Palmer Lutheran Health CenterWest Union, IA
Palmer Lutheran Health Center is a non-profit critical access hospital in West Union, Iowa, with an emergency department. As of the July 2026 CMS release, patients treated and sent home spend a median of 1 hr 25 min in its emergency department, 43 min shorter than the Iowa average of 2 hr 8 min. Medicare rates it 5 out of 5 stars overall.
(563) 422-3811 Visit Website- Time ZoneCST
- CountyFayette
- Emergency CapableYes
- FIPS19065
- Area Code563
Visiting Palmer Lutheran Health Center
- Photo ID and your insurance, Medicare or Medicaid card
- A list of your medicines, doses and allergies
- Your doctor's name and phone number
- A phone charger
Quality and performance
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · data as of July 2026
Patients spend an average of 1 hour 25 minutes in the emergency department at Palmer Lutheran Health Center. That is 43 minutes shorter than the Iowa average of 2 hours 8 minutes.
Source: CMS Hospital General Information and Timely & Effective Care. Wait times are a median over a past 12-month reporting period, not live data. Not affiliated with CMS or with Palmer Lutheran Health Center. For a medical emergency, call 911.
Compare ER waits across Iowa · How Iowa hospitals rank on star ratings · Other Critical Access hospitals in Iowa · How we source this data · Something wrong on this page? Tell us
What patients say
CMS patient survey (HCAHPS) · 68 completed surveys · patients discharged Oct 2024 – Sep 2025
75% would definitely recommend it (U.S. average 71%). 83% rated it 9 or 10 out of 10.
The patient survey (HCAHPS) asks a random sample of adult patients about their recent hospital stay. CMS adjusts the results for the mix of patients and how the survey was done, so hospitals can be compared fairly. CMS gives a star rating only to hospitals with at least 100 completed surveys, so this hospital has answer percentages but no stars. These results come from fewer than 100 completed surveys, so CMS advises using them with caution. About the data.
Infections, complications and deaths
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · compared with hospitals nationwide
Death rates within 30 days
| Patients treated for | This hospital | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Hospital-wide, all conditions | 4.6% | 3.9% |
Risk-adjusted rates. CMS has not published a statistical better/worse comparison for these death rates in the current release, so small differences from the U.S. rate may be chance.
"Better" or "worse" means CMS found the difference from the national benchmark statistically significant; most hospitals are "no different". Infection results compare the infections a hospital reported with the number predicted for a hospital of its size and type (a ratio below 1 means fewer than predicted). Death and complication rates are risk-adjusted for how sick patients were. Each death rate counts deaths within 30 days of a hospital stay, pooled over one to three years of Medicare patients depending on the measure. About the data.
Timely and effective care
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · all patients unless noted · Oct 2024 – Sep 2025
Palmer Lutheran Health Center's emergency department is classed by CMS as low volume.
| Measure | This hospital | U.S.* |
|---|---|---|
| Sepsis: got all recommended early treatmentPatients with severe sepsis or septic shock who received every step of the recommended early care bundle. Higher is better. 14 patients. | 64% | 65% |
| Typical time in the ER before going homeMedian minutes from arrival to leaving, for ER patients sent home (not counting mental health patients or transfers). Lower is better. 297 patients. | 85 min | 162 min |
| Typical ER time for mental health patients sent homeMedian minutes from arrival to leaving. Lower is better. 21 patients. | 162 min | 257 min |
| Typical ER time for patients transferred to another facilityMedian minutes from arrival to leaving. Lower is better. 30 patients. | 228 min | 287 min |
| Patients who left the ER before being seenLower is better. 3,500 patients. | 0% | 2% |
| Health care workers vaccinated against fluHigher is better. 249 patients. | 84% | 78% |
| Discharged on two opioids, or an opioid and a benzodiazepinePatients sent home with prescriptions that raise the risk of overdose when combined. Lower is better. 30 patients. | 10% | 15% |
| Blood clot prevention givenHigher is better. 57 patients. | 79% | 90%* |
CMS publishes these process-of-care measures without a better/worse verdict, so the U.S. figure is shown for context; small differences, or results based on few patients, may not mean much. *Median of all hospitals CMS reports, where CMS publishes no national figure. About the data.
Doctors at Palmer Lutheran Health Center
59 Medicare-enrolled doctors and other clinicians list this hospital as an affiliation, across 22 specialties.
Federal rules require hospitals to publish their prices, including the rates they've negotiated with each insurer and their cash prices. Palmer Lutheran Health Center lists them here:
From the hospital's price transparency file (www.gundersenhealth.org/cms-hpt.txt), checked Oct 24, 2026. For an estimate of what you'll pay, ask the hospital or your insurer; Medicare's averages are on our procedure cost pages.
Size and finances
Medicare cost report · fiscal year ending Sep 2024
As reported by the hospital to CMS; not audited. Operating margin is income from patient care divided by net patient revenue and leaves out investment income and donations. Compare Iowa hospital finances.
Who owns Palmer Lutheran Health Center
Medicare enrollment and ownership records (PECOS)
Medicare lists the hospital's legal name as Palmer Lutheran Health Center Inc, a non-profit organization.
125 doctors and other clinicians list Palmer Lutheran Health Center as a hospital affiliation in Medicare's clinician directory.
Organizations with 5% or more ownership (directly or through other companies), partnership interests or operational control, as the hospital reported them to Medicare. Records can lag behind recent sales. Individuals are not listed. Who owns America's hospitals.
Non-profit finances
IRS Form 990 · tax year ending Sep 2023 · Palmer Lutheran Health Center Inc (EIN 42-1320763)
As filed with the IRS by Palmer Lutheran Health Center Inc. Matched by name and address, so check the filing to confirm it's the right organization. See the full Form 990 filings · Non-profit hospital finances.
The area around Palmer Lutheran Health Center
HRSA shortage designations and BLS pay data
Primary care: Parts of Fayette are federally designated health professional shortage areas (1 designation). Highest shortage score 15.
Mental health: Fayette is a federally designated health professional shortage area. Highest shortage score 16.
Dental: Parts of Fayette are federally designated health professional shortage areas (1 designation). Highest shortage score 15.
Nurse pay: registered nurses in Iowa earn a median $78,630 a year. Healthcare salaries in Iowa.
Shortage areas are designated by the Health Resources and Services Administration where there are too few primary care, mental health or dental providers for the population; scores run from 0 to 25 for primary and mental health care and 0 to 26 for dental care, higher meaning greater need. Iowa shortage areas
Find doctors in West Union
Medicare-enrolled specialists with a practice in West Union, with addresses, phone numbers and the hospitals they work with.
Care after a stay at Palmer Lutheran Health Center
Medicare-certified providers near this hospital, with their CMS ratings. A hospital discharge planner can make the referral.
Dialysis centers nearby See more
- 1.9mi DaVita West Union Dialysis CenterWest Union, IA
Home health agencies nearby See more
- 1.9mi Gundersen Palmer Lutheran Hosp & Clin-Home HealthWest Union, IA · 71% would recommend
Hospice care providers nearby See more
- 1.9mi Gundersen Palmer Lutheran Hosp and Clinics-HospiceWest Union, IA · 88% would recommend Not rated
- 24mi St Croix HospiceStrawberry Point, IA · 90% would recommend
Source: CMS Care Compare. Distances are approximate.
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