Effective Tuesday, January 21, Prairie Lakes Healthcare System will be collecting co-pays, deductibles, and co-insurance from patients at time of service in an effort to educate patients on their insurance benefits and help them understand their financial responsibilities for their care. Collecting time-of-service payments aligns with common and current healthcare industry practices and includes the following:

• The co-pay for clinic visits (Specialty Clinic, Cancer Center, ENT Clinic, Prairie Lakes Brown Clinics) is based on insurance plans.
• The private pay co-pay for clinic visits (Specialty Clinic, Cancer Center, ENT Clinic, Prairie Lakes Brown Clinic) is a deposit or partial payment that is established for different services.
• For Hospital services, deductible and co-insurance are based on insurance plans, or for Private Pay, a percentage of your estimate is required.
• Patients who present for emergency medical care are subject to Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) regulations.

Patients may be expected to pay a portion of their bill at time of service and are encouraged to contact their insurance companies to find out how office visits and medical services will be covered.

For patients who have Medicare insurance, Prairie Lakes Healthcare System bills services as provider-based billing, sometimes called hospital-based billing. Frequently asked questions regarding provider-based billing can be found by visiting https://www.prairielakes.com/billing-and-insurance/provider-based-billing-10870.html.

Questions regarding time-of-service payments can be directed to a Prairie Lakes Patient Account Specialist at 605-882-7887.

Wearing a mask can help stop the spread of germs that cause illness, such as Influenza, COVID-19 and RSV. When someone who is sick wears a mask, it keeps the virus from spreading to others. Masks also help protect the person wearing it from breathing in germs from others.  

Masks can help filter out germs, so you breathe in or breathe out fewer germs.

It is a encouraged to wear a mask for five days after being around someone with COVID-19.

Benefits of Wearing a Mask

Information gathered from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

WATERTOWN, S.D. – January 7, 2025 – Prairie Lakes Healthcare System is excited to announce the opening of Watertown’s first “Baby Café,” a breastfeeding support program, located in the Maternal Child Health family lounge on the hospital’s second floor. The first Baby Café meet up was held today, January 7.

The Prairie Lakes Baby Café is a dedicated space for pregnant and nursing parents to share tips and techniques, find support and assistance from certified lactation professionals, and connect with other moms and parents. This free program meets on a drop-in basis every Tuesday from 10:00am to 1:00pm and is open to the community, regardless of where your baby was born. Siblings, partners, and support people are also welcome.

“A Baby Café has been a goal of the Labor and Delivery team for quite some time, so we are excited to launch this program to help breastfeeding moms during what can be a very challenging time,” said Micki Cordell, Director of Maternal Child Health at Prairie Lakes. “All parents deserve a safe and comfortable space to access resources and support in their lactation journey and this is an important step in making this support accessible.”

Prairie Lakes currently has one International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant and two Certified Lactation Counselors, who will be offering their expertise every week on Tuesdays during Baby Café hours from 10:00am to 1:00pm. For questions or to learn more about the Prairie Lakes Baby Café or any maternal child education, please call 605-882-7628.

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About Baby Café USA

Baby Café USA is a nationwide, non-profit organization coordinating a network of licensed U.S. Baby Cafés. Communities across the U.S. implement the Baby Café model in efforts to reduce health disparities and help mothers realize their breastfeeding goals.

Since Baby Café USA was launched in 2012, the effort has expanded to 141 Baby Café locations currently operating in 26 states. 

WATERTOWN, S.D. – January 2, 2024 – Hailey and Robbie Bentley of Lake Norden, SD welcomed their new baby boy at 11:32 am on January 1, 2025. Camden Bentley is the first baby born at Prairie Lakes Healthcare System in 2025 weighing 6lbs, 3oz. He has a proud big sister, Averie.First Baby of 2025 - Camden Bentley

As part of the "First Baby of the New Year" recognition, Hailey and Robbie were presented with a gift basket from Prairie Lakes Healthcare System along with the following businesses: Power 106.3 FM, Watertown Area United Way, Prairie Lakes Gift Shop, Raise the Bar Boutique, and the Watertown Area Chamber of Commerce.

A total of 629 babies were delivered at Prairie Lakes Healthcare System in 2024. To learn more about obstetric services, birth/new parent classes, the new breastfeeding support group and other free resources, please visit prairielakes.com/obstetrics.