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HCA Fort Walton-Destin Hospital earns top national heart surgery rating for fifth time

The hospital received a three-star rating from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, placing it among the top 22% of nearly 1,000 facilities evaluated.
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HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital has achieved a three-star rating from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons for the fifth consecutive time for its performance in isolated Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting procedures.

  • The three-star rating is the highest accolade bestowed by STS and places the hospital among the top performers of the facilities analyzed for the period ending June 25, 2025. Within the STS database, only 22% of those providing isolated CABG procedures achieved the coveted three-star rating out of nearly 1,000 facilities evaluated.

“Our team earning the prestigious three-star STS rating for the fifth consecutive time is a monumental achievement that speaks volumes about the quality care that they provide,” said KC Donahey, CEO of HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital. “For our community, this means one thing — they do not have to travel far for the highest quality of care. They can get it right here at home.”

STS bases its ratings on quality process measures and outcomes measures. The hospital’s Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery program has exhibited steady and continuous improvement in various key metrics, reinforcing its standing as a leader in the field.

“To achieve this rating five times in a row is proof of our team’s unparalleled level of talent, procedural discipline, and coordinated teamwork,” said Dr. Jean-Luc Delafontaine, cardiothoracic surgeon at HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital. “This sustained level of excellence means we are continually delivering superior outcomes for our patients and giving our community the absolute best chance at a long and healthy life.”

HCA Florida Healthcare is the state’s largest cardiovascular network and connects patients to a full spectrum of heart, lung and vascular treatments and services.

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