All contents are Copyright © Prairie Lakes Healthcare System. All rights reserved.

No portion of this service may be reproduced in any form, or by any means, without prior written permission from Prairie Lakes Healthcare System.

1. Rules and Regulations.

The following rules and regulations apply to all visitors to or users of this Website. By accessing this Website, user acknowledges acceptance of these terms and conditions. Prairie Lakes Healthcare System reserves the right to change these rules and regulations from time to time at its sole discretion. In the case of any violation of these rules and regulations, Prairie Lakes Healthcare System reserves the right to seek all remedies available by law and in equity for such violations. These rules and regulations apply to all visits to the Prairie Lakes Healthcare System Website, both now and in the future.

2. Limited License.

Prairie Lakes Healthcare System hereby authorizes you to copy materials published by Prairie Lakes Healthcare System on this Website solely for non-commercial use. No other use of the information is authorized. In consideration of this authorization, you agree that any copy of these materials which you make shall retain all copyright and other proprietary notices in the same form and manner as on the original. Except as specified above, nothing contained herein shall be construed as conferring by implication, estoppel or otherwise any license or right under any patent, trademark or copyright of Prairie Lakes Healthcare System or any third party.

ALL CONTENTS ON THIS SITE ARE PROTECTED BY COPYRIGHT. EXCEPT AS SPECIFICALLY PERMITTED HEREIN, NO PORTION OF THE INFORMATION ON THIS WEB SITE MAY BE REPRODUCED IN ANY FORM, OR BY ANY MEANS, WITHOUT PRIOR WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM PRAIRIE LAKES HEALTHCARE SYSTEM. VISITORS OR USERS ARE NOT PERMITTED TO MODIFY, DISTRIBUTE, PUBLISH, TRANSMIT OR CREATE DERIVATIVE WORKS OF ANY MATERIAL FOUND ON THIS SITE FOR ANY PUBLIC OR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES.

3. Compliance With Applicable Laws; Export Control Laws.

User access to this Website is governed by all applicable federal, state and local laws. All information available on the Website is subject to U.S. export control laws and may also be subject to the laws of the country where you reside.

4. Trademarks.

The trademarks, logos and service marks ("Marks") displayed on this Website are the property of Prairie Lakes Healthcare System or other third parties. Users are not permitted to use these Marks without the prior written consent of Prairie Lakes Healthcare System or such third party which may own the Mark. " Prairie Lakes Healthcare System" is a registered trademark of Prairie Lakes Healthcare System.

5. General Disclaimer.

Although Prairie Lakes Healthcare System has attempted to provide accurate information on the Website, Prairie Lakes Healthcare System assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of the information. Prairie Lakes Healthcare System may change the programs or products mentioned at any time without notice. Mention of non-Prairie Lakes Healthcare System products or services is for information purposes only and constitutes neither an endorsement nor a recommendation.

ALL INFORMATION PROVIDED ON THIS WEB SITE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITH ALL FAULTS WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED. PRAIRIE LAKES HEALTHCARE SYSTEM AND ITS SUPPLIERS DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, THOSE OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT OR ARISING FROM A COURSE OF DEALING, USAGE, OR TRADE PRACTICE.

PRAIRIE LAKES HEALTHCARE SYSTEM AND ITS SUPPLIERS SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, LOST PROFITS OR REVENUES, COSTS OF REPLACEMENT GOODS, LOSS OR DAMAGE TO DATA ARISING OUT OF THE USE OR INABILITY TO USE THIS SITE OR ANY PRAIRIE LAKES HEALTHCARE SYSTEM PRODUCT, DAMAGES RESULTING FROM USE OF OR RELIANCE ON THE INFORMATION PRESENT, EVEN IF PRAIRIE LAKES HEALTHCARE SYSTEM OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

6. Cookies

A cookie is a small data file that certain Web sites write to your hard drive when you visit them. A cookie file can contain information such as a user ID that the site uses to track the pages you've visited, but the only personal information a cookie can contain is information you supply yourself. A cookie can't read data off your hard disk or read cookie files created by other sites. Some parts of Prairie Lakes Healthcare System Website use cookies to track user traffic patterns. We do this in order to determine the usefulness of Prairie Lakes Healthcare System Website information to our users and to see how effective our navigational structure is in helping users reach that information. Prairie Lakes Healthcare System Systems does not correlate this information with data about individual users, nor does it share this information or sell it to any third party.

If you prefer not to receive cookies on Prairie Lakes Healthcare System Website, you can set your browser to warn you before accepting cookies and refuse the cookie when your browser alerts you to its presence. You can also refuse all cookies by turning them off in your browser. You do not need to have cookies turned on to use any area of Prairie Lakes Healthcare System Website.

7. Links to Third Party Sites.

This Website may contain links to third party sites. Access to any other Internet site linked to this Website is at the user's own risk and Prairie Lakes Healthcare System is not responsible for the accuracy or reliability of any information, data, opinions, advice or statements made on these sites. Prairie Lakes Healthcare System provides these links merely as a convenience and the inclusion of such links does not imply an endorsement.

8. Access to Password Protected/Secure Areas.

Access to and use of password protected and/or secure areas of the Website is restricted to authorized users only. Unauthorized individuals attempting to access these areas of the Website may be subject to prosecution.

Notice of Healthcare Privacy Practices

Join our team, our community and our vision of what high quality, affordable and compassionate healthcare looks like.

At Prairie Lakes, you will enjoy working with a superior medical staff that includes Interventional Cardiologists, General Surgeons, ER Physicians, Hospitalists, Pulmonologist, Otolaryngologist, Nephrologist, Urologists, MDAs and CRNAs, Radiologists, Radiation and Medical Oncologists, Pathologist, Family and Internal Medicine Physicians, OB/GYNs, and Pediatricians.

Prairie Lakes provides a competitive salary based on MGMA data with outstanding benefits to include:

• Signing bonus/Loan repayment options
• Medical, Dental, Life and Disability Insurance premiums paid by Prairie Lakes
• Retirement plan
• Relocation
• Generous CME allowance
• No state income tax
  

Current Physician Opportunities:

• Allergist
• Dermatologist
• Emergency Medicine
• Endocrinologist
• Pulmonologist
• Hospitalist
• Interventional Cardiologist
• Medical Oncologist
• Neurologist
• Orthopedic Surgeon
• Otolaryngologist
• Pathologist
• Radiation Oncologist
• Radiologist
• Urologist

If you would like more detailed information about our opportunities, Prairie Lakes, and the community, please contact:

Justine DeVille, Physician Recruiter
Prairie Lakes Healthcare System
401 9th Avenue NW
Watertown, SD 57201
Phone: 605-882-6898
Toll free: 1-877-917-7547
Fax: 605-882-7819
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

As a not-for-profit organization, Prairie Lakes Healthcare System is required to provide community benefit to maintain our tax exempt status. We do this by treating patients regardless of their ability to pay and through community-building activities. These activities include ones aligned with our Community Health Needs Assessment as well as financial, volunteer, and leadership support to numerous organizations and programs from Prairie Lakes and our employees. Among them are:

• United Way
• Human Service Agency
• BISCO
• Boys and Girls Club of Watertown
• Joy Ranch
• Lake Area Technical College
• Glacial Lakes Multicultural Center
• Lake Area Kidney Endowment
• Watertown Area Chamber of Commerce

Donation Requests

Prairie Lakes Healthcare System is proud to support organizations and activities that benefit the region we serve. We give priority to funding areas that relate to our mission and vision and support community health initiatives. We ask that all organizations requesting financial or in-kind support review the following guidelines and complete a short form.

Community Betterment Donation Form

Guidelines

• Complete and submit a Donation Request Form 45 days prior to when the donation is needed.
• Must be a 501(c)3 organization, government agency, or public education institute.
• Requests are reviewed by a committee. You will be notified by letter of the status of your request once it has been reviewed.
• Previous funding does not guarantee funding in subsequent years.

Limitations - areas that are not funded:

• Political activity
• Scholarships
• Individuals

Community Health Needs Assessment

Prairie Lakes Healthcare System completed a community health needs assessment. The purpose of this assessment was to allow Prairie Lakes to identify the health needs of its service area, prioritize these needs, and implement a strategy to address these needs. As a tax-exempt hospital, Prairie Lakes is required by Section 9007 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 to conduct a community health needs assessment at least once every three years and implement a strategy to meet the needs identified through the assessment.

2019 Resources:

View 2019 Community Health Needs Assessment2019 Implementation Strategy

2022 Resources:

View 2022 Community Health Needs Assessment  2022 Implementation Strategy

Request your medical records is a 3-step process:

1. Download and print the Authorization for the Use or Disclosure of Health Information form.
2. Complete the form.
3. Fax or mail the completed Authorization for the Use or Disclosure of Health Information form to:

Fax:
605-882-7606

Mail:
Prairie Lakes Healthcare System
Attention: Health Information Management
PO Box 1210
Watertown, SD 57201

Requests generally take 7-10 business days to fulfill.

You may be charged a fee for copying. You will be sent an invoice with your medical records for the appropriate amount.

Birth and Death Certificates:

Birth and death certificates are issued and managed by the Register of Deeds in each county and by South Dakota Department of Health. To obtain a copy of a birth or death certificate, please contact the Register of Deeds in the appropriate county or the South Dakota Department of Health at 605-773-4961.

Learn more at SD Dept. of Health

Questions:

If you have questions or need assistance, please contact the Health Information Management department at 605-882-7830.

Find out more about billing, insurance, reimbursements and financial assistance.

• Billing and Insurance
• Financial Assistance
• Surgical Center Financial Information
• Swing Bed Reimbursements

Prairie Lakes Healthcare System is committed to providing excellent quality medical care to our patients without regard to their ability to pay. If you think that you may have difficulty paying your bill, we encourage you to discuss financial assistance options with one of our Patient Account Specialists. For persons who qualify, care may be provided free of charge or at a discounted rate. Interest free payment terms are also available for those who qualify.

An application for financial assistance may be obtained:

• by inquiring in person at the hospital information desk in the hospital's main lobby,
• by calling a Patient Account Specialist at 882-7887 or 1-800-298-6638, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm, Monday - Friday.
• by downloading and printing the application (see below)

Eligibility for assistance is based on income, assets, medical bill obligations and other criteria as listed on the Financial Assistance Application. Individuals who qualify for assistance will not be charged more for emergency or medically necessary care than the amount generally billed to insured individuals.

ver la información de esta página en español

Financial Assistance Policy - download  

Financial Assistance Application - download

Póliza de Asistencia Financiera - descargar

Declaracion Para Asistencia Financiera - descargar

Same day surgical procedures are provided in a convenient, personal setting at Prairie Lakes Mallard Pointe Surgical Center. The facility is designed for easy access and check-in and service is designed to minimize wait times. The staff at Mallard Pointe Surgical Center encourages family involvement before and after surgery. This is an ideal set up for children needing outpatient surgery.

General and specialized surgeons in the region perform procedures at Mallard Pointe Surgical Center.  Physicians provide procedures in orthopedics, ophthalmology, ear-nose-throat, gynecology, urology, podiatry, plastic, dental, endoscopy, general and laparoscopic surgery, pediatrics and anesthesia. Our top procedures are:

• Cataract surgery
• Steroid Injections for pain
• Myringotomy
• Knee arthroscopy
• Fracture reduction
• Removal of tonsils and adenoids
• Laparoscopy/hysteroscopy
• Carpal tunnel release
• Shoulder surgery
• Dental surgery
• Hammertoe and bunion surgery

Get Address and Directions

Question:

I've heard that Quinoa is better for you than brown rice? is this true? Should I switch? Is there different kinds of quinoa that are better than others?

THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW HEALTH INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY.

This Notice describes how we will use and disclose your protected health information. The policies outlined in this Notice apply to all of your health information generated by this Organization, whether recorded in your medical record, invoices, payment forms, videotapes or other ways. Similarly, these policies apply to the protected health information gathered from other Organizations by any health care professional, employee or volunteer who participates in your care.

USES AND DISCLOSURES OF YOUR HEALTH INFORMATION

1) In some circumstances we are permitted or required to use or disclose your protected health information without obtaining your prior authorization and without offering you the opportunity to object. These circumstances include:

(a) Uses or disclosures for purposes relating to treatment, payment and health care operations:

i) Treatment. We may use or disclose your protected health information for the purpose of providing, or allowing others to provide treatment to you. An example would be if your primary care physician discloses your protected health information to another doctor for the purposes of a consultation. 

- Also, we may contact you with appointment reminders or information about treatment alternatives or other health-related benefits and services that may be of interest to you.

ii) Payment. We may use and/or disclose your protected health information for the purpose of allowing us, as well as other entities, to secure payment for the health care services provided to you. For example, we may inform your health insurance company of your diagnosis and treatment in order to assist the insurer in processing our claim for the health care services provided to you.

iii) Health Care Operations. We may use and/or disclose your protected health information for the purposes of our day-to-day operations and functions. We may also disclose your protected health information to another covered entity, to allow it to perform its day-to-day functions, if we both have a relationship with you. For example, we may compile your protected health information, along with that of other patients, in order to allow a team of our health care professionals to review that information and make suggestions concerning how to improve the quality of care provided at this facility. We may also disclose protected health information to doctors, nurses, technicians, medical students, and other hospital personnel for review and learning purposes.

- In addition, we may contact you as part of our efforts to raise funds for the Organization. All fundraising communications will include information about how you may opt out of future fundraising communications.

(b) To create material(s) that originally had any identifying information concerning you deleted from the final material(s);

(c) To create materials that have most of the identifying information about you deleted from the final materials, to allow other entities to conduct research, public health, or health care operation activities.

(d) When required by law;

(e) For public health purposes;

(f) To disclose information about victims of abuse, neglect, or domestic violence;

(g) For health oversight activities, such as audits or civil, administrative or criminal investigations;

(h) For judicial or administrative proceedings;

(i) For law enforcement purposes;

(j) To assist coroners, medical examiners or funeral directors with their official duties;

(k) To facilitate organ, eye or tissue donation;

(l) For certain research projects that have been evaluated and approved through a research approval process that takes into account patients' need for privacy;

(m) To avert a serious threat to health or safety;

(n) For specialized governmental functions, such as military, national security, criminal corrections, or public benefit purposes; and

(o) For workers' compensation purposes, as permitted by law.

2) We may also use or disclose your protected health information in the following circumstances. However, except in emergency situations, we will inform you of our intended action prior to making any such uses and disclosures and will, at that time, offer you the opportunity to object.

(a)Directories. We may maintain a directory of patients that includes your name and location within the facility, your religious designation, and information about your condition in general terms that will not communicate specific medical information about you. Except for your religion, we may disclose this information to any person who asks for you by name. We may disclose all directory information to members of the clergy.

(b) Notifications. We may disclose to your relatives or close personal friends any protected health information that is directly related to that person's involvement in the provision of, or payment for, your care. We may also use and disclose your protected health information for the purpose of locating and notifying your relatives or close personal friends of your location, general condition or death, and to Organizations that are involved in those tasks during disaster situations.

Except as described above, disclosures of your protected health information will be made only with your written authorization. You may revoke your authorization at any time, in writing, unless we have taken action in reliance upon your prior authorization, or if you signed the authorization as a condition of obtaining insurance coverage.

YOUR RIGHTS
1) To Request Restrictions. You have the right to request restrictions on the use and disclosure of your protected health information for treatment, payment or health care operations purposes or notification purposes. We are not required to agree to your request. If we do agree to a restriction, we will abide by that restriction unless you are in need of emergency treatment and the restricted information is needed to provide that emergency treatment. To request a restriction, submit a written request to the Contact listed on the final page of this Notice.

2) To Limit Communications. You have the right to receive confidential communications about your own protected health information by alternative means or at alternative locations. This means that you may, for example, designate that we contact you only via e-mail, or at work rather than home. To request communications via alternative means or at alternative locations, you must submit a written request to the Contact listed on the final page of this Notice. All reasonable requests will be granted.

3) To Access and Copy Health Information. You have the right to inspect and copy any protected health information about you other than psychotherapy notes, information compiled in anticipation of or for use in civil, criminal or administrative proceedings, or certain information that is governed by the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act. To arrange for access to your records, or to receive a copy of your records, you should submit a written request to the Contact listed on the last page of this Notice. If you request copies, you will be charged our regular fee for copying and mailing the requested information.

Despite your general right to access your protected health information, access may be denied in some limited circumstances. For example, access may be denied if you are an inmate at a correctional institution or if you are a participant in a research program that is still in progress. Access may be denied if the federal Privacy Act applies. Access to information that was obtained from someone other than a health care provider under a promise of confidentiality can be denied if allowing you access would reasonably be likely to reveal the source of the information. The decision to deny access under these circumstances is final and not subject to review.

In addition, access may be denied if (i) access to the information in question is reasonably likely to endanger the life and physical safety of you or anyone else, (ii) the information makes reference to another person and your access would reasonably be likely to cause harm to that person, or (iii) you are the personal representative of another individual and a licensed health care professional determines that your access to the information would cause substantial harm to the patient or another individual. If access is denied for these reasons, you have the right to have the decision reviewed by a health care professional who did not participate in the original decision. If access is ultimately denied, the reasons for that denial will be provided to you in writing.

4) To Request Amendment. You may request that your protected health information be amended. Your request may be denied if the information in question: was not created by us (unless you show that the original source of the information is no longer available to seek amendment from), is not part of our records, is not the type of information that would be available to you for inspection or copying (for example, psychotherapy notes), or is accurate and complete. If your request to amend your protected health information is denied, you may submit a written statement disagreeing with the denial, which we will keep on file and distribute with all future disclosures of the information to which it relates. Requests to amend protected health information must be submitted in writing to the Contact listed on the final page of this Notice.

5) To an Accounting of Disclosures. You have the right to an accounting of any disclosures of your protected health information made during the six-year period preceding the date of your request. However, the following disclosures will not be accounted for: (i) disclosures made for the purpose of carrying out treatment, payment or health care operations, (ii) disclosures made to you, (iii) disclosures of information maintained in our patient directory, or disclosures made to persons involved in your care, or for the purpose of notifying your family or friends about your whereabouts, (iv) disclosures for national security or intelligence purposes, (v) disclosures to correctional institutions or law enforcement officials who had you in custody at the time of disclosure, (vi) disclosures that occurred prior to April 14, 2003, (vii) disclosures made pursuant to an authorization signed by you, (viii) disclosures that are part of a limited data set, (ix) disclosures that are incidental to another permissible use or disclosure, or (x) disclosures made to a health oversight agency or law enforcement official, but only if the agency or official asks us not to account to you for such disclosures and only for the limited period of time covered by that request. The accounting will include the date of each disclosure, the name of the entity or person who received the information and that person's address (if known), and a brief description of the information disclosed and the purpose of the disclosure. To request an accounting of disclosures, submit a written request to the Contact listed on the final page of this Notice.

OUR DUTIES
1) We are required by law to maintain the privacy of your protected health information and to provide you with this Notice of our legal duties and privacy practices.

2) We are required to abide by the terms of this Notice. We reserve the right to change the terms of this Notice and to make those changes applicable to all health information that we maintain. Any changes to this Notice will be posted on our website and at our facilities, and will be available from us upon request.

COMPLAINTS
You can complain to us and to the federal Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services if you believe your privacy rights have been violated. To lodge a complaint with us, please file a written complaint with the Contact set forth below. This Contact person will also provide you with further information about our privacy policies upon request. No action will be taken against you for filing a complaint.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF RECEIPT OF NOTICE
You will be asked to sign an acknowledgment form that you received this Notice of Privacy Practices.

EFFECTIVE DATE
This Notice of Privacy Practices is effective April 14, 2003

DESIGNATED CONTACT PERSON & CHIEF PRIVACY OFFICER
Kristi L. Osthus, RHIA
Prairie Lakes Healthcare System
400 10th Ave NW
PO Box 1210
Watertown, SD 57201

Phone: 1-605-882-7920

ADDITIONAL NOTICES:

NOTICE OF ORGANIZED HEALTH CARE ARRANGEMENT FOR HEALTH SYSTEM
The Health System, its component hospitals, the independent contractor members of their Medical Staffs (including your physician), and other related health care providers have agreed, as permitted by law, to share your health information among themselves for purposes of treatment, payment and health care operations. This enables us to better address your health care needs in a clinically integrated setting. This notice is being provided to you as a supplement to this Notice of Privacy Practices. 

NOTICE OF ORGANIZED HEALTH CARE ARRANGEMENT BETWEEN HOSPITAL AND MEDICAL STAFF
Each of the Hospitals, the independent contractor members of its Medical Staff (including your physician), and other health care providers affiliated with the Hospitals have agreed, as permitted by law, to share your health information among themselves for purposes of treatment, payment or health care operations. This enables us to better address your health care needs. This notice is being provided to you as a supplement to this Notice of Privacy Practices