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Cardiology

Cardiology is the medical treatment of diseases of the heart and parts of the circulatory system. Cardiologists are the doctors who specialize in diagnosing and treating these conditions.

Heart care in Fort Walton Beach, Florida

The cardiologists and cardiothoracic surgeons at HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital provide high-quality care to patients with cardiovascular disease.

We offer education on preventing and managing heart disease as well as comprehensive treatment options. As the only hospital in the Tri-County area performing open-heart surgery, we use state-of-the-art technology to treat heart disease effectively and efficiently.

Is your heart healthy?

Understanding your heart health is critical to getting the care you need. We offer a health risk assessment to help get you started.

Understanding your heart health is critical to getting the care you need. We offer a health risk assessment to help get you started.

Early Heart Attack Care

HCA Fort Walton-Destin Hospital is a proud partner of the Deputy Heart Attack program, a public outreach platform that asks you to "Recognize and Respond" in the event of an emergency using the knowledge you learn in the Early Heart Attack Care (EHAC) education. Read more about this valuable program on their website.

HCA Fort Walton-Destin Hospital is a proud partner of the Deputy Heart Attack program, a public outreach platform that asks you to "Recognize and Respond" in the event of an emergency using the knowledge you learn in the Early Heart Attack Care (EHAC) education. Read more about this valuable program on their website.

Related specialties

Our cardiac services

Our heart doctors use advanced technology to diagnose heart conditions. Then, they work with each patient to carefully tailor the treatment plan to their unique needs.

Cardiac catheterization

Our hospital is home to a cardiac catheterization (cath lab) where our heart specialists perform diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.

During a catheterization procedure, a catheter (small, thin tube) is threaded through the blood vessels to the heart. The catheter carries small devices to help repair heart abnormalities, such as a blocked blood vessel. Typically, a small incision is made in the groin or the neck to insert the catheter into an artery or vein.

We perform many treatments in our cardiac cath lab, including:

  • Alcohol septal ablation for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
  • Balloon angioplasty with stenting
  • Endomyocardial biopsy
  • Mitral and aortic valvuloplasty
  • Percutaneous closure of atrial septal defect (ASD) and patent foramen ovale (PFO)
  • Percutaneous left ventricular assist device placement
  • Right heart catheterization

The cath lab is located on the first floor of the main hospital building. To contact the cath lab, please call (850) 863-7592.

Emergency heart attack care

As the Tri-County area's first Accredited Chest Pain Center designated by the American College of Cardiology, our hospital has achieved a higher level of expertise in treating patients who arrive with heart attack symptoms. We have put processes in place that meet certain criteria to reduce the time between symptoms to diagnosis and treatment. By doing so, our goal is to provide the immediate treatment necessary to avoid as much heart damage as possible.

Emergency stroke care

Our hospital is also certified as a Primary Stroke Center by The Joint Commission. This designation signifies our dedication to evidence-based stroke treatment and positive patient outcomes.

Electrophysiology studies

An electrophysiology (EP) study is a series of diagnostic tests to help doctors understand an abnormal heart rhythm. Our EP studies take place in the cardiac cath lab, and patients are under mild sedation.

During and EP study, a catheter is inserted into a blood vessel that leads to the heart. An additional electrode catheter allows electrical signals to be sent to the heart and recorded. Anywhere from three to five electrode catheters may be used in an EP study.

Heart doctors use EP studies to find out:

  • How well certain medications are working to treat an arrhythmia
  • If a patient is at risk for further heart problems, such as fainting or cardiac arrest
  • Where an arrhythmia is coming from
  • Which treatment may correct the arrhythmia (such as cardiac ablation, medication, a pacemaker, an implantable cardioverter defibrillator or surgery)

Interventional vascular services

We provide comprehensive services for the diagnosis, management, treatment and prevention of vascular diseases and thrombotic disorders. Through interventional radiology, we treat vascular disorders and diseases with minimally invasive procedures.

Cardiovascular surgery

We provide a variety of cardiovascular surgical options — from minimally invasive interventional cardiology procedures to traditional open-heart surgery.

Some of our cardiac surgical services include:

Cardiac rehabilitation

Our hospital offers an outpatient cardiac rehabilitation program designed to help patients improve their heart health. The goal of our cardiac rehab program is to help patients regain strength and develop long-term healthy lifestyle habits. Many patients join our program after having a heart attack, cardiovascular surgery or heart disease diagnosis.

Cardiac rehabilitation involves medically supervised exercise. This allows patients to strengthen their muscles and improve their cardiac health in a safe, controlled environment. Monitored exercise helps our patients gain confidence and return to their daily activities.

To be eligible for our cardiac rehab program, patients need a doctor's order or a physician referral. To learn more about our cardiac rehab program, please call (850) 315-7870.

Heart arrhythmia treatment

A heart arrhythmia is an abnormal heart rhythm. At our hospital, we perform electrophysiology studies to diagnose heart arrhythmias and offer advanced treatments.

Understanding atrial fibrillation (AFib)

AFib is the most commonly diagnosed abnormal heart rhythm in the U.S. It is an abnormal heart rhythm caused by erratic electrical signals in the heart. Treatments vary depending on the stage of atrial fibrillation. Some treatments for AFib include lifestyle changes, medications and ablation therapy.

Different types of ablation therapy for AFib

Ablation creates lesions, or barriers, on the heart tissue in an effort to stop the erratic electrical signals that cause atrial fibrillation. Types of ablation include:

  • Endocardial radiofrequency (RF) ablation — This procedure treats the inside the heart. It is most often used to treat paroxysmal AFib, an earlier stage of Afib.
  • Epicardial ablation — This procedure treats the outside the heart
  • Hybrid AFib therapy — This treatment combines both types of ablation. It creates lesions inside and outside of the heart. Hybrid AFib therapy is used to treat long-standing, persistent AFib.

The goal of an ablation is to stop the AFib or to make the episodes shorter and less frequent. For a physician referral, please call (850) 864-0213.

Stroke prevention for patients with AFib

Surgeons at our hospital were the first in the Tri-County area to implant the innovative left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) device. The LAAC device can be inserted through a single procedure, and it reduces the risk of stroke in patients with non-valvular AFib.

Fort Walton-Destin Hospital​ — More than care

Colonel Gary Plumb was spending a normal day at the gym, when all of a sudden he realized he was having a heart attack.

Fort Walton-Destin Hospital​ Health Snippets A-fib

Learn about A-Fib and what you should do if you experience any of the associated symptoms.

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Our Cardiology Locations

Currently Viewing:

Fort Walton-Destin Hospital
1000 Mar Walt Dr
Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547
 (850) 862 - 1111

Currently Viewing:

Fort Walton-Destin Hospital
1000 Mar Walt Dr
Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547
 (850) 862 - 1111
Twin Cities Hospital
2190 Highway 85 N
Niceville, FL 32578
 (850) 678 - 4131

9.8 miles

West Hospital
8383 N Davis Hwy
Pensacola, FL 32514
 (850) 494 - 3212

35.1 miles