Source: CMS Care Compare, July 2026 releaseER figures are medians, not live waitsAbout the data
Visiting Prairie Lakes Hospital
Watertown, SD 57201
County: Codington Directions Apple Maps Call (605) 882-7000
- Photo ID and your insurance, Medicare or Medicaid card
- A list of your medicines, doses and allergies
- Your doctor's name and phone number
- A phone charger
Official links: Website for Prairie Lakes Hospital (opens the hospital's site)
Nearby hospitals
- 24mi Sanford Clear Lake Medical Center Clear Lake, SD · Emergency room · median ER visit 1 hr 33 min Call Sanford Clear Lake Medical Center Directions to Sanford Clear Lake Medical Center (Google Maps) Details for Sanford Clear Lake Medical Center
- 33mi Milbank Area Hospital/Avera Health - CAH Milbank, SD · Emergency room · median ER visit 2 hr 6 min Call Milbank Area Hospital/Avera Health - CAH Directions to Milbank Area Hospital/Avera Health - CAH (Google Maps) Details for Milbank Area Hospital/Avera Health - CAH
- 36mi Sanford Hospital Webster - CAH Webster, SD · Emergency room · median ER visit 1 hr 50 min Call Sanford Hospital Webster - CAH Directions to Sanford Hospital Webster - CAH (Google Maps) Details for Sanford Hospital Webster - CAH
Quick answers about Prairie Lakes Hospital
How long is the ER wait at Prairie Lakes Hospital?
CMS doesn't publish live wait times. Over the 12 months CMS reported, patients treated and sent home spent a median of 1 hr 57 min in the Prairie Lakes Hospital emergency room (the average across South Dakota hospitals is 1 hr 54 min). 1% of ER patients left before being seen. For tonight's wait, check the hospital's website (opens the hospital's own site) or call (605) 882-7000. In an emergency, call 911.
What is the phone number for Prairie Lakes Hospital?
The main phone number for Prairie Lakes Hospital is (605) 882-7000, from Medicare's hospital records.
Call (605) 882-7000What is the address of Prairie Lakes Hospital?
Prairie Lakes Hospital is at 401 9th Ave NW, Watertown, SD 57201.
Directions (opens Google Maps)Does Prairie Lakes Hospital have an emergency room?
Yes. Prairie Lakes Hospital has an emergency department, according to Medicare data.
What is Prairie Lakes Hospital's Medicare star rating?
Prairie Lakes Hospital has an overall rating of 3 out of 5 stars from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Star ratings come from CMS quality and safety measures, not patient reviews.
Quality and performance
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · data as of July 2026
Patients treated and sent home from the emergency department at Prairie Lakes Hospital spend a median of 1 hour 57 minutes there. That is about the same as the average across South Dakota hospitals (1 hour 54 minutes).
Source: CMS Hospital General Information and Timely & Effective Care. Wait times are a median over a past 12-month reporting period, not live data. Not affiliated with CMS or with Prairie Lakes Hospital. For a medical emergency, call 911.
Compare ER waits across South Dakota · How South Dakota hospitals rank on star ratings · Other birthing-friendly hospitals in South Dakota · How we source this data · Something wrong on this page? Tell us
What patients say
CMS patient survey (HCAHPS) · 302 completed surveys · patients discharged Oct 2024 – Sep 2025
Patients gave Prairie Lakes Hospital a 4-star patient experience rating out of 5. 63% would definitely recommend it (U.S. average 71%). 69% rated it 9 or 10 out of 10.
The patient survey (HCAHPS) asks a random sample of adult patients about their recent hospital stay. CMS adjusts the results for the mix of patients and how the survey was done, so hospitals can be compared fairly. About the data.
Nearby ERs with shorter visits
Infections, complications and deaths
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · compared with hospitals nationwide
Prairie Lakes Hospital was no different from the national benchmark on all 2 hospital-acquired infections CMS could compare. Its rate of serious complications was same as national.
Hospital-acquired infections
Serious complications
Death rates within 30 days
| Patients treated for | This hospital | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Heart attack patients | 13.5% | 11.9% |
| Heart failure patients | 14.8% | 11.1% |
| Pneumonia patients | 14.9% | 15.2% |
| Stroke patients | 11.6% | 11.9% |
| COPD patients | 10.0% | 8.6% |
| Hospital-wide, all conditions | 4.5% | 3.9% |
Risk-adjusted rates. CMS has not published a statistical better/worse comparison for these death rates in the current release, so small differences from the U.S. rate may be chance.
Other complications
None of the other safety indicators CMS compares was statistically better or worse than national.
All 11 complication measures
| Measure | This hospital | U.S. | CMS comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Complications after hip or knee replacement% of patients | 3.9 | 4.1 | Not compared |
| Pressure ulcers (bed sores)per 1,000 patients | 1.56 | 0.63 | Same as national |
| Falls in the hospital that caused a broken boneper 1,000 patients | 0.26 | 0.27 | Same as national |
| Collapsed lung caused by a medical procedureper 1,000 patients | 0.2 | 0.21 | Same as national |
| Bleeding or blood clot under the skin after surgeryper 1,000 patients | 2.54 | 2.34 | Same as national |
| Kidney injury needing dialysis after surgeryper 1,000 patients | 1.59 | 1.67 | Same as national |
| Respiratory failure after surgeryper 1,000 patients | 7.77 | 9.42 | Same as national |
| Blood clots in the lungs or legs after surgeryper 1,000 patients | 4.98 | 3.52 | Same as national |
| Bloodstream infection (sepsis) after surgeryper 1,000 patients | 5.81 | 5.27 | Same as national |
| Surgical wound splitting openper 1,000 patients | 2.07 | 1.77 | Same as national |
| Accidental cuts or tears during abdominal surgeryper 1,000 patients | 1 | 1.06 | Same as national |
"Better" or "worse" means CMS found the difference from the national benchmark statistically significant; most hospitals are "no different". Infection results compare the infections a hospital reported with the number predicted for a hospital of its size and type (a ratio below 1 means fewer than predicted), for Oct 2024 – Sep 2025. Death and complication rates are risk-adjusted for how sick patients were. Each death rate counts deaths within 30 days of a hospital stay, pooled over one to three years of Medicare patients depending on the measure. About the data.
Health insurance at Prairie Lakes Hospital
Original Medicare: Medicare-certified, so it can bill Original Medicare (Medicare number 430005). Medicare Advantage plans have their own networks, which this section does not cover.
Adults in South Dakota qualify for Medicaid up to 133% of the poverty line. Ask the hospital which South Dakota Medicaid plans it takes.
Source: the insurers' 2027 machine-readable provider files listed in the CMS Marketplace public use files, loaded November 4, 2026, matched to hospitals by NPI from CMS Hospital Enrollments. How we match networks to hospitals Networks change; confirm with your insurer before you go.
Readmissions and return visits
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · Medicare patients · Jul 2023 – Jun 2025
On the 4 readmission and return-visit measures CMS could compare, Prairie Lakes Hospital was no different from the national rate or its expected level.
Back in the hospital within 30 days
| After a stay for | This hospital | U.S. | CMS comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heart attack | 14.1% | 14.4% | Not compared |
| Heart failure | 22.7% | 21.3% | Not compared |
| Pneumonia | 16.8% | 17.3% | Not compared |
| COPD (chronic lung disease) | 20.1% | 20% | Not compared |
| Hip or knee replacement | 5% | 5.8% | Not compared |
Return trips after a stay or procedure
Medicare's readmission program
Excess readmission ratio: this hospital's predicted readmissions divided by the number expected for a typical hospital with the same patients. Above 1.00 means more readmissions than expected. 1 of 5 conditions is above 1.00.
| Condition | Ratio | Patients | Readmissions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heart failure | 1.013 | 65 | More than expected |
| COPD | 0.995 | – | Fewer than expected |
| Pneumonia | 0.976 | – | Fewer than expected |
| Heart attack | 0.941 | – | Fewer than expected |
| Hip or knee replacement | 0.895 | – | Fewer than expected |
Readmission rates count Medicare patients who were admitted to any acute-care hospital within 30 days of leaving this one, adjusted for how sick they were. "Better" or "worse" means CMS found the difference from the national rate statistically significant; most hospitals are "no different". Return-day and outpatient-surgery measures compare the hospital with what CMS expected for its own patients. The Readmissions Reduction Program ratios are shown as CMS publishes them; whether a hospital's payments are reduced depends on how its ratios compare with similar hospitals, so a ratio above 1.00 alone doesn't mean a penalty. About the data.
Timely and effective care
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · all patients unless noted · Oct 2024 – Sep 2025
Prairie Lakes Hospital's emergency department is classed by CMS as low volume.
| Measure | This hospital | U.S.* |
|---|---|---|
| Sepsis: got all recommended early treatmentPatients with severe sepsis or septic shock who received every step of the recommended early care bundle. Higher is better. 82 patients. | 78% | 65% |
| Septic shock: full treatment within 3 hoursHigher is better. 36 patients. | 75% | 73% |
| Stroke: brain scan read within 45 minutes of ER arrivalPatients arriving with stroke symptoms whose head CT or MRI was interpreted within 45 minutes. Higher is better. 13 patients. | 31% | 69% |
| Typical time in the ER before going homeMedian minutes from arrival to leaving, for ER patients sent home (not counting mental health patients or transfers). Lower is better. 337 patients. | 117 min | 162 min |
| Typical ER time for mental health patients sent homeMedian minutes from arrival to leaving. Lower is better. 12 patients. | 108 min | 257 min |
| Typical ER time for patients transferred to another facilityMedian minutes from arrival to leaving. Lower is better. 36 patients. | 200 min | 287 min |
| Patients who left the ER before being seenLower is better. 13,214 patients. | 1% | 2% |
| Health care workers vaccinated against fluHigher is better. 1,004 patients. | 51% | 78% |
| Discharged on two opioids, or an opioid and a benzodiazepinePatients sent home with prescriptions that raise the risk of overdose when combined. Lower is better. 619 patients. | 16% | 15% |
| Colonoscopy: right follow-up interval for average-risk patientsHigher is better. 343 patients. | 99% | 93% |
| Blood clot prevention given in intensive careHigher is better. 49 patients. | 82% | 97%* |
CMS publishes these process-of-care measures without a better/worse verdict, so the U.S. figure is shown for context; small differences, or results based on few patients, may not mean much. *Median of all hospitals CMS reports, where CMS publishes no national figure. About the data.
Maternity care
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · reported by the hospital · Jan 2024 – Dec 2024
Maternity measures are reported by hospitals that deliver babies. The U.S. figure is the median of the hospitals CMS reports, not a CMS verdict. About the data.
Medicare spending and payment programs
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Value-based purchasing scores by area
| Area | Score (out of 100) |
|---|---|
| Clinical outcomesDeath rates and complications | 0 |
| Patient experiencePatient survey results | 34 |
| SafetyHospital-acquired infections | 30 |
| Efficiency and costMedicare spending per patient | 20 |
The Hospital-Acquired Condition Reduction Program cuts Medicare payments by 1% for the quarter of hospitals with the worst scores. The Hospital Value-Based Purchasing Program withholds a small share of every hospital's Medicare payments and pays it back according to the total performance score. A spending ratio of 1.00 equals the national median; spending reflects prices, the services patients received and care after discharge, not quality. Some hospitals, such as critical access, children's and cancer hospitals, are not part of these programs. About the data.
Care after a stay at Prairie Lakes Hospital
Medicare-certified providers near this hospital, with their CMS ratings. A hospital discharge planner can make the referral.
Skilled nursing facilities nearby
- 0.8mi Avantara Watertown Watertown, SD · 51 beds Medicare overall 3 of 5 stars · Short-stay quality 3 of 5
- 1.0mi Jenkin's Living Center Watertown, SD · 110 beds Medicare overall 3 of 5 stars · Short-stay quality 4 of 5
- 21mi Estelline Nursing and Care Center Estelline, SD · 60 beds Medicare overall 5 of 5 stars
Skilled nursing ratings and inspections at Nursing Homes In Each State
Dialysis centers nearby See more
- 2.2mi Prairie Lakes Healthcare SystemWatertown, SD
Home health agencies nearby See more
- 2.2mi Prairie Lakes Home HealthWatertown, SD · 86% would recommend
Hospice care providers nearby See more
- 2.2mi Prairie Lakes HospiceWatertown, SD · 89% would recommend
Source: CMS Care Compare. Distances are approximate.
Doctors at Prairie Lakes Hospital
81 Medicare-enrolled doctors and other clinicians list this hospital as an affiliation, across 21 specialties.
Find doctors in Watertown
Medicare-enrolled specialists with a practice in Watertown, with addresses, phone numbers and the hospitals they work with.
What Medicare paid at Prairie Lakes Hospital
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · original Medicare patients · 2024
Average hospital charges and actual payments for the procedures Medicare patients most often had here, compared with the average for South Dakota.
Hospital stays
| Stay | Stays | Avg billed | Avg payment (Medicare + patient) | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Septicemia or severe sepsis without ventilator >96 hours with major complicationsDRG 871 | 78 | $22,926 | $15,402 | −9% |
| Pulmonary edema and respiratory failureDRG 189 | 47 | $22,129 | $9,898 | −14% |
| Heart failure and shock with major complicationsDRG 291 | 42 | $16,177 | $10,323 | −7% |
| Simple pneumonia and pleurisy with major complicationsDRG 193 | 37 | $18,170 | $10,547 | −7% |
| Major hip and knee joint replacement or reattachment of lower extremity without major complicationsDRG 470 | 29 | $62,359 | $15,073 | +10% |
| Miscellaneous disorders of nutrition, metabolism, fluids and electrolytes without major complicationsDRG 641 | 28 | $13,562 | $6,418 | −11% |
| Hip replacement with principal diagnosis of hip fracture without major complicationsDRG 522 | 26 | $53,854 | $16,710 | −5% |
| Gastrointestinal hemorrhage with complicationsDRG 378 | 25 | $18,496 | $8,046 | −8% |
Outpatient services
| Service | Services | Avg billed | Avg allowed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 Intraocular ProceduresAPC 5491 | 489 | $5,971 | $2,332 |
| Level 2 Urology and Related ServicesAPC 5372 | 377 | $1,064 | $686 |
| Comprehensive Observation ServicesAPC 8011 | 120 | $7,539 | $2,730 |
| Level 2 Excision/Biopsy/Incision and DrainageAPC 5072 | 113 | $5,143 | $1,628 |
| Level 5 Musculoskeletal ProceduresAPC 5115 | 111 | $47,286 | $12,882 |
Charges are the hospital's list prices; payments are what Medicare, the patient and any other insurer actually paid (for outpatient services, Medicare's allowed amount). Private insurance prices differ. "vs state" compares this hospital's average payment with the state average for the same stay. All procedure costs.
Size and finances
Medicare cost report · fiscal year ending May 2025
As reported by the hospital to CMS; not audited. Operating margin is income from patient care divided by net patient revenue and leaves out investment income and donations. Compare South Dakota hospital finances.
Who owns Prairie Lakes Hospital
Medicare enrollment and ownership records (PECOS)
183 doctors and other clinicians list Prairie Lakes Hospital as a hospital affiliation in Medicare's clinician directory.
Organizations with 5% or more ownership (directly or through other companies), partnership interests or operational control, as the hospital reported them to Medicare. Records can lag behind recent sales. Individuals are not listed. Who owns America's hospitals.
The area around Prairie Lakes Hospital
HRSA shortage designations and BLS pay data
Primary care: Parts of Codington are federally designated health professional shortage areas (1 designation). Highest shortage score 13.
Mental health: Codington is a federally designated health professional shortage area. Highest shortage score 19.
Dental: Parts of Codington are federally designated health professional shortage areas (1 designation). Highest shortage score 9.
Nurse pay: registered nurses in South Dakota earn a median $78,060 a year. Healthcare salaries in South Dakota.
Shortage areas are designated by the Health Resources and Services Administration where there are too few primary care, mental health or dental providers for the population; scores run from 0 to 25 for primary and mental health care and 0 to 26 for dental care, higher meaning greater need. South Dakota shortage areas
Closest other hospitals
Healthcare pay in South Dakota
Registered nurses across South Dakota (all employers) earned a median of $78,060 a year (BLS, May 2025).Registered Nurse (RN) salary in South DakotaNurse Practitioner salary in South DakotaRespiratory Therapist salary in South DakotaHealthcare salaries in South Dakota
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Cite this data
Writing about Prairie Lakes Hospital? You're welcome to quote these figures. They are free to use under CC BY 4.0: please credit HospitalsInEachState.com and link to this page.