Palo Alto County Health System, Iowa

09/12/2025

09/11/2025

🚨 FOOT & ANKLE SURGICAL CARE AT PACHS! 🦶💥

We’re excited to have two exceptional providers at Palo Alto County Health System:

👨‍⚕️ Dr. Timothy Blankers, DPM, FACFAS
👩‍⚕️ Alicia Heuton, ARNP-C

🗓️ They hold clinics on the:
🔹 2nd Monday of each month – Dr. Blankers
🔹 4th Monday of each month – Alicia Heuton

From bunions to surgical repairs, wound care, diabetic foot management, and everything in between—these two bring decades of experience in both surgical and non-surgical foot and ankle care.

✨ About Your Providers:
✅ Dr. Blankers – Board-certified foot and ankle surgeon with 20+ years of experience
✅ Alicia Heuton – Nurse Practitioner with expertise in orthopedics, minor surgery, and advanced wound care

📍 Location: PACHS – Emmetsburg, IA
📞 Appointments: 712-262-7511
Take the next step toward healthy feet today! 👣

09/05/2025

🌟 Palo Alto County Health System Announces Community Flu Shot Clinics 🌟

Palo Alto County Health System (PACHS) is committed to keeping our communities healthy this fall by offering convenient opportunities for residents to receive their annual flu vaccine. While flu shots are available at all PACHS Family Practice Clinic locations in Emmetsburg, West Bend, and Graettinger, we also recognize the importance of reaching areas without direct access to a clinic.

Community flu shot clinics will be held at the following locations:

• Ruthven Social Center – Wednesday, September 17th, 9:30–10:00 a.m.
• Mallard Community Center – Wednesday, September 17th, 12:15–12:45 p.m.

Receiving the flu vaccine is one of the most effective ways to protect yourself, your family, and your community from influenza. We encourage everyone eligible to take advantage of these convenient clinics or visit one of our family practice locations.

PACHS is also awaiting approval from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) regarding the updated COVID-19 vaccine. Once approval is granted and vaccines are available, PACHS will notify the public with details on where to obtain it.

For more information, please contact PACHS Community Health at 712-852-5419 or visit www.pachs.com

09/05/2025

Please join Zach & Lydia Anderson in welcoming Lily Blue Anderson into the world! Lily was born on September 2, 2025 at 7:27 am. She weighed 7 pounds 2 ounces and was 19.5 inches long. Congratulations from your PACHS family!🩷

09/04/2025

“Welcoming Life, One Beautiful Story at a Time.” 👶💙

When Katie and her husband welcomed their first child into the world, their hearts were full — and so were ours at Palo Alto County Health System.

“We can’t say enough great things about our birth experience at PACHS. From the day we found out I was pregnant to the moment we held our healthy baby boy, we knew we were in the best hands.”

From the very first appointment, Katie and her husband felt surrounded by care and compassion. Every nurse, every doctor, every staff member made them feel like the only family in the world.

“Our nurses were kind, patient, and honest about what to expect. They gave us confidence, comfort, and reassurance when we needed it most.”

When Katie reflects back on her birthing experience, she calls it nothing short of unforgettable: “The entire OB team made this an experience we will treasure for the rest of our lives. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for helping us bring this beautiful miracle into the world.”

✨ At PACHS, every birth is more than a moment — it’s a lifelong memory. We believe moms and babies deserve a place where they feel safe, supported, and celebrated. Families like Katie’s inspire us every day to provide personalized, compassionate care — because here, you’re not just another patient. You’re part of our family.

👶 If you’re dreaming of where you’ll welcome your little one, let PACHS be part of your story. Call 712-852-5500 today to schedule an appointment or tour, or visit www.PACHS.com to learn more.

09/03/2025

💙🚑 This Labor Day, PACHS was proud to take part in the Graettinger Labor Day parade!

Our float carried the theme “Healthcare is a Labor of Love” – a reminder that every day, our team puts heart, dedication, and compassion into caring for our community. 💙

A big thank you to everyone who cheered us on along the route and to the organizers for another wonderful community celebration. We’re grateful to be part of such a supportive area where neighbors truly care for one another.

Here’s to continuing to serve you with love, every step of the way! 💙

09/02/2025

Learn about Portion Size vs. Serving Size below! 👇👇

09/01/2025

🎉 After nearly 25 years of dedicated service to the PACHS Nutrition Services Department, Carol Pelzer has decided to hang up her apron and enjoy the well-deserved luxuries of retirement! 🥳

“If you see Carol out and about, please congratulate her! I would like to take this opportunity to thank Carol for all the knowledge and expertise she has brought to our department over the years. It has been a pleasure working with her in our quest to provide the best to our patients, residents, tenants, staff, and visitors. We will definitely miss her!!” – Tammy Chapman, Director of Nutrition Services 💙

👏 Congratulations, Carol! Now it’s time to relax and enjoy everything retirement has to offer!

08/25/2025

🌟 "Because Your Baby Deserves a Beautiful Beginning"

👶 Small-Town Comfort, Big-Hearted Care 💖

Dear Mama-to-be,
You deserve more than just a place to deliver—you deserve a team that sees you, hears you, and supports you through every beautiful, emotional, powerful moment of bringing your baby into the world.

At the PACHS Birth Center in Emmetsburg, we blend expert medical care with heartfelt compassion—right here in the community you know and trust.

Here’s what makes us different:
✨ Private, peaceful LDRP suites—no moving rooms mid-stay
✨ Two experienced OB providers: Dr. Daunyale Sporaa, D.O. & Dr. Jason Patton, M.D.
✨ Personalized care—your birth, your way
✨ Free prenatal and childbirth classes so you feel confident and prepared
✨ Family-focused environment—because you shouldn’t have to choose between comfort and care

🗣 "Every birth is a once-in-a-lifetime moment. We treat it that way—every single time."
— Liz Reedy, BSN, RN Inpatient Services Director

Whether this is your first baby or your fourth, our team is here to make it unforgettable—in all the best ways. 💕

📞 Call us at 712.852.5500 or visit pachs.com to tour the Birth Center.

08/22/2025

🚑🚨 Palo Alto County Health System (PACHS) is proud to announce recent advancements in emergency medical services with the addition of a state-of-the-art 2025 4x4 ambulance. This investment reinforces PACHS’s ongoing commitment to delivering timely, high-quality emergency care throughout Palo Alto County, especially in rural and weather-challenged areas. 🚑🚨

The new 2025 four-wheel-drive Type I ambulance will be stationed in Emmetsburg, serving as a frontline response unit in the county’s busiest EMS district. Built on a heavy-duty chassis and equipped with advanced safety, lighting, and patient care systems, the vehicle ensures providers can respond effectively in all terrains and conditions, particularly during Iowa’s harsh winter months. ❄️⛈

🗣 “This upgrade is part of our continued mission to modernize our EMS fleet and expand our readiness across the county,” said Jarid Kuchenreuther, EMS Director for PACHS. “The new 4x4 unit in Emmetsburg gives us added reliability and improved safety, especially when responding to emergencies in poor weather or on rural gravel roads.”

🚑 As part of the overall fleet improvement, the community of Graettinger will also see a significant upgrade. One of PACHS’s 2022 ambulances will be reassigned to Graettinger EMS, replacing a 2010 model that has served the area for over a decade. This reassignment ensures that all corners of Palo Alto County benefit from recent investments and that frontline crews have access to reliable, modern equipment. 🚑

Other ongoing EMS improvements at PACHS include:

🚨 Expanded full-time EMS staffing

🚨 Enhanced training and continuing education programs

🚨 Technology updates for dispatch and communications

🚨 Strengthened partnerships with regional air medical services

🚨 Facility improvements at EMS station locations


🗣 “These changes reflect a strategic investment in our people, our infrastructure, and our promise to provide the best possible care to our county,” added Jonathan Moe, CEO. “Our EMS professionals work tirelessly, and they deserve equipment that supports their mission, and keeps them safe.”

Palo Alto County Health System remains focused on sustainability, excellence, and growth within its EMS division. With community support and leadership commitment, PACHS continues to raise the standard of rural emergency medical care. 🚑🚨