HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital honored by Healthgrades for superior clinical outcomes

Fort Walton Beach, Fla. – Oct. 27, 2026 – HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital announced today it has earned top honors for clinical quality from Healthgrades, the #1 online resource Americans use to find a doctor or hospital.

HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital’s latest recognitions include five Five-Star Ratings for outstanding performance in pacemaker procedures, in total knee replacement for the fourth year in a row, in hip fracture treatment for the eighth year in a row, spinal fusion surgery and gallbladder removal surgery for the seventh year in a row. 

“These recognitions reflect the dedication of our physicians, nurses and care teams to delivering exceptional, evidence-based care to every patient who entrusts us with their health,” said Evgenia Slavcheva, MD, chief medical officer at HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital. “Earning five-star ratings across multiple specialties, including several for consecutive years, demonstrates our sustained commitment to clinical excellence, patient safety and continuous improvement. We are proud of these achievements because, ultimately, they represent what matters most — better outcomes for the patients and families we are privileged to serve.”

HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital’s achievements are based solely on what matters most: patient outcomes. Unlike rankings based on surveys or reputation, Healthgrades evaluates hospital performance strictly on objective clinical outcomes – risk-adjusted mortality and complication rates – across more than 30 common conditions and procedures at approximately 4,500 hospitals nationwide.

The impact of choosing a high-performing hospital for your care is significant. Healthgrades’ 2027 analysis revealed that if all hospitals performed at the level of five-star rated facilities during the 2023-2025 study period, 227,229 lives could have been saved, and 158,138 complications could have been avoided.*

“Finding a hospital that excels in a given procedure or treatment can transform a patient’s health trajectory,” said Alana Biggers, MD, MPH, medical advisor at Healthgrades. “We’re proud to recognize HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital for its top-tier performance, and commend its team for delivering exceptional patient outcomes when it matters most.”

Patients and community members can visit Healthgrades’ Specialty Excellence Patient Advocate Center to learn more about how Healthgrades identifies the top-performing hospitals for specialty care.

To learn more about award-winning care at our hospital, visit HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital. 

*Statistical averages based on Healthgrades’ analysis of MedPAR data for years 2023 through 2025 and represent three-year estimates for Medicare patients only.

To learn more about how Healthgrades determines the top hospitals for specialty care, view the complete  2027 Specialty Excellence Awards and Ratings Methodology.