Friday, August 02, 2013
Prairie Lakes Announces Opening of Pulmonology Clinic
Prairie Lakes Healthcare System will open the region’s first full-time clinic focused on the specialty of pulmonology on August 12. People seeking treatment for diseases of the lungs, respiratory tract and bronchial tubes, including asthma, pneumonia, and emphysema, will now be able to see a specialist in Watertown.
“We are excited to bring pulmonology care to Watertown,” said Jill Fuller, CEO of Prairie Lakes. “The expansion of specialty services, such as cardiology, oncology, nephrology, urology and now pulmonology, benefits people living in Watertown and surrounding communities. Easy access to specialists and less drive time means patients can receive the care they deserve close to home.”
Pulmonologist, Dr. Jeffrey Kowitz, will see patients at the Prairie Lakes Pulmonology Clinic Monday through Friday, starting August 12. Dr. Kowitz has over 25 years of pulmonology experience and is board certified in Pulmonology and Internal Medicine. He also has extensive experience in critical care and sleep disorders. He received his medical degree from the University of Minnesota Medical School and completed both his internal medicine residency and pulmonology fellowship at the University of Wisconsin.
The Prairie Lakes Pulmonology Clinic will be located in the lower level Medical Arts Building at 600 4th St. NE in Watertown. Patients can now make appointments by calling the clinic at 605-882-7650 or toll free at 855-648-9950.
Published in
News and Announcements
Friday, August 02, 2013
Prairie Lakes Adds Urologist
Prairie Lakes Healthcare System welcomes Dr. Henri Lanctin, specialist in adult and pediatric urology, to the medical staff. Dr. Lanctin diagnoses and treats patients with urological disorders. He will join Dr. Chris Adducci in practice at the Prairie Lakes Urology Clinic.
“My approach to care is personable and patient focused with special attention to the sensitivity of common urological problems,” said Dr. Lanctin. “I am committed to providing high quality, state-of-the-art general urological care, with a special interest in minimally invasive approaches to prostate cancer, such as cryotherapy and focal therapy.”
Dr. Lanctin is board certified in Urology and has been practicing the specialty for the past 15 years in St. Cloud, MN. He received his medical degree from Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia and completed his general surgery and urology residencies at the University of Ottawa in Ottawa, Ontario.
Dr. Lanctin sees patients at the Prairie Lakes Urology Clinic located on the 3rd floor of Prairie Lakes Hospital at 401 9th Ave. NW in Watertown. Patients may make appointments by calling the clinic at 605-882-6810 or toll free at 855-208-1541.
Published in
News and Announcements
Friday, August 02, 2013
Prairie Lakes Welcomes Regions First Full-Time Pulmonologist
Prairie Lakes Healthcare System welcomes Dr. Jeffrey Kowitz to its team of specialists. As a pulmonologist, Dr. Kowitz provides diagnosis and management of diseases involving the respiratory tract, lungs, and bronchial tubes such as asthma, pneumonia, tuberculosis and emphysema. Dr. Kowitz is the first full-time pulmonologist to serve the Watertown area.
“I believe in patient centered healthcare, teamwork and patient education,” said Dr. Kowitz. “I work to promote efficient, common sense healthcare that empowers each of my patients to make informed decisions regarding his or her care.”
Dr. Kowitz has over 25 years of pulmonology experience and is board certified in Pulmonology and Internal Medicine. He also has extensive experience in critical care and sleep disorders. He received his medical degree from the University of Minnesota Medical School and completed both his internal medicine residency and pulmonology fellowship at the University of Wisconsin.
Dr. Kowitz will see patients at the Prairie Lakes Pulmonology Clinic located in the lower level Medical Arts Building at 600 4th St. NE in Watertown. Patients can now make appointments by calling the clinic at 605-882-7650 or toll free at 855-648-9950.
Published in
News and Announcements
Wednesday, July 03, 2013
Prairie Lakes Named Community Five Star Hospital
Prairie Lakes Healthcare System was recently recognized as a top-ranked hospital in the country for the value it provides to the community. Prairie Lakes received the Community Five Star® designation based on its performance in the following areas: financial viability and plant reinvestment, hospital cost structure, hospital charge structure and hospital quality performance.
“We are honored to be named a Community Value Five Star® hospital,” said Jill Fuller, CEO of Prairie Lakes Healthcare System. “We strive to provide high quality, affordable and compassionate healthcare to people living in Watertown and surrounding communities. This award exemplifies the work we do daily to not only provide the best healthcare and bring critical specialty services to the region, but to do so while remaining financially strong and investing in our infrastructure, the continuum of care and the communities we serve.
The study was completed by Cleverley + Associates, a leading healthcare financial consulting firm specializing in operational benchmarking and performance enhancement strategies. The study is based on the Community Value Index® (CVI). The CVI is a proprietary index created to offer a measure of the value that a hospital provides to its community.
The study groups hospitals into five comparison groups based on size and teaching or non-teaching status. Prairie Lakes was in the largest comparison group with a total of 1,413 hospitals. To be designated a Community Value Five Star® hospital, Prairie Lakes ranked in the top 20 percent when compared to other hospitals.
“The topic of hospital value is increasingly being discussed. Issues of pricing and community benefit have been well-publicized but little has been offered to measure the broad scope of value,” said James Cleverley, co-author of the study. “In response, the Community Value Index® was created to provide an assessment of a hospital’s performance. Fundamentally,
the CVI suggests that a hospital provides value to the community when it is financially viable, is appropriately reinvesting back into the facility, maintains a low cost structure, has reasonable charges and provides high quality care to patients.”
Prairie Lakes Healthcare System is an independent, not-for-profit hospital serving a 10-county region in northeast South Dakota and western Minnesota. It is governed by a volunteer, 15-member board of directors who reside in the service area.
Published in
News and Announcements
Monday, May 06, 2013
Prairie Lakes Offers Stroke Screen
In the US, stroke is the 4th leading cause of death and a leading cause of long-term adult disability. Stroke screening is an essential part of determining your risk of having a stroke.
The Prairie Lakes Stroke Screen includes four screenings:
- Stroke/Carotid Artery – Scans carotid arteries in the neck for plaque build-up, which can lead to stroke.
- Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm - Scans for abdominal aneurysms most people don't know they have. Abdominal aneurysms can rupture and possibly be fatal.
- Peripheral Arterial Disease - Scans for plaque build-up in the legs that causes leg pain and is linked to coronary artery disease. The screening also checks the ankle brachial index blood pressure.
- Heart Rhythm (Atrial Fibrillation) - A tracing of the heart rhythm will be taken to identity the presence or absence of irregular heartbeats.
Some risk factors for stroke include:
- Family history of heart disease or stroke
- History of smoking
- Over age 40
- High blood pressure
- High stress levels
- Inactive lifestyle
- Overweight
- Diabetes
- High cholesterol
After the radiologist and cardiologist at Prairie Lakes interprets the findings, your physician will receive a report with the results. You will also receive a copy of the report explaining the results. Following up on the screening results is up to you and your physician.
The Stroke Screen is completed on the Prairie Lakes Hospital campus and is available for only $45 on a pay-for-service basis. Physician referral is not necessary. To schedule a Stroke Screen, call the Prairie Lakes Healthcare System Central Scheduling Department at 605-882-7690.
Published in
News and Announcements
We can help you find a doctor. Call 605-882-7000 or search online.