursing

Percentage of skilled nursing minutes on weekends

10.5%

Natl: 9.2%

73th pctl

Gaps in Nursing Visits

Stays with gaps in skilled nursing visits

16.1%

Natl: 55.4%

9th pctl

Early Live Discharges

Patients discharged alive within 3 days

0%

Natl: 7.2%

19th pctl

Late Live Discharges

Patients discharged alive after enrollment

30.8%

Natl: 40%

34th pctl

Burdensome Transitions (Type 1)

Hospice-to-acute-care transitions near death

0%

Natl: 8%

19th pctl

Burdensome Transitions (Type 2)

Acute care admissions near death

0%

Natl: 2.3%

45th pctl

CHC/GIP Days

Continuous home care & general inpatient days as share of total

1.7%

Natl: 0.6%

93th pctl

Per-Beneficiary Spending

Average Medicare spending per hospice beneficiary

$7,450

Natl: $16,971

4th pctl

Patient Population

Primary diagnoses of hospice patients

Hospice Of Palo Alto County's patient population is primarily composed of individuals with dementia (28%). Dementia care requires specialized communication techniques and behavioral support, which experienced hospice teams are trained to provide.

Dementia28%

Care Settings

Where hospice care is delivered

Hospice Of Palo Alto County delivers 13% of its care in patients' homes, with 86% in nursing facility settings, 1% in hospital settings. The significant proportion of facility-based care may reflect patients requiring higher levels of medical support or those without available home caregivers. The hospice serves an average of 5 patients per day.

Nursing Facility

86%

Patient's Home

13%

Hospital

1%

Patient Reviews

Reviews and ratings from patients

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Frequently Asked Questions

About Hospice Of Palo Alto County

What is the CMS rating for Hospice Of Palo Alto County?

Hospice Of Palo Alto County does not currently have a CMS star rating available. Approximately 69% of hospice providers lack sufficient survey data for a star rating.

What conditions does Hospice Of Palo Alto County primarily treat?

Hospice Of Palo Alto County's patient population includes dementia (28%). This reflects the hospice's experience managing these conditions.

Where does Hospice Of Palo Alto County provide care?

Hospice Of Palo Alto County provides care in nursing facility (86%), patient's home (13%), hospital (1%).

How large is Hospice Of Palo Alto County?

Hospice Of Palo Alto County serves an average of 5 patients per day and covers 14 ZIP codes in its service area.

How many doctors are affiliated with Hospice Of Palo Alto County?

4 physicians are affiliated with Hospice Of Palo Alto County.

Data source: CMS Hospice Compare · CAHPS Hospice Survey ·