Legal

You Can Trust Palo Alto County Health System

At PACHS, we understand your health information is personal. We are open about how we use and protect your information. We also have advice on how you can protect yourself from medical identity theft. 

While you’re here, read about your rights and responsibilities as a patient, and how your are protected against surprise medical bills. We have all this information and more to make PACHS a safe and welcoming environment to all patients.

PACHS makes every effort to ensure your personal information is safe and secure.

PACHS Administration

  • Admin Office Hours

    Monday - Friday 7:30 am - 4:00 pm

  • Location

    3201 1st Street Emmetsburg, IA 50536

  • Tobacco Free Campus

    Smoking inside and outside on any hospital grounds is not allowed.

Notice Of Privacy Practices

Palo Alto County Health System understands that your health information is highly personal, and we are committed to safeguarding your privacy. Please read our Notice of Privacy Practices thoroughly. It describes how we will use and disclose your PHI.

Download Privacy Practices

Terms of Use/Online Policy

Terms of Use

Last revised December 12, 2016

Welcome to the website of www.pachs.com (the “Site”). This Site is owned by Palo Alto County Health System (“Company”). Your compliance with these Terms of Use / Online Privacy (“Terms of Use”) is a condition to your use of the Site. If you do not agree to be bound by the Terms of Use, promptly exit this Site.

Please consult the Online Privacy portion of these Terms of Use for information regarding our practices with respect to collection, use and sharing of personal information through this Site. Please consult our Notice of Privacy Practices for information on how we use patient information and your rights regarding your patient information.

Ownership Of The Site

All pages within this Site and any material made available for download are owned or licensed by the Company. The Site is protected by United States and international copyright and trademark laws. The Contents of the Site, including without limitation the files, documents, text, photographs, images, audio, and video, and any materials accessed through or made available for use or download through this Site (“Content”) may not be copied, distributed, modified, reproduced, published or used, in whole or in part, except for purposes authorized or approved by Company, including the provision of services or products to Company, or in connection with a business relationship with Company. You may not frame or utilize framing techniques to enclose, or deep linking to, any name, trademarks, service marks, logo, Content or other proprietary information (including; images, text, page layout, or form) of Company without our express written consent. If you have questions about the Site or any materials or would like more information or to request written consent please, contact us or call us at 712-852-5500.


Site Security

You are prohibited from violating or attempting to violate the security of the Site, including, without limitation, (a) accessing data not intended for such user or logging onto a server or an account which the user is not authorized to access; (b) attempting to probe, scan or test the vulnerability of a system or network or to breach security or authentication measures without proper authorization; or (c) accessing or using the Site or any portion thereof without authorization, in violation of these Terms of Use or in violation of applicable law. Violations of system or network security may result in civil or criminal liability. Company will investigate occurrences that may involve such violations and may involve, and cooperate with, law enforcement authorities in prosecuting users who are involved in such violations. You agree not to use any device, software or routine to interfere or attempt to interfere with the proper working of this Site or any activity being conducted on this Site.


Access to Site

Indemnification In the event access to the Site or a portion thereof is limited requiring a user ID and password (“Protected Areas”), you agree to access Protected Areas using only your user ID and password as provided to you by Company. You agree to protect the confidentiality of your user ID and password, and not to share or disclose your user ID or password to any third party. You agree that you are fully responsible for all activity occurring under your user ID. Your access to the Site may be revoked by Company at any time with or without cause. You agree to defend, indemnify and hold Company harmless from and against all third party claims, damages and expenses (including reasonable attorneys fees) against or incurred by Company arising out of your use or access of the Site, or access by anyone accessing the Site using your user ID and password.


Accuracy and Integrity of Information

Although Company attempts to ensure the integrity and accurateness of the Site, it makes no representations, warranties or guarantees whatsoever as to the correctness or accuracy of the Site and Content thereon. It is possible that the Site could include typographical errors, inaccuracies or other errors, and that unauthorized additions, deletions and alterations could be made to the Site by third parties. In the event that an inaccuracy arises, please inform Company so that it can be corrected. Information contained on the Site may be changed or updated without notice. Additionally, Company shall have no responsibility or liability for information or Content posted to the Site from any non-Company affiliated third party.


Online Transactions – Payment of Bills

Patients are able to pay their hospital bills and charges online. Our financial services provider manages and operates the online bill payment feature, including the processing of credit card, debit card and e-check bank accounting withdrawals. Please consult the website of our service providers for their terms of use and privacy practices. There is a link on our Site to the website of the service provider.


Typographical Errors and Incorrect Pricing


In the event a product or service is listed at an incorrect price due to typographical error or error in pricing information received from our suppliers, we shall have the right to refuse or cancel any orders placed for product / service listed at the incorrect price. We shall have the right to refuse or cancel any such orders whether or not the order has been confirmed and your credit or debit card charged. If your credit or debit card has already been charged for the purchase and your order is canceled, we shall immediately issue a credit to your credit or debit card account in the amount of the incorrect price.


MEDICAL ADVICE DISCLAIMER

THE CONTENT OF THE SITE, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, TEXT, COPY, AUDIO, VIDEO, PHOTOGRAPHS, ILLUSTRATIONS, GRAPHICS AND OTHER VISUALS, IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ADVICE, DIAGNOSIS, TREATMENT OR RECOMMENDATIONS OF ANY KIND. YOU SHOULD ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF YOUR QUALIFIED HEATH CARE PROFESSIONALS WITH ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS YOU MAY HAVE REGARDING YOUR INDIVIDUAL NEEDS AND ANY MEDICAL CONDITIONS. RELIANCE ON ANY INFORMATION APPEARING ON THE SITE, WHETHER PROVIDED BY COMPANY, ITS CONTENT PROVIDERS, ITS CLIENTS, VISITORS TO THE SITE OR OTHERS, IS SOLELY AT YOUR OWN RISK.


GENERAL WARRANTY DISCLAIMER

COMPANY DOES NOT WARRANT THAT ACCESS TO OR USE OF THE SITE WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED OR ERROR-FREE OR THAT DEFECTS IN THE SITE WILL BE CORRECTED. THIS SITE, INCLUDING ANY CONTENT OR INFORMATION CONTAINED WITHIN IT OR ANY SITE-RELATED SERVICE, IS PROVIDED “AS IS,” WITH ALL FAULTS, WITH NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, QUALITY OF INFORMATION, QUIET ENJOYMENT, AND TITLE/NON-INFRINGEMENT. COMPANY SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIMS ALL LIABILITY FOR ERRORS OR OMISSIONS IN, OR THE MISUSE OR MISINTERPRETATION OF, ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED THROUGH THE SITE. COMPANY DOES NOT WARRANT THE ACCURACY, COMPLETENESS OR TIMELINESS OF THE INFORMATION OBTAINED THROUGH THE SITE. YOU ASSUME TOTAL RESPONSIBILITY AND RISK FOR YOUR USE OF THIS SITE, SITE-RELATED SERVICES, AND LINKED WEBSITES. COMPANY DOES NOT WARRANT THAT FILES AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD WILL BE FREE OF VIRUSES, WORMS, TROJAN HORSES OR OTHER DESTRUCTIVE PROGRAMMING. YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR IMPLEMENTING PROCEDURES SUFFICIENT TO SATISFY YOUR NEEDS FOR DATA BACK UP AND SECURITY. YOU AGREE THAT COMPANY SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY COST OR DAMAGE ARISING DIRECTLY OF INDIRECTLY FROM ANY SUCH CODE. YOU ASSUME TOTAL RESPONSIBILITY AND RISK FOR YOUR USE OF THE SITE AND OF THE INTERNET.


LIMITATION OF LIABILITY REGARDING USE OF SITE

COMPANY AND ANY THIRD PARTIES MENTIONED ON THIS SITE ARE NEITHER RESPONSIBLE NOR LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, PUNITIVE, OR OTHER DAMAGES WHATSOEVER (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, THOSE RESULTING FROM LOST PROFITS, LOST DATA, OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING IN ANY WAY TO THE SITE, SITE-RELATED SERVICES, CONTENT OR INFORMATION CONTAINED WITHIN THE SITE, AND/OR ANY LINKED WEBSITE, WHETHER BASED ON WARRANTY, CONTRACT, TORT, OR ANY OTHER LEGAL THEORY AND WHETHER OR NOT ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. YOUR SOLE REMEDY FOR DISSATISFACTION WITH THE SITE, SITE-RELATED SERVICES, AND/OR LINKED WEBSITES IS TO STOP USING THE SITE AND/OR THOSE SERVICES.


External Sites

Company makes no representations whatsoever about any other website that you may access through this Site. When you access a non-Company site, please understand that it is independent from Company, and that Company has no control over the Content on that website. In addition, a link to a non-Company website does not mean that Company endorses or accepts any responsibility for the Content, or the use, of the linked site. It is up to you to take precautions to ensure that whatever you select for your use or download is free of such items as viruses, worms, Trojan horses, and other items of a destructive nature. If you decide to access any of the third party sites linked to this Site, you do this entirely at your own risk.

Online Policy

Scope. This section describes how we use and share personal information collected through this Site. Our Site also contains links to third party sites that are not owned or controlled by Company. Please be aware that we are not responsible for the privacy practices of such other sites. We encourage you to be aware when you leave our Site and to read the privacy statements of each and every website that collects personal information. For information about how we collect, use and share your health and medical information, please refer to our Notice of Privacy Practices.


Information You Provide To Us
. You can provide information to us on our Site through various means, such as contacting us through our Site, filling out feedback forms, paying your hospital bills online or purchasing products online from our gift store. Depending on which feature you are using, you may be asked provide personal information such as, name, address, telephone number, email address, credit or debit card information, bank account information, etc.


No Information From Children Under Age 13
. If you are under the age of 13, please do not attempt to register with us at this Site or provide any personal information about yourself to us via this Site. If we learn that we have collected personal information from a child under the age of 13, we will promptly delete that information. If you believe we might have any information from a child under the age of 13 collected via this Site, please, call us at 712-852-5500.


Information We Collect Automatically.
 We collect certain information automatically as you use our Site, such as IP address, browser type, computer or device type, the website from where you navigated to our Site, and the pages on our Site that you view. 


Cookies and Other Tracking Technology


We use common Internet technologies, such as cookies and other tracking technology, to optimize the performance of our website and other digital properties such as social media sites, email campaigns, and online advertising.

Cookies, beacons, tags, log files and other technologies may be used to collect information about visitors to our website, use of our online services, and interactions with our email campaigns, advertisements and other marketing content. Collected information may include, but not be limited to, computer / mobile browser type, computer / mobile operating system and IP address. This data may be merged with your online interactions – pages viewed, links clicked, or content viewed. This information, and the analyses performed after collection, helps us to provide for a more customized and personalized experience for you and future visitors.

We may collaborate with advertisers and marketing research firms as part of our marketing activities. These advertisers and research firms also may  use cookies and tags to track the effectiveness of marketing campaigns on our behalf. The information they collect does not contain personally identifiable information.

You can reset your browser to refuse all cookies or to indicate when a cookie is being sent. However, some website features or services may not function properly without cookies.

 

How We Use And Share Your Information.

  • To Provide Products, Services, and Information. We collect personal information from you so that we can provide products and services that you purchase using the Site, and information that you request from us.  We may provide information to third party service providers that help us bring you the services we offer. For example, we use third parties to help host and maintain our Site, and to process payments.
     
  • Communications from Us. We respect and are committed to protecting your privacy. We may collect personally identifiable information, including your email address, when you visit our site. We also automatically receive and record information on our server logs from your browser including your IP address, cookie information and the page(s) you visited. We will use the information to contact you about products, services and information and to provide relevant advertising to you. We will not sell your personally identifiable information, but we may provide your email address to third parties who will contact you about our products and services or whose products or services would be of interest to you.
     
  • Legal Requests or Requirements and to Prevent Harm. We will share personal information with third party companies, organizations or individuals outside of Company if we have a good-faith belief that access, use, preservation or disclosure of the information is reasonably necessary to:
    • Meet any applicable law, regulation, subpoena, legal process or enforceable governmental request.
    • Enforce applicable Terms of Use, including investigation of potential violations.
    • Detect, prevent, or otherwise address fraud, security or technical issues.
    • Protect against harm to the rights, property or safety of Company, our users, customers or the public as required or permitted by law.


Transfer in the Event of Sale or Change of Control.


If the ownership of all or substantially all of our business changes or we otherwise transfer assets relating to our business or the Site to a third party, such as by merger, acquisition, bankruptcy proceeding or otherwise, we may transfer or sell your personal information to the new owner. In such a case, unless permitted otherwise by applicable law, your information would remain subject to the promises made in the applicable privacy statement unless you agree differently.


Security Of Your Information


In order to help secure your personal information, access to your data on our Site is password-protected, and sensitive data (such as a credit card number) is protected by encryption when it is exchanged between your web browser and our Site. To protect any data you store on our servers, we also regularly audit our system for possible vulnerabilities and attacks, and we use a tier-one secured-access data center. However, since the Internet is not a 100% secure environment, we cannot guarantee, ensure, or warrant the security of any information you transmit to us. There is no guarantee that information may not be accessed, disclosed, altered, or destroyed by breach of any of our physical, technical, or managerial safeguards. It is your responsibility to protect the security of your login information. Please note that e-mails you send to us through our Site are not encrypted, and we strongly advise you not to communicate any confidential information through these means.


Revisions To Terms Of Use / Privacy; General Terms


Company reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to terminate your access to all or part of this Site, with or without cause, and with or without notice. In the event that any of the Terms of Use are held by a court or other tribunal of competent jurisdiction to be unenforceable, such provisions shall be limited or eliminated to the minimum extent necessary so that these Terms of Use shall otherwise remain in full force and effect. These Terms of Use constitute the entire agreement between Company and you pertaining to the subject matter hereof. In its sole discretion, Company may from time-to-time revise these Terms of Use by updating this posting. You should, therefore, periodically visit this page to review the current Terms of Use, so you are aware of any such revisions to which you are bound of Use may be superseded by expressly designated legal notices or terms located on particular pages within this Site. In the event of any dispute or claim relating to the Site or these Terms of Use, you agree to resolution of such dispute in the state or federal courts located in Iowa, in accordance with Iowa law.

PACHS Reduces Identity Theft

Red Flags Rule

As many as nine million Americans have their identities stolen each year, but when identity theft involves health care, the consequences can be particularly severe. To reduce the occurrence of identity theft, Palo Alto County Health System will require new adult patients to provide a photo ID and their insurance card when they register at the hospital or clinic.

Medical identity theft happens when a person seeks health care using someone else’s name or insurance information. A survey conducted by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) found that close to 5 percent of identity theft victims have experienced some form of medical identity theft. Victims may find their benefits exhausted or face potentially life-threatening consequences due to inaccuracies in their medical record.

The Red Flags Rule, a law the FTC will begin to enforce, requires certain businesses and organizations – including many doctor’s offices, hospitals, and other health care providers – to develop a written program to spot the warning signs, or “red flags”, of identity theft.

Advance Directives

If you are 18 or older and mentally competent, you have the right to make decisions about your medical treatment. If you want to control decisions about your health care, even if you are unable to make or express them yourself, you will need an Advance Directive. An Advance Directive is a set of instructions you give about the health care you want in the event you lose the ability to make decisions for yourself. There are three kinds of Advance Directives: a Living Will, a Health Care Power of Attorney, and Advance Instructions for Mental Health Treatment. If you have any questions on Advance Directives, you may ask your attorney or physician to counsel you. Your nurse can also supply you with Advance Directive forms.

Your Rights & Protections Against Surprise Medical Bills

Code of Conduct

The Code of Conduct outlines the responsibilities of everyone who works at PACHS and MercyOne.

Patient Rights & Responsibilities

Learn about your rights and responsibilities as a patient at PACHS. 

Non-Discrimination Policy (Section 1557)

Discrimination is Against the Law

Palo Alto County Health System complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. Palo Alto County Health System does not exclude people or treat them differently because of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex.

Palo Alto County Health System

  • Qualified sign language interpreters
  • Written information in other formats (large print, audio, accessible electronic formats, other formats)
  • Qualified interpreters
  • Information written in other languages

If you need these services, contact our Nursing Supervisor at Palo Alto County Health System.

If you believe that Palo Alto County Health System has failed to provide these services or discriminated in another way on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex, you can file a grievance with:

Palo Alto County Health System Administration
3201 1st Street
Emmetsburg, IA 50536

  • Phone

    712.852.5400

  • Fax

    712.852.5409

  • Email

    PACHSCommunity@mercyhealth.com

You can file a grievance in person or by mail, fax, or email. If you need help filing a grievance, our local administration is available to help you. Please contact Administration and they will direct you.

Civil Rights Complaint

You can also file a civil rights complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights, electronically through the Office for Civil Rights Complaint Portal, available at https://ocrportal.hhs.gov/ocr/portal/lobby.jsf  or by mail or phone at:
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
200 Independence Avenue
SW Room 509F
HHH Building Washington, D.C. 20201

Complaint Forms

English 

ATTENTION: If you speak English, language assistance services, free of charge, are available to you. Call 1-712-852-5500.

Español (Spanish) 

ATENCIÓN: si habla español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Llame al 1-712-852-5500.

繁體中文 (Chinese)  

注意:如果您使用繁體中文,您可以免費獲得語言援助服務。請致電 1-712-852-5500.

Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese) 

CHÚ Ý: Nếu bạn nói Tiếng Việt, có các dịch vụ hỗ trợ ngôn ngữ miễn phí dành cho bạn. Gọi số 1-712-852-5500.

Srpsko-hrvatski (Serbo-Croatian) 

OBAVJEŠTENJE: Ako govorite srpsko-hrvatski, usluge jezičke pomoći dostupne su vam besplatno. Nazovite 1-712-852-5500.

Deutsch (German) 

ACHTUNG: Wenn Sie Deutsch sprechen, stehen Ihnen kostenlos sprachliche Hilfsdienstleistungen zur Verfügung. Rufnummer: 1-712-852-5500.

ةيبرعلا (Arabic)

) مقر  1-712-852-5500. : ةظوحلم تنك اذإ ركذا ثدحتت نإف ،ةغللا ةدعاسملا تامدخ رفاوتت ةیوغللا. ناجملاب كل مقرب لصتا .( 1-712-852-5500.  :مكبلاو مصلا فتاھ

ພາສາລາວ (Lao, Laotian) 

ໂປດຊາບ: ຖ ້ າວ ່ າ ທ ່ ານເວ ົ້ າພາສາ ລາວ, ການບໍ ລິ ການຊ່ ວຍເຫຼື ອດ້ ານພາສາ, ໂດຍບໍ່ ເສັ ຽຄ່ າ, ແມ ່ ນມ ີ ພ ້ ອມໃຫ ້ ທ ່ ານ. ໂທຣ 1-712-852-5500.

한한한 (Korean) 

주의: 한국어를 사용하시는 경우, 언어 지원 서비스를 무료로 이용하실 수 있습니다. 1-712-852-5500. 번으로 전화해 주십시오.

िहंदी (Hindi) 

ध्यान द�: य�द आप �हदी बोलते ह �तो आपके ि◌लए मुफ्त म� भाषा सहायता सेवाएं उपलब्ध ह।� 1-712-852-5500. पर कॉल कर�।

Français (French)  

ATTENTION : Si vous parlez français, des services d’aide linguistique vous sont proposés gratuitement. Appelez le 1-712-852-5500.

Deitsch (Pennsylvania Dutch) 

Wann du [Deitsch (Pennsylvania German / Dutch)] schwetzscht, kannscht du mitaus Koschte ebber gricke, ass dihr helft mit die englisch Schprooch. Ruf selli Nummer uff: Call 1-712-852-5500.

ภาษาไทย (Thai)

เรียน: ถา้คุณพดูภาษาไทยคุณสามารถใชบ้ริการช่วยเหลือทางภาษาไดฟ้รี โทร 1-712-852-5500.

Tagalog (Tagalog – Filipino)

PAUNAWA: Kung nagsasalita ka ng Tagalog, maaari kang gumamit ng mga serbisyo ng tulong sa wika nang walang bayad. Tumawag sa 1-712-852-5500.

unD (Karen)

LALE: Ñe kwōj kōnono Kajin Ṃajōḷ, kwomaroñ bōk jerbal in jipañ ilo kajin ṇe aṃ ejjeḷọk wōṇāān. Kaalọk 1-712-852-5500.

Русский (Russian) 

ВНИМАНИЕ: Если вы говорите на русском языке, то вам доступны бесплатные услуги перевода. Звоните 1-712-852-5500.

PACHS Administration

  • Admin Office Hours

    Monday - Friday 7:30 am - 4:00 pm

  • Location

    3201 1st Street Emmetsburg, IA 50536

  • Tobacco Free Campus

    Smoking inside and outside on any hospital grounds is not allowed.

If you feel you are an immediate threat to yourself or others (violent, threatening violence, suicidal) - call 911 or 988 to speak with someone.