HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital Goes Beyond Treating the Community 

Jen von Nida

Okaloosa County residents are accustomed to relying on HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital for a wide range of health care services. The hospital’s specialties include a comprehensive cardiovascular program and a certified cancer center, along with emergency care, trauma care and more. 

Beyond its provision of high-quality health care, the hospital is deeply rooted and invested in its community and looks for innovative ways to enhance the health and wellness of the people it serves. 

Focused on Care 

In July 2024, HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital marked 50 years of caring for its community. Since its early days of 40 physicians and 172 employees, the hospital has grown to boast a medical staff of approximately 400 doctors and more than 1,200 team members, not to mention 330 beds and an array of specialty services. 

As part of its recent anniversary celebration, the hospital pledged $50,000 over the next five years to Northwest Florida State College for health sciences scholarships. The hospital has made initial installments on this pledge, including $10,000 each for the college’s radiology and nursing programs. 

The hospital has a long history of supporting the college, and since 1988, it has contributed more than $232,000 to the Northwest Florida State College Foundation for scholarships, college programs, events and other initiatives. 

“This pledge symbolizes our dedication to nurturing future generations of health care professionals who will carry forward our mission of the care and improvement of human lives,” says hospital CEO Zach McCluskey. He says ongoing partnerships like this one and another with the University of West Florida reinforce the hospital’s mission to advance health care through education and innovation. 

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Strengthening the Workforce 

Another educational partnership exists with Okaloosa County School District. It gives local students a head start on health careers while in high school. The Health Academy of Northwest Florida opened in early 2024 and is the first of its kind on any HCA Healthcare hospital campus. 

The Health Academy equips students from Choctawhatchee, Fort Walton Beach and Niceville high schools with training and essential skills for health careers, combining classroom learning and practical training on-site at the hospital. 

The hospital provides the 6,375-square-foot space for the Health Academy, including classrooms and lab space where students participate in training for basic nursing and medical skills. Those who complete the program can earn certifications, such as certified nursing assistant and certified patient care technician, with options to continue their education toward a nursing license. 

“Our team is honored and excited to have the Health Academy of Northwest Florida open and teaching the next generation of health care providers,” McCluskey says. 

Okaloosa County Schools Superintendent Marcus Chambers says the facility “will provide our students with practical nursing training, enabling them to earn industry-recognized certifications and creating a direct path from high school to employment in leading local hospitals or other medical facilities.” 

Promoting Safety 

The hospital supports its community through public education initiatives, as well, such as its beach safety and injury prevention campaign, which was launched in 2024 to highlight the dangers of shallow diving in the Destin-Fort Walton Beach area. 

In partnership with its trauma department, the hospital introduced “Think Before You Dive” to increase awareness for beachgoers. As part of this effort to reduce and prevent spinal cord injuries resulting from shallow-water diving, the hospital has placed magnetic signs alongside existing waterway signage around the area and in local hotels. 

Dr. Matthew Johnson, medical director of the hospital’s trauma center, says the hospital treats many such injuries caused by residents and visitors who dive off boats into the shallow waters near Crab Island in Destin. 

“We end up with a lot of quadriplegic patients,” he says. “I implore people to think before they dive. The consequences are life changing.” 

The campaign aims to help people continue to enjoy the area’s beautiful beaches and waterways, with an eye toward safety. 

McCluskey, the hospital’s CEO, says residents are the inspiration for all these efforts. 

“These are our neighbors,” he says. “These are our family members. These are strangers who are visiting our community. These are people who need us. That is why we show up every single day to care for people in our community and improve their lives.”