Monday, July 23, 2018
Prairie Lakes Welcomes New ENT Physician
Prairie Lakes Healthcare System welcomes Jeffrey Dorrity, MD. He joins Jered Mancell, DO in the care of patients at the Ear, Nose, Throat, & Facial Plastic Surgery Clinic.
Dr. Dorrity received his medical degree from the University of Nevada School of Medicine. He completed his residency training in Otolaryngology at the University of Minnesota. He is moving to Watertown with his wife Camie and their children. He enjoys traveling, fishing, cycling, racquetball, and running.
“There is something special about the community in Watertown. When we first visited we were impressed by the warmth of the community and the quality of the healthcare system,” said Dr. Dorrity. “I see patient care as a partnership between the patient and the physician. Together we can identify and understand the problem and come up with a solution. I look forward to joining the Ear, Nose, Throat, & Facial Plastic Surgery Clinic and working with Dr. Mancell. Our goal is to provide quality, evidence-based medical care and to increase access for those needing ENT services in the region.”
Dr. Dorrity treats patients of all ages and a wide range of ear, nose and throat conditions including ear and hearing conditions, nose and sinus diseases, throat and voice disorders, cancer of the head and neck, thyroid and parathyroid disease, and obstructive sleep apnea. The Prairie Lakes Ear, Nose, Throat, & Facial Plastic Surgery Clinic will remain located at Prairie Lakes Mallard Pointe, just across from the Redlin Art Center in Watertown. You may schedule an appointment at by calling 605-882-7740. A referral is not required to schedule an appointment.
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Wednesday, July 11, 2018
Yellow Rose Week Raises $28,631
Yellow Rose Week 2018- A Reason to Stop and Smell the Roses!
Yellow Rose Week was celebrated in northeastern South Dakota June 4-8, 2018. Yellow Rose Week is an annual campaign that is the primary means of financing the Suzanne Jacobson Memorial Fund (SJMF), a service of the Prairie Lakes Healthcare Foundation in Watertown, SD. The SJMF, also referred to as the “Give Help” Fund, provides grants to people in Prairie Lakes’ service area with life-threatening illnesses who are in need of financial assistance due to a medical crisis. Grants assist with the cost of medications, transportation, rent, utilities, groceries and other needs deemed necessary by the SJMF Committee. Since its inception in 1999, the SJMF has provided approximately $325,718 through 682 grants.
Volunteers in Clark, Clear Lake, Kranzburg, Milbank, Rauville, Sisseton, South Shore, Summit, Watertown and Waverly sold yellow roses for the 2018 campaign. With yellow rose sales and other contributions, $28,631 was raised for the SJMF during the week long campaign. How fabulous!
“Yellow Rose Week is the main source of funding for the SJMF. We could not provide the magnitude of grants without a successful Yellow Rose Week campaign year after year. Dedicated volunteers, as well as gracious donors, businesses and purchasers make this possible. Without them all, we would not be able to help individuals facing a financial crisis due to a life threatening illness.” said Alison Gilbertson, Executive Director of the Prairie Lakes Healthcare Foundation. Yellow Rose Week is an annual campaign held during the first full week in June.
Suzanne Jacobson spent her adult life as a physician’s assistant positively impacting those she cared for. She lost a battle with cancer in 1998. Her family and friends established this fund to honor her legacy by helping people facing major medical financial stresses.
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Saturday, June 30, 2018
PLHS Announces New CEO
Following a nation-wide CEO search, the Prairie Lakes Healthcare System Board of Directors announces the appointment of Kenneth (K.C.) DeBoer as President and CEO. DeBoer will fill the position beginning August 20, 2018 following the retirement of current President and CEO Jill Fuller.
“We're excited to have K.C. DeBoer join our Prairie Lakes Healthcare System team,” said Jim Redlinger, Board Chair. “K.C. will bring to Prairie Lakes a vast range of experiences, from his start in healthcare as a staff nurse to his CEO position in Jamestown, North Dakota. We will challenge K.C. to continue focused efforts on the patient care experience. With K.C. joining us we are positioned to continue to lead the region in quality healthcare.”
DeBoer comes to Prairie Lakes Healthcare System with an extensive history of healthcare management. Known as a leader in rural healthcare, DeBoer has experience initiating new service lines, recruiting physicians, improving patient satisfaction scores, and achieving profitability goals.
After earning his Associate of Arts in Nursing, he went on to complete a Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in Health Services Administration. He comes to Prairie Lakes with twenty seven years of healthcare management experience. He and his wife Stacey are relocating from Jamestown, North Dakota. DeBoer currently serves as the President and CEO of Jamestown Regional Medical Center, an independent critical access hospital that serves a nine county area with a population of 45,000. His rural healthcare experience will be an asset to Prairie Lakes, an independent rural community healthcare system that serves a ten county area with a population of 87,000.
“I am humbled and honored to join the team at Prairie Lakes Healthcare System and we are excited to move to Watertown,” said DeBoer. “Prairie Lakes has a strong tradition of caring for the community. As the community’s hospital our strength comes from our relationship with the community. We are a part of the fabric of Watertown and the region and I am committed to growing and fostering that partnership. I look forward to working with the outstanding medical staff in Watertown and the region and all the employees of Prairie Lakes to provide the best care possible to the patients we serve.”
Jill Fuller announced her succession plans in November, 2017 with a flexible retirement date pending the Board hiring her successor. “I'd like to thank Jill for her accomplishments while at Prairie Lakes, especially leading PLHS to be a Top 20 Rural Community Hospital in 2016 and 2018,” said Jim Redlinger. “Thank you, Jill for all you have given to help make Prairie Lakes what it is today. I also appreciate the dedication of the search committee, medical staff, Board of Directors, and staff during the CEO search process.”
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Friday, June 22, 2018
PLHS Names New Clinic Director
Prairie Lakes Healthcare System (PLHS) named Watertown area native Laurie Fieber as the new Director of Ear, Nose, Throat, & Facial Plastic Surgery (ENT) and General Surgery Clinics. Fieber will direct the operations of the ENT, General Surgery, and Outreach Clinics.
Fieber grew up in Astoria, SD and resides in Watertown with her four children. She recently graduated with a Master of Science Nursing Degree from Grand Canyon University in 2016. Prior to her new role Fieber served as a nurse in the Prairie Lakes Cath Lab and currently has twenty years of healthcare experience, including a previous role as Chief Nursing Officer at Sanford Clear Lake Medical Center.
“I am excited to take this next step in my career as the Director of Ear, Nose, Throat, & Facial Plastic Surgery and General Surgery Clinics,” said Fieber. “This is an exciting time for PLHS with the opening of the new Specialty Clinic and the growth that continues to occur. I have a passion for quality care and optimizing the patient experience. One thing I am most excited about in this new role is working collaboratively with other clinic leaders to assure patients continue to receive quality care and have a positive experience.”
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Wednesday, June 20, 2018
PLHS Elects New Board Members
The Prairie Lakes Healthcare System Board of Directors reelected officers and board members and elected new board members at its annual meeting in May.
Officers are Chairman, Jim Redlinger of Redlinger Bros. Plumbing & Heating; Vice President, Robb Peterson of Glacial Lakes Rubber & Plastics; Secretary, Doug Sharp of Sharp Automotive; Treasurer, Vince Foley of Foley and Foley Law Office; and Past Chairman, Mark Roby.
Board member Shan Kruse was reelected to serve an additional three year term. Monte Hopper retired from the board. Hopper joined the Board of Directors in 2006. Prairie Lakes Board of Directors thanks him for his years of commitment to the development of Prairie Lakes Healthcare System (PLHS). New board members, Chris Carter and Stacey Lee, were elected to serve three year terms.
A graduate of S.D. State University, Brookings, Carter started in 1984 as a reporter at the Watertown Public Opinion. When she retired in 2016, she was the CFO and Director of Administration, handling human resources duties and managing the Creative Services department.
Active in the community, she currently she serves on the Women and Giving Committee through the Watertown Area Community Foundation and the Suzanne Jacobsen Memorial Fund Committee. She was an adjunct instructor at LATI last fall.
Carter served as loaned executive, past board member and board president of the Watertown Area United Way. She served 10 years on the Prairie Lakes Healthcare Foundation Board of Directors and co-chaired the first B.A.S.H. event for the foundation. She served on the BISCO Board of Directors and the Lake Area Tech Foundation Board of Directors.
She was active in the Watertown Area Soccer Association and in Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts in Watertown. She was named Parent of the Year for the S.D. Soccer Association, Volunteer of the Year in 2013 and she and her husband, Milt, were inducted into the S.D. Soccer Hall of Fame in 2014. The Carters have two grown sons.
Stacey L. Lee has been the CEO and Administrator at Johnson Memorial Health Services (JMHS) in Dawson, Minnesota since 2015. Since joining JMHS, she has overseen a $25.6 million-dollar construction project and was instrumental in adding three additional medical staff, including two physicians. Under Lee’s leadership, JMHS was one of five Minnesota hospitals to be named a top 2018 Critical Access Hospital in the nation by the Chartis Center for Rural Health. Prior to joining JMHS, Lee was an Attorney-At-Law and CPA for more than 12 years. Her primary practice focused on Estate Planning, Trust & Estate Administration and Real Estate. Lee received her Doctor of Law (JD) from Hamline University School of Law and her BS in Accounting and Finance from the Carlson School of Management. Stacey currently is a member of the Minnesota Hospital Association (MHA) Small Rural Hospital Committee and serves as the Secretary for the MHA Region 5 Committee.
“The Board of Directors is committed to reflect PLHS’s broad service area and people we serve with its members,” said Jill Fuller, President & CEO. “PLHS often works with nonprofits and regional Critical Access Hospitals to provide needed services and care to residents in our ten county service area. Chris’s unparallel experience in non-profits and Stacey’s experience in health care and representation of our broader service area will be beneficial to the board and our region.”
The Prairie Lakes Healthcare System Board of Directors is comprised of 14 volunteer community members who are dedicated to fulfilling the mission, vision and values of Prairie Lakes Healthcare System, an independent, not-for-profit, regional healthcare center.
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Saturday, June 09, 2018
22nd Annual Hospital Hill Run Results
The 22nd Annual Hospital Hill Run on June 9th featured a 5K run, 5K walk and a one-mile walk for all ages. Proceeds from the Hospital Hill Run benefit the Prairie Lakes Caring Club House.
Fastest 5K male runner was Gregory Mulderink with a time of 21:51.46. Fastest 5K female runner was Erika Zink with a time of 23:39.56 minutes. Read all results
The 22nd Annual Hospital Hill Run was organized by its committee, Kris Munger, Tom Beaudry, Dr. Dan Reiffenberger, Jessi Eidson and Jennifer Bender. Sponsors include Brown Clinic, Glacial Lakes Orthopaedics, Drs. Dan and Sarah Reiffenberger, Consulting Radiologists Limited, Prairie Lakes Healthcare System, Sanford Clinic - Watertown, Watertown Public Opinion, Innovative Pain and Procedural Center, Watertown DASH, and the Community Blood Bank.
The Prairie Lakes Caring Club House offers a home away from home for out of town patients, outpatients and family members with loved ones being treated at Prairie Lakes Healthcare System.
Published in
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Saturday, May 12, 2018
PLHS Growth Result of Hard Work
As published in The Watertown Public Opinion on Friday, May 11.
National Hospital Week is a time to celebrate our staff and recognize our accomplishments. We look at what brought Prairie Lakes Healthcare System (PLHS) to where it is today. It can be summed up in one, simple word: Growth. But there was nothing simple in achieving our extraordinary growth over the past decade and a half.
PLHS’s growth started as a strategic decision by the PLHS Board of Directors fifteen years ago to step up from the traditional community hospital profile of services – emergency room, obstetrics, surgical and inpatient services - to a commitment to develop and sustain specialty services. We knew these specialties were not typically found in a community our size, such as cardiology, vascular surgery, urology, pulmonology, nephrology, dermatology and others. But the decision was of the best interest to provide access to needed services in our region.
Armed with a medical staff development plan to show the types of medical and surgical specialties we could support in our 10-county service area with a population of 90,000, we recruited physicians to lead and develop new healthcare services. In 2003, Prairie Lakes employed one specialty physician and today we employ twenty-three. The local medical staff also includes physicians affiliated with Sanford Clinic, Brown Clinic, Glacial Lakes Orthopaedics and several other providers in private practice. We are truly blessed in this community to have this medical talent and expertise. Physicians are attracted to Watertown because of the community’s quality of life, the independence of the hospital, and the overall quality of the healthcare system.
Also critical to our growth is a collaborative market strategy focused on improving access to services in Northeast South Dakota and bordering Minnesota counties. In our ten-county service area, we have established relationships with nine small hospitals. We are also expanding beyond our traditional service areas including a cardiology relationship in Tyler, Minnesota and nephrology services in Huron. Our approach is to partner rather than compete. We have assisted small hospitals in developing services to keep patients close to home for healthcare. For example, Prairie Lakes surgeons perform procedures in Sisseton and Ortonville and our Cancer Center helped develop infusion services in Dawson and Milbank. These practices of collaboration add scale across a region of small providers. Our decision not to compete with primary care providers in the market supports their viability. Collectively, we are all charged with directing our resources to improving the health of the population we serve.
Growth also created the need for facility expansion. In 2015, medical planners and architects were engaged to help plan and design a new medical office building on the Prairie Lakes Campus. The $32 million project includes a two-story, 68,000 square foot office building; a new and reconfigured ambulance garage (now open); addition of a canopy and improved entry for outpatients and the emergency department; relocation of the helipad to the roof of the new clinic building; and, addition of a therapy pool – the first of its kind for Watertown.
This project is a significant milestone for our organization and the region. In the 32-year history of Prairie Lakes Healthcare System, we have benefited from the generous support of our community and dedication of our employees. Happy hospital week to all! We look forward to inviting you to the Prairie Lakes Specialty Clinic grand opening this fall.
Jill Fuller
President and CEO
Published in
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Friday, April 20, 2018
Expansion Project's End is in Sight
The current Prairie Lakes Healthcare System expansion project is steadily progressing forward. The expansion includes a new east entrance canopy, helipad relocation and the Prairie Lakes Specialty Clinic, a new 65,000 square foot, two-story clinic building. Finishing touches are happening in the lower level on Prairie Lakes Rehabilitation Services and Glacial Lakes Orthopaedics. First and second levels have paint and cabinetry is being installed. There are many finishing touches to do, but you can see the space coming together.
The expansion project is on schedule to be completed this fall. Grand opening event details will be announced for all to attend.
Project sneak peek video:
View the current detour map. Thank you for your patience during construction.
Project meets half-way mark:
The Topping Off Ceremony on September 28th was a milestone occassion, celebrating the last I-beam placed on the building.
Future Prairie Lakes Specialty Clinic Directory:
2nd floor:
Urology
General Surgery
Space for expansion
1st floor:
Cardiology
Nephrology
Pulmonology
Dermatology
Space for expansion
Conference Center
Lower Level:
Glacial Lakes Orthopaedics
Rehabilitation Services
- Physical Therapy
- Occupational Therapy
- Speech Therapy
Preview of the Prairie Lakes Specialty Clinic.
Preview the interior with these panoramic views (finishings subject to change):
Published in
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Tuesday, March 06, 2018
Ranked Top Twenty in the Country
Prairie Lakes Healthcare System is among the Top 20 Rural Community Hospitals in the nation as determined by iVantage Health Analytics. The Top 20 winners were recently announced by the National Rural Health Association (NRHA).
The determining factors for the top 20 rural community hospitals were based on eight indices: inpatient market share, outpatient market share, quality, outcomes, patient perspectives, costs, charge and financial stability. NRHA’s Top 20 Rural Community Hospitals Winners are the highest ranked of the aggregate scores across these indices.
“Prairie Lakes Healthcare System (PLHS) is proud of its physicians, staff, and volunteers,” said Jill Fuller, President and CEO of PLHS. “Their talent and dedication to our mission contributed to PLHS achieving this designation and honor as a top healthcare provider.”
PLHS serves a ten county region in eastern South Dakota and western Minnesota including twenty outreach clinics. PLHS provides care at its hospital in Watertown as well as specialty services that are uncommon in similar rural settings. The improvement of services to meet the needs of the region is a continuing focus of PLHS.
Published in
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Tuesday, January 30, 2018
PLHS Adds Nurse Practitioner to Staff
Prairie Lakes Healthcare System welcomes Kris Goens, FNP-C to the nephrology staff. She joins Tina Melanson, MD, FNKF, FACP and Kari Fleming, PA-C in the care of patients in the Prairie Lakes Nephrology Clinic and Kidney Dialysis Units in the region.
Goens graduated with her nurse practitioner degree from University of Northern Colorado and then completed a program in nurse midwifery from University of Colorado. She has over twenty years experience as a certified family nurse practitioner in Colorado and South Dakota. A Brandt native, Goens has vacationed to Watertown for years and is looking forward to bring her experience back home.
“Over the course of my career I have served patients in a variety of unique specialties,” said Goens. “I am passionate about personalized care and look forward to joining the Prairie Lakes Nephrology group in Watertown. Our goal is to provide high-quality, cost-effective, patient-centered care to achieve excellent outcomes in a very specialized group of people. I’m excited to offer my services to the patients in the rural communities once again.”
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Thursday, January 25, 2018
The Coffee Cup’s Donation Warms Spirits
The Coffee Cup Fuel Stop near Summit, South Dakota is a strong supporter of patients at the Prairie Lakes Cancer Center. Their Caribou Coffee donated coffee for a third time since 2014 to warm the spirits of cancer patients.
The most recent donation is valued around $1,300 worth of coffee and goodies. They donated 40 lbs of coffee including Amy’s Blend, Reindeer and El Guapo, a highly sought after single origin roast. Amy’s Blend is a special coffee that raises awareness to breast cancer. Caribou Coffee specifically donated Amy’s Blend in honor of their staff member Val Moen who received care at Prairie Lakes Cancer Center. Other donated goodies include pretzel bites, crunch mix and more.
“Here at the Summit Caribou our baristas are like a tight nit family and we wanted to give back in a way that actually made an impact and truly help others this time of year,” said NaJoshua Simpson, Brand Manager/Caribou Coffee Manager. “We invite everyone to join our family and stop by your local Caribou at the Coffee Cup Travel Plaza.”
Published in
News and Announcements
Monday, December 18, 2017
PLHS Expansion Project Featured
The current Prairie Lakes Healthcare System expansion project is steadily progressing forward. The expansion includes a new east entrance canopy, helipad relocation and the Prairie Lakes Specialty Clinic, a new 65,000 square foot, two-story clinic building. Thank you for your patience during construction.
The expansion project will be completed by fall of 2018. View the current detour map.
Project Meets Half-Way Mark
The Topping Off Ceremony on September 28th was a milestone occassion, celebrating the last I-beam placed on the building.
Future Prairie Lakes Specialty Clinic Directory:
2nd floor:
Urology
General Surgery
Space for expansion
1st floor:
Cardiology
Nephrology
Pulmonology
Dermatology
Space for expansion
Conference Center
Lower Level:
Glacial Lakes Orthopaedics
Rehabilitation Services
- Physical Therapy
- Occupational Therapy
- Speech Therapy
Preview of the Prairie Lakes Specialty Clinic.
Preview the interior with these panoramic views (finishings subject to change):
Published in
News and Announcements
Friday, January 26, 2018
Dr. Adducci Offers New BPH Treatment
Prairie Lakes Healthcare System recently introduced Rezūm, a minimally invasive option to relieve symptoms of an enlarged prostate or benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).
Dr. Chris Adducci now offers Rezūm as a new treatment option for BPH in the Watertown region. Rezūm harnesses the natural energy stored in water vapor to treat the extra prostate tissue that is causing symptoms such as waking up multiple times during the night to urinate, increased frequency and urgency, irregular and weak urinary flow, anxiety, challenges with sexual function and limitation in daily activities. Typically patients can go home on the same day of the procedure and see rapid symptom relief.
“Rezūm is one of several treatment options offered by Prairie Lakes Urology for BPH patients who are looking for an alternative to drugs or major surgery,” said Jill Fuller, President and CEO. “Adding this innovative treatment to our list of options demonstrates our dedication to improving the quality of life of our patients.”
Prairie Lakes Healthcare System is a leader in regional healthcare for northeastern South Dakota and western Minnesota. You may schedule an appointment with Dr. Adducci by calling the Prairie Lakes Urology Clinic at 605-882-6810.
Published in
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Wednesday, January 24, 2018
PLHS Welcomes New Hospitalist
Prairie Lakes Healthcare System welcomes Derek Kindelspire, MD to the Hospitalist staff. He joins Ali Chaudhry, MD, Ragheb Harb, MD, Mian Javaid, MD, and Megan Merkel, CNP in the care of inpatients.
Dr. Kindelspire received his medical degree from the University of South Dakota in Vermillion and completed his internal medicine residency at the Sanford School of Medicine of the University of South Dakota. He was born in Aberdeen, SD and enjoys outdoor hobbies like hunting and golfing.
“I am committed to provide high quality care in a community setting,” said Dr. Kindelspire. "I am excited to be a part of PLHS and look forward to collaborating with the local providers in the community to develop the plan for care of the hospitalized patient in conjunction with their home care plan.”
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