Prairie Lakes transitions to Sanford Health Watertown
| May 22, 2026 |
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WATERTOWN, S.D. — A new milestone in the integration of Prairie Lakes Healthcare System with Sanford Health will take place beginning next month with the transition to Sanford Health Watertown.
The transition of name and branding will occur in phases beginning in late June and is part of the “Together for Good” journey—bringing the two organizations together to strengthen the care they provide and expand opportunities for the patients and communities they serve.
“This change reflects more than a name update—it represents the next chapter of our shared future and the strength of what we are building together,” said John Allen, President and CEO of Prairie Lakes Healthcare System. “I also want to acknowledge what the Prairie Lakes name represents. It reflects decades of exceptional care, strong relationships and deep community pride. This legacy does not go away. It becomes part of the foundation we carry forward as Sanford Health Watertown.”
“When we announced our combination last year, we committed to preserving and expanding health services across the many communities Prairie Lakes serves,” said Jon Pociask, Chief Operating Officer for Health Network, Sanford Sioux Falls. “By bringing together the strengths of both organizations, we are building on what has always made Prairie Lakes special while expanding opportunities for our patients, our teams, and our communities.”
As the rebranding transition begins, patients and the community can expect updates to facility and clinic names as well as changes to exterior and interior signage. The first update is scheduled to take place in late June as Prairie Lakes Cancer Center transitions to the Sanford Watertown Cancer Center. Other locations will follow over time.
| Current Name | New Name |
| Prairie Lakes Healthcare System | Sanford Health Watertown |
| Prairie Lakes Cancer Center | Sanford Watertown Cancer Center |
| Prairie Lakes Hospital | Sanford Watertown Medical Center |
| Prairie Lakes Specialty Clinic | Sanford Watertown Specialty Clinic |
| Prairie Lakes Brown Clinic Main | Sanford Health Hwy 81 Clinic |
| Prairie Lakes Brown Clinic Northridge | Sanford Health Northridge Clinic |
| Prairie Lakes Castlewood Clinic | Sanford Health Castlewood Clinic |
About Sanford Health
Sanford Health, the largest rural health system in the United States, is dedicated to transforming the health care experience and providing access to world-class health care in America’s heartland. Headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the organization has 55,000 employees and serves more than 2 million patients and nearly 415,000 health plan members across the upper Midwest including South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wyoming, Iowa, Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The integrated nonprofit health system includes a network of 58 hospitals, 289 clinic locations, 145 senior care communities, 4,500 physicians and advanced practice providers and 1,100 active clinical trials and studies. The organization’s transformational virtual care initiative brings patients closer to care with access to nearly 80 specialties. More than 400 residents and fellows are trained each year through graduate medical education with Sanford Health fully funding and supporting 29 of the 40 available programs. Sanford Health also includes Lewis Drug, a pharmacy and retail chain with 60 locations in three states and nearly 190 pharmacists. Learn more about Sanford Health’s commitment to shaping the future of rural health care across the lifespan at sanfordhealth.org or Sanford Health News.
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