WATERTOWN, S.D. – May 31, 2024 – Prairie Lakes Healthcare System is pleased to announce Prairie Lakes Dermatology is now offering Mohs Micrographic Surgery, a highly effective and precise procedure for the treatment of skin cancer. This advanced technique provides patients with the highest cure rates for skin cancer while preserving as much healthy tissue as possible.

Mohs surgery, performed by Dermatologist, Dr. Jeffrey Smith, involves the systematic removal and examination of thin layers of cancer-containing skin until only cancer-free tissue remains. With on-site pathology, there is immediate examination that ensures all cancerous cells are removed while sparing the maximum amount of healthy tissue. This leads to smaller scars and better cosmetic outcomes.

Dr. Smith, who is double board certified in dermatology and Mohs micrographic surgery, said, "We are dedicated to offering our patients the most advanced and effective treatments available.” He added, "This procedure represents the gold standard in skin cancer treatment, providing unparalleled precision and efficacy. Our goal is to deliver the best care possible close to home right here at Prairie Lakes, and Mohs surgery allows us to achieve just that."

The introduction of Mohs surgery at Prairie Lakes Dermatology Clinic underscores the commitment to providing state-of-the-art care to our local communities.

For more information about Mohs surgery or to schedule a skin consultation, please contact Prairie Lakes Dermatology Clinic at 605-882-7777.

Want to view our list of available Dermatology treatments?

Each May, National Speech-Language-Hearing Month provides an opportunity to raise awareness about communication disorders and the role of American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) members in providing life-altering treatment.

PLHS has three incredible Speech-Language Patholgists: Kirsten Blackwell, Danielle Meyer, and Mariko Oro, who are available to treat disorders that affect speech, language, voice, cognition and swallowing. To learn a bit more about speech pathology and how this form of therapy works to support a patient's continuum of care, we recently sat down with Mariko Oro to hear her perspective. Click the link below to watch her video.

If you or somebody you know is interested in more information, please call Prairie Lakes Rehabilitation Services at 605-882-7700. Referral is necessary for appointments. 

   

WATERTOWN, S.D. – May 20, 2024 – Prairie Lakes Healthcare System is excited to announce the offering of iovera° treatment, an innovative approach to reducing pain. The iovera° treatment, often referred to as cryotherapy, is a clinically proven, non-opioid, pain management solution that uses the body’s natural response to cold to reduce pain.

Austin Dale, CRNA and Pain Management Specialist at Prairie Lakes Pain Science Center said, “I’m thrilled to offer this innovative treatment to patients in our region.” He added, “We work closely with your orthopedic surgeon to develop a comprehensive plan to manage your pain. With iovera°, we can provide a pain relief option that can be done prior to joint replacement to enhance your recovery.”

Dr. Casey Johnston, Prairie Lakes Orthopedic Surgeon said, “we are excited to add iovera° to the pain relief measures we utilize for our joint replacement patients.  Our team of surgeons at Prairie Lakes Orthopedics have always provided advanced pain management measures with minimally invasive techniques, rapid recovery programs, peripheral nerve blocks, and multimodal pain medication regimes. Cryotherapy with iovera° will be yet another great option to make joint replacement surgery as comfortable as possible.”

The iovera° system uses an innovative process from a targeted cold zone surrounding peripheral nerve tissue to immediately block the nerve from sending pain signals. The system is specifically designed to create a temporary, reversible nerve block. The iovera° treatment does not contain medicine and does not damage or destroy any surrounding tissue. The iovera° treatment is available by referral only.

To find out if the iovera° treatment is right for you, click the blue button below or call Prairie Lakes Orthopedics for a knee pain consultation at 605-882-2630.

Learn more about iovera° here!

Did you know... the Prairie Lakes Laboratory Department offers a variety of lab tests on-site?

These tests are not meant to take the place of regular medical care. Participants are encouraged to share their test results with their healthcare provider. Test expense can not be filed with insurance or Medicare. PLHS Lab will not forward any results to the participant's physician.

Available Tests:

Beta hCG - $15.00

Beta hCG is routinely used to confirm pregnancy. 

Cholesterol - $10.00 Direct Access Lab 2400x1600 2

Cholesterol testing is recommended as a screening test to be done on all adults at least once every five years. It may be ordered alone or with another test called a lipid profile. 

Lipid Panel - $25.00

A full lipid panel is performed if details are needed about your cholesterol levels. This test includes an HDL level, LDL level and triglycerides level. An overnight fast is required for this test.

Glycated Hemoglobin - $15.00

The test screens for A1C, which indicates how well you have controlled your diabetes over the last few months. 

Hemoglobin/Hematocrit - $5.00

This test is used to determine your general health status and to screen for the following:

  • Anemia and infection
  • Nutritional status
  • Exposure to toxic substances

Complete Blood Count (CBC) - $15

A CBC test helps determine general health status and screens for anemias and viral/bacterial infections.

PSA - $35.00

This test measures the amount of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in your blood. High PSA levels can indicate prostate cancer. 

TSH - $25.00

A TSH test measures the amount of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) in your blood. 

Free T4 - $15

This test is normally used in conjunction with the TSH test to help differentiate between hyper- and hypo- thyroidism.

Urinalysis - $10.00

Urinalysis can be used to reveal diseases that have gone under the radar because they do not produce obvious signs or symptoms. Urine is collected in the lab and tested for an array of disorders, including urinary tract infection, kidney disease and diabetes. 

Comprehensive Metabolic Panel - $35

This is a general wellness test that screens for many diseases related to the kidneys, bones, liver, GI tract, and nutrition levels. An overnight fast is required for this test.

Basic Metabolic Panel - $25Direct Access Lab 2400x1600 3

A Basic Metabolic Panel screens for many diseases related to the kidneys and GI tract. An overnight fast is required for this test.

Glucose - $10.00 

Glucose testing can be used to screen healthy individuals for diabetes. Another reason for the screening is a temporary type of diabetes called gestational diabetes, which can develop when a woman is pregnant. An overnight fast is required for this test.

Walk-ins are welcome during business hours Monday through Friday or by appointment. For more information on the Prairie Lakes Direct Lab Access program, please contact the Prairie Lakes Laboratory Department at 605-882-7750.

Your Blood Matters.

What can be done to make sure your friends, neighbors, and family receive the blood they need? It’s simple – donate blood to the Community Blood Bank.

The Blood Mobile will be parked outside of the Prairie Lakes Brown Clinic - Main location from 8:00 am to 11:00 am on Monday, June 3rd

Update: All donors will receive at $10 gift card to Subway!

Ten reasons why you should give blood:

  1. You can save up to 3 lives!
  2. Not everyone is eligible to donate blood. Only 38% of the population can donate, so if you're able, you are a selected minority.
  3. Your body will make new blood. It takes about 24 hours to replace plasma and about 4-6 weeks to replace red blood cells.
  4. Giving blood is not painful. You may feel a slight prick initially but it doesn't last long.
  5. Donating blood burns calories! Your body will burn approximately 650 calories just by donating.
  6. You get a free well-check. Before you give, the phlebotomist will check your blood pressure, pulse, temperature, and hemoglobin levels. You may also be screened by HIV, Hepatitis, and other diseases. 
  7. It takes only 30 to 40 minutes of your time.
  8. You feel a boost in confidence and your emotional well-being knowing that you have done a good deel and are a part of saving lives.
  9. There is no substitute for human blood. Blood can not be manufactured in any way and it always in high demand.
  10. You may be one of the 25% of people who need blood donation one day. 

Donation times are available from 8:00 a.m. to 10:50 a.m. Check-in is in the Prairie Lakes Brown Clinic registration area. 

To schedule your appointment, click the link below and select an available time. You can also call Community Blood Bank at 605-331-3222.

  Sign Up Here

Guidelines to Donate:
  • Blood donors must be at least 16 years old (16 years old with a signed parent consent form found at www.cbblifeblood.org) weigh 110 pounds or more and be in good general health.
  • Donors exhibiting COVID, cold or flu symptoms are unable to donate. 
  • Valid identification is required at the time of registration. 
  • It is recommended that a person eat and drink plenty of fluid prior to donating blood. Avoid energy drinks.
  • Walk-ins will be accepted, if there is room or a cancellation – staff on event day will manage this process

Download Blood Drive Poster

Help the Foundation raise funds for the Suzanne Jacobson Memorial Fund! Support those within our region with life-threatening illnesses.

Yellow Rose Week, running June 3rd - 7th, is the primary fundraiser for the Suzanne Jacobson Memorial Fund, a service of the Prairie Lakes Healthcare Foundation. This fund provides grants to people with life-threatening illnesses in need of financial assistance.

Since its inception, the fund has provided over $523,000 through over 881 grants.

Deliveries are available in the Watertown area with an order of 6+ roses. To order bundles of roses, schedule a delivery, and purchase decals or yard signs click the link below:

Order Roses Today! 

During Yellow Rose Week, you may purchase individual roses at various local businesses and events:

  • Dairy Queen Grill & Chill on Hwy 212 (SPECIAL: for this week only, pick up a rose and get a FREE Mini-Blizzard)
  • Hy-Vee Floral Department
  • Root Function Wellness
  • Avanti Federal Credit Union
  • Prairie Lakes Healthcare System Gift Shop
  • "Thursday Night Live" on Thursday, June 6th
  • Wishard Insurance
  • Check back soon for a complete list

Yellow Rose Raffle: "Sit in Solitude" Patio Package Sit In Serenity Package

Purchase a ticket for a chance to WIN this incredible package valued at $720! Package includes this beautiful chic egg chair, cozy table-top fire pit, and comfortable yellow throw blanket. Everything you need to sit in peace & solitude as you relax and unwind this summer.

  • Ticket prices: 1x for $10 or 5x for $40
  • All proceeds will go to Suzanne Jacobson Memorial Fund
  • Tickets can be purchased online or in the Prairie Lakes Gift Shop
  • Winner will be drawn on Friday, June 28th!

"Thank You" to Our Corporate Sponsors

  • First Interstate Bank
  • Gas & Goodies
  • The Wheel Inn
  • Crawford Osthus Funeral Chapel & Cremation Services
    • Special thanks to Chad Osthus for donating this year's water tubes
  • Mount Marty University
  • Edward Jones
  • Van Laecken Orthodontics
  • Holley Graphics, Inc
  • First PREMIER/PREMIER Bankcard
  • Modern Ag - Jason Woods
  • Wight & Comes Funeral Chapel, Inc.
  • Dacotah Bank
  • Green Oviatt Law Firm, LLP
  • Gray Construction

A Special Thanks to Hi-Line Capital for donating yellow roses to patients at the Prairie Lakes Hospital year after year!

The Suzanne Jacobson Memorial Fund was created in memory of Suzanne Jacobson, a Watertown physician’s assistant and community healthcare advocate who lost her life to cancer in 1998.

For more information or to donate to the Prairie Lakes Healthcare Foundation in support of the Suzanne Jacobson Memorial Fund, call Ashlyn at 605-882-7716 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Remember those who have passed, celebrate those who are living, and accept the changes and transitions that are occurring in our own lives.

About this event

This year's "Love Takes Flight" program will include a brief, nondenominational spiritual dedication followed by the release of the butterflies. You will have the opportunity to honor your loved one's name and release a butterfly which symbolizes transformation, love, and hope. 

Date and Time

Thursday, May 30th at 6:00 p.m.

Location

Prairie Lakes Healthcare System Courtyard, 401 9th Ave NW, Watertown, SD 57201

Update: Due to impending weather tomorrow afternoon, we are moving the "Love Takes Flight" Memorial Butterfly Release event inside. We will gather in the lobby area just inside the Main Entrance.

Registration

Early registration is required to ensure we have adequate amount of butterflies for each participant. You may register online by clicking the button below or call 605.882.7714. To help cover the cost of this event, please feel free to donate via the form below or the night of the event. For each gift of $5 participants will receive one butterfly. 

Register for "Love Takes Flight" Today!

 

The Blood Mobile will be parked outside of the Prairie Lakes Specialty Clinic from 8:00 am to 3:30 pm. on Monday, May 6th!

What can be done to make sure your friends, neighbors, and family receive the blood they need? It’s simple – donate blood to the Community Blood Bank.

Update: All donors will receive a $10 gift certificate to Dairy Queen!

Ten reasons why you should give blood:

  1. You can save up to 3 lives!
  2. Not everyone is eligible to donate blood. Only 38% of the population can donate, so if you're able, you are a selected minority.
  3. Your body will make new blood. It takes about 24 hours to replace plasma and about 4-6 weeks to replace red blood cells.
  4. Giving blood is not painful. You may feel a slight prick initially but it doesn't last long.
  5. Donating blood burns calories! Your body will burn approximately 650 calories just by donating.
  6. You get a free well-check. Before you give, the phlebotomist will check your blood pressure, pulse, temperature, and hemoglobin levels. You may also be screened by HIV, Hepatitis, and other diseases. 
  7. It takes only 30 to 40 minutes of your time.
  8. You feel a boost in confidence and your emotional well-being knowing that you have done a good deel and are a part of saving lives.
  9. There is no substitute for human blood. Blood can not be manufactured in any way and it always in high demand.
  10. You may be one of the 25% of people who need blood donation one day. 

Donation times are available from 8:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and again from 12:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. Check-in is in the Prairie Lakes Specialty Clinic main lobby.    

To schedule your appointment, click the link below and select an available time. You can also call Community Blood Bank at 605-331-3222.

  Sign Up Here

Guidelines to Donate:
  • Blood donors must be at least 16 years old (16 years old with a signed parent consent form found at www.cbblifeblood.org) weigh 110 pounds or more and be in good general health.
  • Donors exhibiting COVID, cold or flu symptoms are unable to donate. 
  • Valid identification is required at the time of registration. 
  • It is recommended that a person eat and drink plenty of fluid prior to donating blood. Avoid energy drinks.
  • Walk-ins will be accepted, if there is room or a cancellation – staff on event day will manage this process

Download Blood Drive Poster

On Friday April 26th and Saturday April 27th, nearly 50 surgical technologists from all across the state of South Dakota travelled to Watertown to attend the Association of Surgical Technologists’ South Dakota State Assembly Spring 2024 Conference held at Lake Area Technical College. This conference allows surgical technologists to network with others in the area, attend workshops and educational programs, and listen to multiple speakers from the area. Speakers included: Austin Dale CRNA, Dr. Eric Woolley, Dr. Keegan Maxwell, Dr. Svien Senne, Dr. Ellen Hopper, Dr. Nicholas Harms, Dr. Dalton McDaniel, Dr. Gregory Gerrish, and Wesley Grantham from Stryker. All attendees received 9 CE (continuing education) credits by attending the conference. 

Stacey Vande Zande, CSFA, from Prairie Lakes Healthcare System organized the event, stating, “The SDSA AST Conference is a great opportunity for surgical techs to not only fulfill continuing education requirements, but also provide networking opportunities and the chance to learn about the latest and greatest surgical techniques.”

The Association of Surgical Technologists (AST) was established in 1969 with the mission of ensuring quality patient care.

Today, AST is proud to acknowledge more than 55,000 members and represents the interests of more than 80,000 practitioners nationwide. AST actively promotes education for the profession; legislatively advocates for practitioner recognition; supports state-level constituent organizations; and has committed to students as the future of the profession.

As the oldest and most widely recognized professional organizations for surgical technologists, AST's primary purpose is to ensure that surgical technologists possess the knowledge and skill sets to administer the highest quality of care for every patient. Aeger primo! 

Thank you to all those that participated in our 27th Annual Hospital Hill Run. For a complete listing of results and to view the gallery, click here

Register today for the 2024 Hospital Hill Run and take advantage of Early Bird pricing!

The 27th Annual Hospital Hill Run is scheduled for Saturday, June 8th. All proceeds will support the Caring Club House located on the Prairie Lakes Healthcare System campus.tshirt mockup 2

Registration Details:

  • $20: Online Registration by June 1  
  • $15: Local Health Care Employees (if registered by June 1)
  • $25: Registration After June 1
  • Free: Children 12 and under

Registration includes a comfortable running shirt (pictured right). Registrants 12 and under will receive a youth t-shirt. 

Race Events Available:

  • Timed 5k Run - all ages
  • Timed 1-mile Kids Race - ages 2-12 years old 
  • 5K Walk - all ages
  • 1-mile walk - all ages

Event Day Agenda:

  • Check-in 7:00 am - 7:45 am
    • Check-in will be at the Prairie Lakes Caring Club House
      • 220 9th Ave NW, Watertown
  • The race will start at 8:00 am
  • Award ceremony, refreshments, and festivities immediately following the race
  • A route map will be included in every registration packet for those interested in spectating
  • Race packets will be available for early check-in on Friday, June 7th from 5:00 - 6:30 pm at Trav's Outfitter

Grab the entire family and get outside for a morning of exercise, connecting with the Watertown community, and learning a bit more about our beautiful Caring Club House.

Win a New Pair of Shoes!

Travs PLHS Hospital Hill Graphic free shoes 

All 27th Annual Hospital Hill Run registrants will be automatically entered to win a $250 voucher to Trav's Outfitter. A perfect excuse to go shopping for a new pair of running shoes! In addition, a $10 "Trav's Bucks" coupon will be included in each race packet. 

Caring Club House

The Caring Club House is a convenient, comfortable, and affordable place to stay while either a patient or a family member is receiving medical care at Prairie Lakes Healthcare System. Guests of the Caring Club House are asked for a donation of $10 per person and $3 for each additional guest per family per night. The donation is waived for those who are unable to provide it.

prairie dog at start small

If you’re interested in supporting the 27th Annual Hospital Hill Run and the Caring Club House with a donation, please send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Runners and walkers of all ages are welcome. Please, no pets, rollerblades, bicycles, etc. Questions? Call 882-7908.

Register For The Hospital Hill Run Here

If you prefer, you can download a Hospital Hill Run 2024 Registration Form and return it to Marketing at 401 9th Ave NW. You may also drop a registration form off at the Registration Desk just inside the Main Entrance. Please complete one registration form for each event participant.