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Codington Connects: Bridging the Gaps in Community Healthcare
Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - In a special weekly segment with “Codington Connects,” Northeast Radio SD sat down with Sara Foust, Board President of Codington Connects, and Tracy Kurten, the newly appointed Outpatient Social Worker at Prairie Lakes Healthcare System, to discuss the evolving role of social work in modern medicine and the critical importance of holistic community support.

Steve Jurrens
Mar 252 min read


Prairie Lakes Names Caitlin Broek Director of IT and Clinical Informatics
Northeast Radio SD News - Watertown, SD - Prairie Lakes Healthcare System (PLHS) has announced the promotion of Caitlin Broek to the role of Director of Information Technology (IT) and Clinical Informatics.

Steve Jurrens
Feb 272 min read


Watertown Physician Dr. Sarah Reiffenberger Named South Dakota Family Physician of the Year
Northeast Radio SD News - Watertown, SD - Prairie Lakes Healthcare System is proud to announce that Dr. Sarah Reiffenberger, MD, FAAFP, has been named the South Dakota Family Physician of the Year by the South Dakota Academy of Family Physicians (SDAFP).

Steve Jurrens
Feb 92 min read


Prairie Lakes Healthcare System Names Jon Hoffman Director of Facilities Management
Northeast Radio SD News - Watertown, SD - Prairie Lakes Healthcare System (PLHS) has announced the appointment of Jon Hoffman as its new Director of Facilities Management.

Steve Jurrens
Jan 161 min read


Prairie Lakes Welcomes First Baby of 2026
Northeast Radio SD News - Watertown, SD - Prairie Lakes Healthcare System celebrated a joyful start to the new year with the arrival of the region's first baby of 2026.
Ariya Russman was born at 1:28 a.m. on Jan. 1, 2026, weighing 8 pounds and 11 ounces. She is the daughter of Carmen Thovson and Quincy Russman. Proud grandparents include Erin and Tony Thovson and Terri Russman.

Steve Jurrens
Jan 11 min read


Prairie Lakes Celebrates Record-Setting Year in Labor and Delivery
Northeast Radio SD News - Watertown, SD - As 2025 draws to a close, the Labor and Delivery team at Prairie Lakes Healthcare System is reflecting on a remarkably active year that saw the arrival of hundreds of new residents to the region.

Steve Jurrens
Dec 29, 20251 min read


Prairie Lakes Hospital Gift Shop Donates $24,000 to Support Local Healthcare Initiatives.
Northeast Radio SD News - Watertown, SD - The Prairie Lakes Healthcare Foundation received a considerable boost this week as the Prairie Lakes Hospital Gift Shop announced a total donation of $24,000 for the 2025 calendar year.

Steve Jurrens
Dec 22, 20252 min read


Prairie Lakes Healthcare System Earns Spot on Inaugural Forbes’ Top Hospitals List
Northeast Radio SD News - Watertown, SD - Prairie Lakes Healthcare System (PLHS), a division of Sanford Health, has been named to the prestigious Forbes’ Top Hospitals 2026 list, a new national ranking that recognizes acute-care hospitals for delivering high-quality, safe, and value-driven care.

Steve Jurrens
Dec 9, 20251 min read


Prairie Lakes Healthcare System Earns State Recognition for Outcomes Excellence
Northeast Radio SD News - Watertown, SD - Prairie Lakes Healthcare System (PLHS), a division of Sanford Health, has been recognized for outstanding performance, earning a 2025 Performance Leadership Award for excellence in outcomes. The award, compiled by The Chartis Center for Rural Health, highlights PLHS's status among the top quartile of rural hospitals nationwide.

Steve Jurrens
Nov 21, 20251 min read


Prairie Lakes Healthcare System Named to Newsweek’s America’s Best-In-State Hospitals 2026 List
Northeast Radio SD News - Watertown, SD - Prairie Lakes Healthcare System (PLHS), a division of Sanford Health, has once again been recognized for exceptional performance, earning a spot on Newsweek's America’s Best-In-State Hospitals 2026 list. This repeat achievement underscores the hospital’s commitment to providing high-quality care and positive patient experiences for the community.

Steve Jurrens
Nov 21, 20251 min read


Sanford Health and Prairie Lakes Healthcare System Combine to Strengthen Regional Care
Northeast Radio SD News - Watertown, SD - Sanford Health, the nation’s largest rural health care system, and Watertown-based Prairie Lakes Healthcare System announced they have officially combined organizations. The partnership aims to strengthen health care delivery and accessibility for residents across a 10-county region in northeast South Dakota and western Minnesota.

Steve Jurrens
Oct 31, 20252 min read
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