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.

The inclusion places PLHS among a highly selective group of top-performing medical facilities across the United States.

The Forbes list evaluates hospitals nationwide using publicly reported quality measures sourced from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The rigorous methodology prioritizes patient welfare, assigning the most weight (55%) to patient outcomes. Key factors assessed include:

·        Patient mortality rates

·        Hospital readmission rates

·        Infection rates

·        Value of care

·        Patient experience scores

The evaluation process also adjusts for social determinants of health to ensure fair comparisons between hospitals serving diverse communities.

Out of approximately 5,400 eligible U.S. acute-care hospitals, only about 2,500 met the initial criteria. From that refined group, PLHS was among just 253 hospitals nationwide to earn an overall 5-star rating, securing its place on the inaugural list.

Commitment to Patient-Centered Care

John Allen, president and CEO of PLHS, acknowledged the recognition as a reflection of the organization’s core mission.

“We are honored to be included on the inaugural Forbes Top Hospitals list,” said Allen. “This recognition reflects our ongoing commitment to delivering exceptional, patient-centered care to the communities we serve across northeast South Dakota and western Minnesota.”

This achievement is the fifth national recognition Prairie Lakes Healthcare System has received this year, adding to a growing list of accomplishments.