Prairie Lakes Healthcare System, Inc.: labor and delivery in Watertown, SD
Prairie Lakes Healthcare System, Inc. is a hospital in Watertown, Codington County, South Dakota that delivers babies. It handled 202 deliveries in 2025. Of first-time mothers with a full-term, single, head-down baby, 20% delivered by C-section (91 such births). That is above the South Dakota rate of 19% and below the U.S. median of 26%.
- 20%First-birth C-section rate
- 202Deliveries in 2025
- YesBirthing-Friendly designation
- 119Severe complications per 10,000 deliveries
- 4 of 5Patient survey stars
- 3 of 5Overall hospital stars
Address and phone
401 9th Avenue NW Post Office Box 1210
Watertown, SD 57201
Codington County
Call (605) 882-7000 Directions
- Emergency department: Yes
- Hospital type: Acute Care hospital
- Ownership: Nonprofit, Private
How Prairie Lakes Healthcare System, Inc. compares
| Measure, 2025 | This hospital | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| First-birth C-section rate | 20% | 19% | 26% (median) |
| Severe complications per 10,000 deliveries | 119 | 214 | 285 |
| Severe complications, not counting transfusion-only cases, per 10,000 | 55 | – | 68 |
Severe-complication ranking among U.S. hospitals: Top 25% (fewest complications). Not counting transfusion-only cases: Middle 50%.
In South Dakota, Prairie Lakes Healthcare System, Inc. has the 7th-lowest first-birth C-section rate of 12 hospitals that report one.
The first-birth C-section rate counts first-time mothers with a full-term, single, head-down baby. Complication rates are adjusted for patient risk. Our data explains each number.
What patients say
- Patient survey summary: 4 of 5 stars
- 64% of patients would definitely recommend this hospital
- 71% of patients rated this hospital 9 or 10 out of 10
Survey results cover all patients at the hospital, not only maternity patients.
Birthing-Friendly designation
Prairie Lakes Healthcare System, Inc. holds the federal Birthing-Friendly designation. Hospitals earn it by taking part in a perinatal quality collaborative and following maternal safety practices.
Other hospitals that deliver babies near Watertown
| Hospital | City | Miles | First-birth C-section rate | Deliveries, 2025 | Birthing-Friendly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milbank Area Hospital/Avera Health | Milbank | 31 | – | 38 | – |
| Brookings Health System | Brookings | 45 | 15% | 423 | Yes |
| Ortonville Area Health Services | Ortonville | 46 | – | 72 | – |
| Madison Regional Health System | Madison | 64 | – | – | Yes |
| Huron Regional Medical Center | Huron | 65 | 15% | 233 | – |
| Chippewa County Hospital | Montevideo | 68 | 24% | 240 | – |
All hospitals in Watertown · Codington County · All South Dakota hospitals