Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast has earned Primary Stroke Center Certification, a designation hospital leaders, first responders and community members celebrated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday, May 28.
- The certification was awarded by The Joint Commission, the American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association. The designation ensures Walton County families have access to specialized, around-the-clock stroke care close to home.
The event, coordinated with the Walton Area Chamber of Commerce, brought together local leaders, community members and medical personnel.
Data shows nearly 5% of adults in Walton County have experienced a stroke, a rate higher than the Florida state average. Between 2021 and 2023, nearly 650 local residents were hospitalized due to strokes.
When a patient experiences a stroke, a lack of blood flow deprives brain cells of vital oxygen. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a stroke occurs every 40 seconds in the United States, and an estimated 1.9 million brain cells are lost for every minute that passes without intervention.
- “When someone has a stroke, time is of the essence to ensure the best possible outcomes,” said Trey Abshier, president and CEO of Sacred Heart Emerald Coast. “Our team has taken important steps to provide access to life-saving care to everyone in our community and surrounding region.”
The hospital maintains acute stroke teams, clinical protocols and patient support systems designed to limit complications and support long-term recovery.
During the ceremony, hospital leaders recognized clinical personnel for their precision and speed in executing stroke alert protocols:
- Tracy Perk and Krisztina Matheny, emergency department nursing leaders
- Dr. Leif Skjerli, emergency department physician
- Melinda Schlosser, unit coordinator
- Clinita Jones, CT technologist
- Sonia Petrucci, pharmacist
- Will Farnham, speech pathologist
- Shannon Knight, physical therapist
- Evan Huesers, emergency department nurse
The event also highlighted local emergency medical services teams for their rapid evaluation and field transfers, which deliver patients to the hospital’s specialized intervention teams. The hospital thanked first responders who recently demonstrated coordination during a critical stroke emergency:
South Walton Fire District
- Firefighter/Paramedic Shawn Ramsey
- Firefighter/EMT Marcus Cabanas
Destin Fire Control District
- Captain Firefighter/EMT Michael Anderson
- Engineer Firefighter/Paramedic Steven Eagerton
- Firefighter/EMT Fisher Morrison
The Rev. Dr. Joseph Shimko delivered a reflection and prayer before the formal ribbon cutting and an open reception thanking the community for its support of local healthcare.
