For the past quarter of a century, Prairie Lakes Cancer Center has been a beacon of hope and healing for countless patients and their families in our Watertown area communities. In 1999, the Prairie Lakes Cancer Center welcomed its first patient. Today, we proudly serve over 400 new patients annually, averaging 40 patient visits each day. Our journey from a small team of one physician and nine staff members to a comprehensive care center with three employed physicians, one nurse practitioner, and 22 dedicated staff members is a testament to our commitment to excellence in cancer care.

Our Team and Integrated Approach 

Our journey began with a vision to create a center where patients could receive state-of-the-art treatment close to home, surrounded by their loved ones. This vision has guided us every step of the way, driving our efforts to combine cutting-edge technology with compassionate care. The heart of our Cancer Center is our skilled and compassionate team, which includes:

• Dr. Joni Buechler, Radiation Oncologist
• Dr. Bipin Amin and Dr. Vijay Rao, Medical Oncologists and Hematologists
• Kristina Rieffenberger, Certified Nurse Practitioner
• Oncology-certified nurses
• Radiation dosimetrist
• Social worker
• Research specialist/clinical trial coordinator
• Radiation therapists
• Dedicated office staff

Our team is further supported by a diverse group of professionals from Prairie Lakes, including pharmacists, lab technicians, registered dietitians, pastoral care providers, and business office staff. This collaborative effort ensures that each patient receives holistic, comprehensive care tailored to their individual needs.

Milestones and Innovations

Over the past 25 years, the Prairie Lakes Cancer Center has achieved numerous milestones in providing advanced cancer care. Here are some highlights of our innovative services and treatments:

• Digital PET/CT Services: Our state-of-the-art mobile imaging unit offers exceptional image quality, reduced radiation dose levels, faster scan times, and the ability to perform additional diagnostic CT exams in combination with PET scans.
• TomoTherapy: This revolutionary treatment delivery system combines the functions of a traditional radiation therapy unit and an on-board CT scanner.
• Clinical Trials: We actively participate in and continually add new clinical trials to our offerings, providing our patients with access to cutting-edge treatments soon after FDA clearance. Our proactive approach allows us to offer innovative therapies to our patients quickly.
• Advanced Therapies: We administer a variety of immunotherapies, chemotherapies, and hematology services, ensuring that our patients receive the most effective treatments available.

A Community of Care

One of the unique aspects of the Prairie Lakes Cancer Center is our close-knit team and the long-standing experience of our staff. We pride ourselves on creating personal relationships with our patients, treating them as individuals rather than numbers. This personalized approach fosters a supportive and compassionate environment, which is often not found in larger healthcare settings.

Our collaboration extends beyond our center, working with specialists across the Midwest to keep care close to home. We also integrate services from other departments within the healthcare system, including dietary support, social work, pastoral care, and rehabilitation therapies, to support patients throughout their journey.

Reaching Out to Rural Communities

To ensure that quality cancer care is accessible to our rural neighbors, we offer outreach services by visiting healthcare facilities in other cities.

• Dawson, MN
• Madison, MN
• Milbank, SD
• Montevideo, MN
• Sisseton, SD
• Webster, SD

This initiative brings our expertise and advanced treatments to patients who might otherwise face challenges in accessing specialized care.

Stories of Strength and Resilience

At the heart of Prairie Lakes Cancer Center are the inspiring stories of our patients and a special tradition of patients ringing our celebration bell, which is to mark significant milestones in their treatment journey. Their strength and resilience in the face of cancer motivate us to strive for excellence every day. From those who have celebrated remission to those who continue their brave fight, our patients are the true heroes of our story.

Looking Ahead

As we celebrate this 25-year milestone, the Prairie Lakes Cancer Center remains dedicated to evolving and adopting the latest advances in technology, treatments, and clinical trials. Our interdisciplinary approach ensures that we continue to meet the diverse needs of our patients with the highest standards of care.

We invite employees and the community to join us in celebrating 25 years of dedicated service. This achievement is a shared success, made possible by the support and trust of our patients, team members, and partners. Together, we look forward to many more years of healing, hope, and innovation in cancer care.

Congratulations to the Prairie Lakes Cancer Center!

Related Stories: Watertown Community Members Welcomed to Tour Prairie Lakes Cancer Center

The 27th Annual Hospital Hill Run took place on Saturday, June 8th with a 5K run, 5K walk, a 1-mile Kids Race, and a 1-mile walk for all ages. There were 79 timed 5K runners, 23 5K walkers, eight children signed up for the Kids Race and 32 one-mile walkers. 

Fastest 5K male runner was Tucker Lunde with a time of 17 minutes 41 seconds. The fastest 5K female runner was Grace McElroy with a time of 20 minutes 54 seconds.

5K Race Results

Thank You! 

Thank you to our sponsors, donors, and volunteers who helped make the event such a success. Because of your generosity, we are able to donate $2,650 to the Prairie Lakes Caring Club House to help further our mission to provide safe, affordable, and convenient accommodations to patients or their loved ones receiving treatment at Prairie Lakes Healthcare System. 

The Hospital Hill Run Committee awarded Lisa Dahl, Executive Director of Prairie Lakes Foundation and her team with a check on the steps of the Caring Club House. The Hospital Hill Run Committee includes Shannon B., Jaidison T., and Lydia Newman from Marketing along with Dr. Dan Reiffenberger from Administration, Chief Tim Toomey (WPD) and volunteers Tom & Sue Beaudry.

The new Prairie Lakes Dialysis Unit is now open on the first floor, in the area that was most recently the CCU Unit. The CCU Unit was moved to second floor earlier this year. The new unit can be accessed through a new entry near the North entrance designed specifically for dialysis patients. Now, our dialysis patients no longer need to walk down long hallways and ride the elevator to receive their treatment.  

Dialysis patients were welcomed into the new unit Monday, June 3rd and they are already appreciating the new space. Jan Hansen, Director of Dialysis shared, "Patients have a more private space which allows for a more comfortable setting while receiving dialysis treatment. The privacy also allows providers and staff to have more delicate conversations if needed while they are dialyzing verses having to wait until treatment is complete and then having to find a private space."

In addition to a more pleasant environment for the patients, the remodel design focused on our staff's needs as well. Jan added, "There is more working space, each nurse has a designated space to work at each day, providers, dieticians, and social workers have a designated working space as well." Dr. Tina Melanson, Nephrologist, shared, "There are computers in every dialysis room so documentation of their treatments can happen efficiently. It also allows an at-the-ready view of past dialysis treatments to review any prior dialysis complications."

In addition, the remodel allowed the Dialysis Unit to grow from an 8-chair unit to a 10-chair unit meaning we can now treat additional patients in need.  

Dr. Melanson stated, "The new dialysis unit is definitely more modern and up to date than the previous unit. This shows Prairie Lakes’ commitment to keeping up with changing times and striving for state-of-the-art care."

WATERTOWN, S.D. – June 3, 2024 – Prairie Lakes Brown Clinic is excited to announce the launch of Convenience Care at our Northridge location, offering a walk-in clinic service for non-life-threatening injuries and illnesses. This service is designed to provide high-quality, quick, and efficient care, ensuring that patients can receive the medical attention they need without needing to call for an appointment.

Important information about Convenience Care at Prairie Lakes Brown Clinic Northridge:

• Location: Northridge Clinic, 511 14th Ave NE, Watertown, SD 57201
• Hours: Monday - Friday, 7:30 AM - 6:00 PM
• Services: Treatment for minor injuries and illnesses, including but not limited to:
  • Colds and flu
  • Minor cuts and abrasions
  • Sprains and strains
  • Allergies and asthma
  • Infections (e.g., ear, sinus, throat, urinary tract)
  • Minor burns and rashes

Dr. Dan Reiffenberger, Chief Medical Officer at Prairie Lakes Healthcare System, shared, "We understand that life's minor medical issues often arise unexpectedly and can disrupt your day. With Convenience Care, we aim to provide a reliable and accessible healthcare option for our community, allowing patients to receive prompt care without the hassle of scheduling an appointment or debating on going to the Emergency Room or not."

Patients at Convenience Care can expect:

• No Appointments Needed: Simply walk in during our operating hours for prompt care.
• Physician Guided Care: Our team of skilled healthcare professionals is equipped to handle a variety of minor health concerns.
• Quick, Efficient, High-Quality Service: Designed to get you back to your daily routine as soon as possible with onsite labs and imaging.
• New Patients Accepted: You do not need to be a previously established patient at Prairie Lakes Brown Clinic to visit Convenience Care.

Convenience Care is part of Prairie Lakes Healthcare System’s ongoing commitment to improving healthcare access and providing high-quality, patient-centered care to the community. Whether you have a busy schedule or need immediate attention to a minor health issue, our Convenience Care clinic is here to serve you.

For more information about Convenience Care and other services offered at Prairie Lakes Brown Clinic, please click here or call 605-886-8482.