Des Moines Senior AdvisorGuthrie County Phns is a Medicare-certified home health agency based at 2002 State Street in Guthrie Center, IA 50115. Medicare first certified it in 1979, 47 years ago. Medicare rates its quality of patient care at 2.5 out of 5 stars, below the Iowa average of 3. Its strongest result against the Iowa average is breathing improved; its weakest is got better at getting in and out of bed.
What is Guthrie County Phns's Medicare record?
| Agency | Guthrie County Phns |
|---|---|
| Address | 2002 State Street, Guthrie Center, IA 50115 |
| Phone | (641) 747-3972 |
| Medicare provider number (CCN) | 167108 |
| Ownership | Government Operated |
| Medicare-certified since | 06/01/1979 |
How does Guthrie County Phns score on Medicare's quality measures?
Medicare publishes 11 patient-outcome and process measures for Guthrie County Phns. It is better than the Iowa average on 4 and worse on 5.
| Measure | Guthrie County Phns | Iowa average | U.S. average | vs. Iowa |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Started care on time | 87.4% | 96.8% | 96.6% | Worse |
| Got better at walking or moving around | 69.5% | 87.4% | 88.6% | Worse |
| Got better at getting in and out of bed | 61.6% | 89% | 89.8% | Worse |
| Got better at bathing | 78.3% | 89.8% | 90.7% | Worse |
| Breathing improved | 97.2% | 89% | 91.5% | Better |
| Got better at taking medicines correctly | 74% | 86.1% | 88.3% | Worse |
| Medication issues addressed on time | 96.1% | 96.9% | 94.4% | About the same |
| Flu shot status checked | 65.7% | 67.8% | 63.3% | About the same |
| Met expected function at discharge | 88.1% | 82.1% | 71.7% | Better |
| Falls with major injury (lower is better) | 1% | 1.6% | 0.9% | Better |
| New or worsened pressure ulcers (lower is better) | 0% | 0.3% | 0.2% | Better |
Where it stands out: breathing improved, met expected function at discharge and falls with major injury.
Where it trails: got better at getting in and out of bed, got better at walking or moving around and got better at taking medicines correctly.
What do patients say about Guthrie County Phns?
81% of surveyed patients said they would definitely recommend Guthrie County Phns, based on 48 completed surveys. The Iowa average is 82%.
| Survey question | Guthrie County Phns | Iowa average | U.S. average | vs. Iowa |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team gave care in a professional way | 84% | 90% | 89% | Worse |
| Team communicated well | 80% | 88% | 86% | Worse |
| Team discussed medicines, pain and home safety | 76% | 86% | 82% | Worse |
| Rated the agency 9 or 10 out of 10 | 83% | 87% | 85% | Worse |
| Would definitely recommend the agency | 81% | 82% | 79% | About the same |
Do Guthrie County Phns's patients end up back in the hospital?
On the hospital-use measures Medicare can calculate for Guthrie County Phns, it performs the same as the national rate.
| Measure | Medicare's category | Risk-adjusted rate |
|---|---|---|
| Patients who went home and stayed home after care ended | Same As National Rate | 86.3% |
| Preventable hospital readmissions in the 30 days after care | Same As National Rate | 4.2% |
| Preventable hospital stays during care | Same As National Rate | 10.4% |
Which home health services does Guthrie County Phns provide, and which does it not?
Guthrie County Phns reports offering skilled nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work and home health aide.
| Service | Offered by Guthrie County Phns? |
|---|---|
| Skilled nursing | Yes |
| Physical therapy | Yes |
| Occupational therapy | Yes |
| Speech therapy | Yes |
| Medical social work | Yes |
| Home health aide | Yes |
| Round-the-clock or shift care | No. Home health is visits, not shifts. |
| Housekeeping, meals and errands on their own | No. Medicare does not cover them unless tied to skilled care. |
| Long-term help with bathing and dressing | No. That is non-medical home care, which families usually arrange and pay for separately. |
Which Des Moines-area ZIP codes does Guthrie County Phns serve?
Guthrie County Phns tells Medicare it serves 10 ZIP codes in Des Moines and Polk, Dallas, Warren, Jasper, Madison and Guthrie counties, out of 22 in total.
- 50002
- 50026
- 50029
- 50048
- 50058
- 50115
- 50164
- 50216
- 50233
- 50277
A ZIP on this list means the agency accepts referrals there. It does not promise a nurse is available this week, so confirm your address when you call.
What should you ask Guthrie County Phns before starting care?
Ask about transfer training
61.6% of patients improved at getting in and out of bed (Iowa average 89%). Ask whether the therapist will train the family member who does the lifting, not only the patient.
Ask how often the therapist actually comes
69.5% of its patients got better at walking or moving around, against 87.4% across Iowa. Ask how many physical therapy visits a week the plan includes and whether the same therapist comes each time.
Ask who sorts out the medication list
74% of patients got better at taking their medicines correctly (Iowa average 86.1%). Ask whether a nurse reconciles every prescription at the first visit and who sets up the pill organizer.
Ask how many visits a week to expect
Home health is intermittent: visits, not shifts. Ask for the planned number of nursing and therapy visits per week so the family knows which hours still need covering.
Last verified: November 2026, against the Medicare provider data release dated 2026-09-21.
Common questions
Is Guthrie County Phns Medicare-certified?
Yes. Guthrie County Phns is certified by Medicare under provider number 167108 and has been since 1979. Original Medicare pays certified agencies directly for covered home health care.
What is Guthrie County Phns's Medicare star rating?
2.5 out of 5 for quality of patient care. The Iowa average is 3. Its patient survey rating is 3 out of 5.
Does Guthrie County Phns provide physical therapy at home?
Yes, it reports offering physical therapy to Medicare. It also reports skilled nursing, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work and home health aide.
