Emergency care
Emergency medical center in Fort Walton Beach
When you need emergency care, you can depend on our compassionate, skilled emergency room (ER) team.
At HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital, our board-certified ER physicians and nurses provide 24/7 care for all ages. We have a pediatric ER dedicated to treating infants, children and adolescents.
First Responder Award
HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital and HCA Florida Twin Cities Hospital will select two First Responders of the Quarter (one from each hospital).
HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital and HCA Florida Twin Cities Hospital will select two First Responders of the Quarter (one from each hospital).
Related specialties
Learn more about our related specialties.
Our emergency care services
Our main campus ER, in addition to our two freestanding ERs in Destin and Navarre, provides a wide range of services and has developed systems to aid in your triage, treatment and stabilization.
Features of our ER
Unique features of our ER include 24/7 care from board-certified emergency physicians and emergency-trained team members. We also offer:
- 44 treatment rooms
- Dedicated radiology room
- Psychiatric treatment center
- Rooftop helipad
Emergency stroke treatment
When you are experiencing a stroke, every second counts. Our facility's team will provide you and your loved ones with the highest level of stroke care possible. Our stroke treatment services earned our facility the distinction as an Advanced Primary Stroke Center from The Joint Commission, one of the leading healthcare accreditation organizations in the nation.
Pediatric ER
We provide a pediatric ER separate from the hospital's main ER. This specialized unit is equipped with pediatric instruments for children of all ages.
We understand bringing a sick or injured child to the ER can be stressful — for both you and your child. Our staff is trained in pediatric emergency care, and our physicians provide high-quality care when it matters most. Our family-friendly pediatric ER features:
- Games, coloring books and teddy bears to calm and comfort your child during their time in the ER
- Less harsh medications, such as nitrous oxide as a sedation medication, if your child qualifies
- Physicians and nurses with special training and expertise in pediatric care
Trauma center
We are designed as a Level II Trauma Center by the Florida Department of Health, meaning we are uniquely qualified to care for traumatic wounds and injuries. We are prepared to offer emergency care treatment to life-threatening injuries and traumatic accidents 24/7. We also provide immediate access to trauma surgeons.
Frequently asked questions
To best help you, we have consolidated a list of answers to common questions we receive about our emergency care.
Are there other ER locations available?
When you need emergency care in, you can visit one of our freestanding ERs, HCA Florida Destin Emergency and HCA Florida Navarre Emergency.
Freestanding ERs offer the same compassionate, expert-level care you expect at our main hospital. Both locations offer:
- Adult and pediatric emergency care
- Certified emergency physicians and nurses
- Comprehensive laboratory services
- Diagnostic imaging on-site
When should I visit the ER?
We understand it can be difficult to know whether you should go to the ER or wait for your doctor's office to open. However, we want you to feel secure about your choice for care.
There are a wide range of symptoms that may indicate you need to visit the ER, including:
- Back pain
- Broken bones
- Chest pain
- Concussion
- Flu
- Side pain
- Stomach pain
- Trouble breathing
If you are unsure if your symptoms require an ER visit, you can speak to a nurse 24/7 by calling our Consult-A-Nurse® team at (844) 706-8773.
What should I expect at the ER?
When you get to the ER, one of our triage nurses will medically screen, evaluate and stabilize you to assess your symptoms and vital signs. Next, a registration clerk will collect your insurance card (if available) and other information.
If you have a severe, life-threatening illness or injury, you will be treated first. Otherwise, you will be treated in the order you arrive.
Before discharge, we encourage you to ask our emergency care teams any questions you have. It is also useful for you to keep all of your paperwork, discharge information and medicines or prescriptions together after you leave the ER.
After discharge, our emergency department staff will reach out to your primary care provider to ensure they are updated on your care.
What should I bring to the ER?
When coming to the ER, we recommend you bring:
- A list of known allergies
- A list of medicines you currently take
- A responsible adult or phone number for someone to contact
- Copies of results from recent medical tests, if available
- Personal care preferences and restrictions
How do I stay updated on ER wait times?
When it comes to emergency services, our goal is to continually work toward enhancing the care you receive, while reducing our wait times. This ensures you get the support you need, when you need it most.
Our wait times are updated every 30 minutes and are available on our website.
To find out the wait times of the HCA Florida ER nearest to you, check the top of our website or text "ER" to 32222.
Note: Message and data rates may apply. ER wait times are approximate and provided for informational purposes only.
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