Prairie Lakes Healthcare System Earns 11th Consecutive "Top 100 Rural & Community Hospital" Award
- Steve Jurrens
- Feb 20
- 2 min read
Northeast Radio SD News - Watertown, SD - Prairie Lakes Healthcare System (PLHS) has once again been recognized as one of the nation’s premier rural healthcare providers, securing a spot on the 2026 Top 100 Rural & Community Hospitals list.
The prestigious honor, awarded by The Chartis Center for Rural Health, marks the 11th consecutive year that the Watertown-based system has received this distinction. The annual awards program identifies outstanding performance among rural hospitals across the United States based on the results of the Chartis Rural Hospital Performance INDEX.
A Legacy of Consistent Care
For over a decade, PLHS has maintained its status as a leader in rural medicine. John Allen, President and Chief Executive Officer of PLHS, credited the achievement to the hospital’s dedicated workforce.
"Earning this recognition year after year for more than a decade speaks to the consistency, compassion and clinical excellence our staff bring to patients every day," Allen said. "We are proud to deliver nationally recognized care right here in rural South Dakota".
Measuring Excellence in Rural Health
Now in its 16th year, the Chartis Rural Hospital Performance INDEX is considered the industry’s most comprehensive and objective assessment of rural hospital performance. The INDEX utilizes publicly available data to monitor performance across several critical categories, including:
· Hospital Operations
· Quality of Care
· Patient Perspective
· Financial Stability
Michael Topchik, Executive Director of The Chartis Center for Rural Health, noted that the delivery of care in rural communities is more complex today than ever before.
"This year’s Top 100 Rural & Community Hospitals have emerged as true leaders – committed to their mission through a powerful combination of resilience, dedication and innovation," Topchik stated.
About Prairie Lakes Healthcare System
A division of Sanford Health, Prairie Lakes Healthcare System serves a ten-county region encompassing northeast South Dakota and western Minnesota. With a staff of 800 professionals, physicians, and caregivers, the system provides over 30 medical services and specialties to approximately 90,000 people.
