Dr. Eric Watson, M.D.
Contact & Location
605-331-5890
Tea, SD 57064
Dr. Watson performs more knee replacement procedures than 10% of orthopedic surgeons in South Dakota, based on 2024 Medicare claims volume.Derived from the state ranking shown on this page: #43 of 48 ranked knee surgeons in South Dakota.
About Dr. Watson
Practice. Dr. Eric Watson is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon practicing in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The latest annual CMS data records 14 knee replacements. That is #43 in South Dakota for knee replacement. A Medicare provider since 2006.
Trend. Dr. Watson first appears in the Medicare data in 2017. With 2 years on record, the trend is still short.
National context. Among 6,612 knee replacement surgeons tracked nationally, 14 procedures is below the national average of 45. Medicare covers part of all joint replacements, so true volume is likely higher.
Local context. Sioux Falls has 22 orthopedic surgeons in the current Medicare data. Comparing volume and procedure mix across them is one way to narrow a shortlist.
Verified Case Volume
Verified Medicare data is available for 2 years: 17 procedures in 2017 and 14 procedures in the most recent reporting year. A multi-year trend chart is shown once at least 3 years of data are available.
Verified Medicare Cases
How is this estimated?
Medicare Part B fee-for-service claims are one payer stream among several, and the share they represent differs by procedure. In 2024 it was 23% to 28% for knee replacement. Each verified count above is divided by its own procedure's range, and the results are added, to estimate total practice volume across all payers. The verified Medicare count is the definitive, audited figure; this is a range derived from published national volume projections, not a measurement, and an individual practice can sit well outside it: how these ranges are derived, and their sources.
How Dr. Watson Compares
Procedure volume compared to the South Dakota state average.
Volume Trend Analysis
Dr. Watson has 2 years of Medicare procedure data beginning in 2017. Additional years of data will provide a clearer picture of volume trends.
Hospital Affiliations & Quality
Quality ratings and complication rates are hospital-level metrics from CMS Hospital Compare and do not reflect individual surgeon performance. Star ratings updated quarterly. Complication data covers a rolling 3-year period.
Patient Resources: Preparing for Knee Replacement
If you are considering knee replacement surgery, these evidence-based guides can help you prepare and recover:
An overview of current surgical approaches including robotic-assisted and minimally invasive techniques, implant options, and expected outcomes.
Prehabilitation: Preparing Your Body for SurgeryEvidence-based exercises and lifestyle adjustments that can improve surgical outcomes and speed recovery when started weeks before your procedure.
Home Safety: Creating Your Recovery SanctuaryRoom-by-room modifications, equipment recommendations, and fall-prevention strategies to prepare your home for a safe post-surgical recovery.
Medicare Bundled Payment Programs for Joint ReplacementHow bundled payment models affect your joint replacement costs and care coordination, and what it means for hospital and surgeon selection.
Knee Replacement Recovery Overview
Recovery timelines vary by patient, but here is a general overview of what to expect after knee replacement surgery:
Individual recovery varies based on overall health, age, and adherence to physical therapy. View full knee replacement recovery guide and product recommendations
Frequently Asked Questions About Dr. Watson
How does Dr. Watson's procedure volume compare to other South Dakota surgeons?
Dr. Watson has performed 14 Medicare-verified joint replacement procedures. The South Dakota average is 70 procedures per surgeon. Medicare data captures roughly one-third of all joint replacements, so total volume may be higher. Dr. Watson ranks #48 out of 52 orthopedic surgeons in South Dakota.
What types of joint replacement does Dr. Watson perform?
Dr. Watson's reported Medicare volume is focused on knee replacement, with 14 verified procedures. Some surgeons choose to concentrate on a single joint type to build deep procedural expertise.
Where is Dr. Watson's practice located?
Dr. Watson's current practice address is in Tea, SD. That address is the current practice address in Dr. Watson's own CMS NPPES registry entry, which providers maintain themselves. The Medicare claims data used for the rankings on this page was billed from Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
What does the Medicare data for Dr. Watson represent?
The procedure counts shown are based on 2024 Medicare Part B fee-for-service claims data, published by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Medicare fee-for-service is only one payer stream, and the share of national volume it represents differs by procedure. In 2024 the share was 23% to 28% for knee replacement, which puts Dr. Watson's total volume across all insurers at roughly 50 to 60 procedures against the 14 verified here. Those shares are derived from published national volume projections rather than quoted from a single publication, and they are estimates with real uncertainty. The OrthoProcedures methodology page shows the full derivation, the sources, and the limits at orthoprocedures.com/data-methodology.html.
Which hospitals is Dr. Watson affiliated with?
According to CMS facility affiliation data, Dr. Watson is affiliated with Sioux Falls Specialty Hospital Llp, Avera Mckennan Hospital & University Health Center, Sanford Chamberlain Medical Center, Sanford Usd Medical Center.
How does Dr. Watson compare to other orthopedic surgeons in Sioux Falls?
Among the 22 orthopedic surgeons in Sioux Falls, Dr. Watson ranks #21 by total Medicare procedure volume. The highest-volume surgeon in Sioux Falls has 340 verified Medicare procedures.
What are the quality ratings for hospitals where Dr. Watson practices?
Sioux Falls Specialty Hospital Llp (hip/knee complication rate similar to national average); Avera Mckennan Hospital & University Health Center (3 out of 5 CMS stars, hip/knee complication rate similar to national average). These are hospital-level quality metrics from CMS Hospital Compare and do not reflect individual surgeon outcomes.
Other Orthopedic Surgeons in Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Dr. Watson's 14 Medicare procedures are below the Sioux Falls average of 156. The table below compares verified procedure volumes for orthopedic surgeons practicing in Sioux Falls.
| Surgeon | Procedures | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Dr. Michael Adler | 340 | Hip, Knee |
| Dr. Corey Rothrock | 209 | Hip, Knee |
| Dr. Travis Liddell | 157 | Hip, Knee, Shoulder |
| Dr. Timothy Walker | 153 | Hip, Knee |
| Dr. Carl Bechtold | 122 | Hip, Knee |
| Dr. Joshua Johnson | 97 | Hip, Knee |
Patient Resources & Verification
Research reviews, verify credentials, and check official quality data through these trusted sources:
Medicare Care Compare and NPI Registry are official U.S. government sources. Google reviews reflect user-submitted feedback. OrthoProcedures.com does not verify the accuracy of third-party review content.