Fort Walton Beach Medical Center

Facility Description

Fort Walton Beach Medical Center, with 267 licensed beds and a medical staff of over 200 physicians, representing more than 30 specialties, is the only full service acute care hospital in our Tri-County area.


According to the twelfth annual HealthGrades Hospital Quality in America Study, Fort Walton Beach Medical Center is ranked among the top 5 in the nation in Spine Surgery and General Surgery for the fifth consecutive year, in the top 10 in the nation in Overall Orthopedics for the sixth consecutive year and in Cardiac Surgery in 2010. HealthGrades is the leading independent healthcare ratings organization which annually assesses patient outcomes - mortality and complication rates - at virtually all of the nation's nearly 5,000 nonfederal hospitals.


In addition to receiving the HealthGrades Excellence Awards in Cardiac, Orthopedic, General and Spine Surgery, the Medical Center is Five Star Rated in Coronary Bypass Surgery, Bowel Obstruction, Hip Fracture Repair, Spine Surgery, General Surgery, Appendectomy, Overall Orthopedic Services, Back & Neck Surgery. This recognition demonstrates Fort Walton Beach Medical Center's commitment to ensuring the highest level of quality care and the best possible outcomes for our patients and their families.


Fort Walton Beach Medical Center has been named one of the nation's Top Performers on Key Quality Measures by The Joint Commission, the leading accreditor of health care organizations in America for the second year in a row. As the only hospital in the tri-county area named to this distinguished list in all four measure sets for two consecutive years, Fort Walton Beach Medical Center was recognized by The Joint Commission for exemplary performance in using evidence-based clinical processes that are shown to improve care for certain conditions, including heart attack, heart failure, pneumonia, surgical care, children's asthma, stroke and venous thromboembolism, as well as inpatient psychiatric services.


The Heart Center at Fort Walton Beach Medical Center, with the area's only comprehensive cardiovascular program, provides the latest and most advanced treatments in cardiac care including: beating heart surgery, endoscopic vein harvesting, and cardiac catheterization with coronary angioplasty and stenting.


Fort Walton Beach Medical Center is the Tri County areas only Advanced Primary Stroke Center accredited by The Joint Commission. In achieving this designation, the Medical Center has demonstrated that its stroke program follows national standards and guidelines that can significantly improve outcomes of stroke patients.


The Cancer Care Center is the area's only comprehensive cancer care program certified by the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons. The Cancer Care Center's program offers the latest in technology and treatment options as well as experienced oncology nurses, multidisciplinary support teams, education and resources for the cancer patient. Fort Walton Beach Medical Center has also joined the University of Alabama at Birmingham Cancer Care Network as one of seven affiliates in the network to expand access to leading cancer care.

The UAB Cancer Care Network, with affiliates in Alabama, Georgia and Florida, provides a program to support community-based oncology services, by offering broader access to clinical trials, continuing medical education for nurses and oncologists, and access to the latest education about advancements in the treatment and detection of cancer in the local community.



The Center for New Life includes a 10 bed state-of-the-art Level II Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) for premature newborns, and full term newborns with special care needs. The newly renovated center provides private postpartum suites where mothers and family members can now enjoy their newborns in a more private setting.


Fort Walton Beach Medical Center also offers a six-bed Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit, a 10-bed Coronary Care Unit, a 13-bed Intensive Care Unit and a 33-private room Progressive Care Unit in addition to its Medical/Surgical Unit, Obstetrics/Women's Services Unit, Pediatric Unit, Rehabilitation Unit and Psychiatric Unit. Other services include a state-of-the-art outpatient surgery center, the most advanced diagnostic services and a 22-bed emergency room (open 24 hours daily) and a seven-bed Express Care for minor emergencies (open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily).


Fort Walton Beach Medical Center is now offering surgeons access to the The da Vinci Si Robotic Surgical System. This system provides surgeons with an alternative to both traditional open surgery and conventional laparoscopy, putting a surgeon's hands at the controls of a state-of-the-art robotic platform. The da Vinci System enables surgeons to perform even the most complex and delicate procedures through very small incisions with unmatched precision. Procedurewsbeing performed at FWBMC are general surgery including colorectal surgery and cholocysectomy, hysterectomy, myomectomy, endometriosis and other uterine conditions.


Fort Walton Beach Medical Center also operates the Destin Emergency Care Center (850 837-9194) open 24/7 at 996 Airport Road in Destin.


For more information regarding Fort Walton Beach Medical Center's services visit our web site at www.fwbmc.com.