HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital earns top award from
American College of Cardiology
~Hospital earns excellence in quality of percutaneous coronary intervention~
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FORT WALTON BEACH, FLA. – July 9, 2025 - HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital has been recognized with the American College of Cardiology's (ACC) 3-Star PCI Award, a prestigious national distinction recognizing hospitals that demonstrate excellence in the quality and safety of percutaneous coronary intervention, commonly known as coronary angioplasty.
The ACC 3-Star PCI Award recognizes cardiovascular programs that consistently meet or exceed rigorous national standards for evidence-based care, patient safety and clinical outcomes. The designation is based on performance data submitted through the ACC CathPCI Registry®, one of the nation's leading quality improvement programs for cardiovascular care.
"This recognition reflects our team's unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional cardiovascular care to every patient who entrusts us with their health," said KC Donahey, chief executive officer of HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital. "Our physicians, nurses and colleagues work together every day to provide safe, high-quality, evidence-based care for patients experiencing serious heart conditions. Earning the ACC's 3-Star PCI Award is a testament to their dedication and to our ongoing commitment to clinical excellence."
The ACC evaluates participating programs using nationally recognized performance measures that assess risk-adjusted in-hospital mortality, appropriate use of percutaneous coronary intervention procedures, delivery of defect-free, guideline-directed care and adherence to evidence-based practices before, during and after the procedures. Hospitals earning the 3-Star PCI Award demonstrate sustained excellence in providing safe, effective treatment for patients requiring coronary interventions.
"Every minute matters when treating patients with blocked coronary arteries," said Dr. John Dudley, interventional cardiologist at HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital. "Receiving this recognition from the American College of Cardiology reflects our team's commitment to delivering timely, evidence-based care while continuously measuring and improving our outcomes. Most importantly, it represents better care and better outcomes for the patients and families we serve."
As part of HCA Healthcare, one of the nation's leading providers of healthcare services, HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital continues to invest in advanced cardiovascular technology, highly trained clinicians and quality improvement initiatives to improve outcomes for patients across Okaloosa County and the surrounding region.
As the state’s largest cardiovascular network, HCA Florida Healthcare connects patients to a full spectrum of heart, lung and vascular treatments and services. For more details about HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital, visit our website.
Pictured: Celebration was held July 9th at HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital Cath Lab. In photo, centered is Dr. Dudley, his Cath Lab team and hospital leadership.
Additional comments from Dr. John Dudley –
“When I look at our 3-star PCI rating, I don’t see an award—I see the people behind it. I see a team that shows up every day committed to giving our patients the very best care we can. That’s what I’m most proud of.”
“From the beginning, my goal has been to build a catheterization lab where excellence is the standard. I’ve been fortunate to help lead that effort, but this recognition belongs to the entire team. No physician achieves a 3-star program alone. It takes trust, preparation, accountability, and a group of people who genuinely care about one another and about the patients who place their lives in our hands.”
“What excites me most isn’t what we’ve already accomplished, it’s what comes next. Healthcare continues to evolve, and our responsibility is to keep pushing ourselves to raise the bar. If we stay committed to putting patients first and never become satisfied with where we are today, I believe our best work is still ahead of us.”
Comments from Dr. Anthony Al-Dehney –
“Over the years, we strive building a very strong cardiovascular program, delivering high-
quality care with great outcomes to our community and patients. For the future, we will continue relentless pursuit of excellence to provide the best care for our patients.”
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About HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital
HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital is a 331-bed full-service hospital. It is the only Level II Trauma Center in the Tri-County Area, with nearly 200 highly respected and qualified physicians. For women and children services, we have the area's only in-house midwifery program. Its expanded emergency services include 24/7 HCA Florida Destin Emergency, 24/7 HCA Florida Navarre Emergency, and the full-service 24/7 HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Emergency. It is the only acute care hospital in the Tri-County area that offers open heart surgery, an Accredited Advanced Primary Stroke Center, an Accredited Chest Pain Center, and a Cancer Care Center that is accredited by the Commission on Cancer and an Associate of the UAB Birmingham Health System Cancer Community Network. HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital is the only inpatient acute care rehab facility in the tri-county area – HCA Florida Northwest Rehabilitation Center, located in Destin, Florida.
About HCA Florida Healthcare
HCA Florida Healthcare, a part of HCA Healthcare, is one of Florida’s leading healthcare networks. Its 11,200 physicians and 80,000 colleagues work together to deliver evidence-based, collaborative care through nearly 12.8 million patient encounters annually. With more than 670 connected care sites—including hospitals, physician practices, urgent care centers and freestanding emergency rooms—across the state, HCA Florida Healthcare helps expand access to the specialized care patients need. HCA Florida Healthcare hospitals are annually recognized for excellence in patient experience and clinical outcomes, including three facilities ranked in the top 2% nationally for overall clinical excellence. A leader in healthcare education, HCA Florida Healthcare supports the next generation of healthcare workers through its 153 graduate medical education programs across 29 hospitals. In 2025, the network provided more than $1.1 billion in uncompensated care and contributed more than $3.5 million to community organizations across the state. Visit HCAFloridaHealthcare.com.
