Whittemore Iowa

Healthcare

Kossuth Regional Health Center (KRHC) began with the opening of St. Ann Hospital, which was the result of more than five years efforts to secure a modern hospital for the people of Kossuth County. The first formal meeting occurred in April, 1945, which included Dr. Melvin Bourne and the Sisters of Mercy.

In 1946, it was estimated that a 50-bed hospital would cost $400,000. The Sisters of Mercy would raise $200,000; $100,000 would be raised locally and the remaining $100,000 would come from a federal grant. However, complying with all the requirements of the federal government would delay the project, so the Sisters of Mercy agreed to pay the balance of the cost over and above the amount subscribed locally, out of their own funds. The ground breaking ceremonies took place on August 13, 1948. St. Ann Hospital, under the management of the Sisters of Mercy was completed and dedicated on October 3, 1949. The final cost of the hospital was $650,000.

The hospital continued to operate under the Sisters of Mercy until September 1967 when the Sisters of St. Benedict purchased the building. It was under their operation until January 1973, at which time it was taken over by Kossuth County and became Kossuth County Hospital.

Today, Kossuth Regional Health Center operates a 24-bed critical access hospital, two physician clinics, home care, hospice and public health nursing agencies. KRHC employs approximately 150 individuals and maintains Master Affiliation and Professional Services Agreements with Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa.

Palo Alto County Hospital (PACH) 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 hospital beds. The Hospital participates in Medicare and Medicaid and is an active member of the Association of Iowa Hospitals and Health Systems.

From it's inception in 1965, Palo Alto County Hospital has grown into a modern, efficient medical facility, serving patients and their families throughout this region, regardless of the patients ability to pay. It offers a full range of services in an inpatient and outpatient setting as well as 24 hour emergency care, surgical services, obstetrics, therapy and rehabilitation, diagnostic services. Palo Alto County Hospital is proud to have one of the few Vascular Labs in the area, as well as offering Mammography, In-house Ultrasound and CT services, Bone Densitometry, MR and Nuclear Imaging. Rehabilitation Services include Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapy, and Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation programs. A Business Health Program brings nursing and health and educational programs to local businesses. And a county-wide ambulance service, state certified to the conditional Paramedic level, includes five ambulances located in four county locations and first responders in two locations.

In an effort to provide specialty diagnostic and surgery services locally to our patients, specialty clinics bring the specialist to PACH. Some of the specialty clinic offerings include Audiology, Cardiology, Orthopedics, Oncology, Ophthalmology, Otolaryngology, Podiatry, Pulmonology and Urology. Telemedicine and Teleradiology also extend our ability to provide medical care locally.

Palo Alto County Hospital became a partner with the Mercy Medical Center - North Iowa in 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.