Prairie Lakes Maternal Child Health Looks Forward to Helping You Prepare for Your Baby!

Our Childbirth Educators present updated relaxation & breathing techniques along with childbirth trends that help the expectant mother and her support person prepare for labor and delivery during a three-week series of classes. It is recommended to attend a series a few months before your delivery date. 

2024 Upcoming Childbirth Class Series:

• Series 1: January 4, 18, 25
• Series 2: February 1, 8, 15
• Series 3: February 22, 29, March 7
• Series 4: April 4, 11, 18
• Series 5: May 2, 9, 16
• Series 6: May 30, June 6, 13
• Series 7: August 15, 22, 29
• Series 8: October 10, 17, 24
• Series 9: November 7, 14, 21

Register for a Childbirth Class Series

Each class will meet from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in the Medical Office Building (MOB). The MOB can be most easily accessed through the Main Entrance and continue past the Campus Pharmacy to take the stairs or elevator to the Lower Level. 

You are encouraged to dress in comfortable layers and welcome to bring a drink and/or snack. 

Recently Dr. Casey Johnston, Prairie Lakes Orthopedic Surgeon, sat down with KXLG to share a bit about his experience and how orthopedics "found him."

Dr. Johnston and his wife settled in Watertown 13 years ago after visiting the area, during a blizzard no less, and immediately realized the community would be the perfect fit for their family. 

When asked about his favorite part of being an Orthopedic Surgeon, Dr. Johnston replied, "The job overall is very satisfying - just helping people and being available to correct problems that limit people from doing certain things."

It's very common for people to approach a doctor when they are out and about in the community to ask about a nagging pain or discomfort. Dr. Johnston welcomes it. He exclaimed, "It doesn't bother me at all... you can approach me anytime!" 

To make an appointment with Prairie Lakes Orthopedics, call 605-882-2630. With three orthopedic surgeons on staff, one is in the clinic every single day to meet with patients, making access very simple. 

Change your lifestyle, change your eating habits, change your attitude and change your life!

What to expect during the Core4 Program:

CORE4 is an Adult Weight Management program developed by Sodexo Registered Dietitians. PLHS/Sodexo Registered Dietitians

Revised in 2023, the course utilizes evidenced-based research and guidelines from The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) as well as other national organizations.

The "core" of CORE4 is Eating, Exercise, Education and Energy. The program encompasses nutrition education, physical activity, and the role of behavioral therapy in weight reduction and weight management.

This twelve-week program includes both individual and interactive group settings to encourage weight loss and healthy lifestyle changes in addition to weight maintenance.

Core4 takes place every Wednesday at noon for an hour each session.

The 12-Week Core4 Program

• Week 1: Individual Appointment with a Registered Dietitian
• Week 2: Getting Started
• Week 3: Taking Control - Behavior Modification
• Week 4: My Plate Portion Sizes and Label Reading
• Week 5: Meal Planning and Dining Out
• Week 6: The Power of Exercise
• Week 7: Choosing Wisely: Fat, Cholesterol and Triglycerides
• Week 8: Choosing Wisely: Carbohydrates and Fiber
• Week 9: Choosing Wisely: Protein, Stress, Sleep Hydration
• Week 10: Choosing Wisely: Vitamins and Minerals
• Week 11: Grocery Store Tour
• Week 12: Moving On

Early-Bird Incentive: Purchase your ticket before 12:00 pm on Wednesday, January 3rd, and receive $20 off the $140 registration fee. Sessions are limited to 10 attendess.

Register Today for Core4

For questions about the Core4 program, please contact the Nutritional Services department at 605-882-7874.

Construction activity on the 2^nd floor east wing of the patient care area at Prairie Lakes began in May 2023 to make way for relocation of the Critical Care Unit (CCU). Construction was completed at the beginning of November 2023 and the space is now fully operational on the 2nd floor. The renovated CCU consists of 8 patient rooms:

• 4 Standard CCU patient rooms
• 1 Bariatric/Isolation patient room (room accommodations for larger patients)
• 1 Standard Isolation patient room (negative airflow room)
• 2 eICU patient rooms (electronic intensive care unit - allows our physicians and staff to consult with offsite critical care specialists via high-speed data networks.)

Some other features and benefits of the new CCU space include:

• Fold out patient room doors for easier maneuverability of patient beds
• Private bathrooms in each patient room
• Nursing station pods outside each room
• 2nd floor location allows CCU, Telemetry, and Respiratory Therapy staff to collaborate more efficiently
• Central Nursing Station that serves the CCU and Telemetry Unit
• Respiratory Therapy has a new space right outside the units
• Larger family waiting room

The Prairie Lakes Critical Care Unit provides nursing care and intervention to adult cardiac, medical, and surgical patients for a variety of critical conditions. We serve patients who have undergone surgery, multi-trauma injuries, diagnostic invasive monitoring, and complex medication administration.

The pre-existing CCU space on first floor is currently undergoing construction for the relocation of the Dialysis Unit currently on the 4th floor. A completion date of the new Dialysis Unit on 1st floor is expected in Spring 2024.

View photos of the new space below: