treatment guidelines for stroke patients through 
the American Heart Association/American Stroke 
Association’s Get With The Guidelines®–Stroke 
quality improvement program.

Fort Walton Beach Medical Center, a Gold Plus 

level recipient, is among 1,186 hospitals receiving 
a Get With the Guidelines–Stroke award this year. 
More than 1,300 hospitals received awards for their 
achievements in heart, stroke and resuscitation care. 
All recipients are featured in a special advertisement 
in the 2016 issue of U.S. News & World Report’s 
“America’s Best Hospitals.”

Get With The Guidelines is a hospital-based 

quality improvement program created to ensure 
hospitals consistently care for heart and stroke 
patients using the most up-to-date guidelines and 
recommendations.

With Get With the Guidelines–Stroke treatment 

guidelines, stroke patients are started on aggressive 
therapies and medications that can help improve 
patient care and outcomes. Hospitals must follow 
these measures at a set level for a designated period of 
time to be eligible for the achievement awards.

Published scientifi c studies provide evidence 

that adhering to Get With The Guidelines quality 
measures can result in better patient outcomes, 
including increased survival.

Fort Walton Beach Medical Center also made 

the Target: Stroke Honor Roll for ensuring at least 
50 percent of eligible stroke patients get prompt 
treatment to restore blood fl ow to the brain within 
60 minutes of arriving at the hospital — critical to 
limiting stroke damage.

 “We are proud that the American Heart 

Association/American Stroke Association has chosen 
the ‘America’s Best Hospitals’ issue of U.S. News 
& World Report to recognize Fort Walton Beach 
Medical Center for our achievements in their quality 
improvement programs,” said Denise Kendust, 
Director of Marketing.  “Get With The Guidelines 
gives our healthcare team the tools to enhance the 
treatment and care of our patients.”     

Making a Splash- 100% Handicap Aquatic 
Center 

The Arc of the Emerald Coast is making a splash 

with the regions only aquatic center for persons with 
disabilities. Through a grant awarded to The Arc 
of the Emerald Coast from Impact 100, Northwest 
Florida, this will be the only therapeutic pool built 
for the use of those with intellectual, developmental 
and physical disabilities. Included in this fl agship 
Aquatic Center will also be an Early Intervention and 
Education Center, thanks to the funds from Destin 
Charity Wine Auction Foundation. The Impact 100 
Aquatic Center has a zero entry layout with chair lifts 
and fully accessible dressing area and bathrooms. The 
Impact 100 Aquatic Center will be connected with 
DCWA Early Intervention Center, serving children 
and families 0-3 years of age, which will offer early 
intervention offi ces, a dietary education area and a 
large education room. 

Construction of the Aquatic Center has been 

underway since October 2016 and is diligently 
underway to open by spring of 2017.  

For more information about this program or how you 

can contribute, please contact The Arc of the Emerald 
Coast at 850-863-1530. 

US News and World Report Recognizes
Fort Walton Beach Medical Center for 
Excellent Stroke Care 

Fort Walton Beach Medical Center has been 

recognized for implementing the latest research-based 

Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa 
Honored with ConventionSouth’s Annual 
Readers’ Choice Award

Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa is 

the proud recipient of the 2016 ConventionSouth 
Readers’ Choice Award.  This is the seventh time the 
resort has received this honor. Previous years include 
1999, 2000, 2005, 2006, 2012 and 2013.

 “We are thrilled ConventionSouth readers have 

nominated and voted Hilton Sandestin Beach as one 
of the best meeting sites in the South,” said Gary 
Brielmayer, Hilton Sandestin Beach general manager. 
“The value in receiving this prestigious recognition 
is that it comes from top meeting professionals 
demanding the highest level of customer service 
and quality facilities, and they have determined 
Hilton Sandestin Beach displays the commitment 
to professionalism, creativity and service that they 
desire.”

Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa is 

among 250 convention and visitor bureaus (CVBs), 
meeting facilities and hotels located across the 
South to receive this year’s Readers’ Choice Award. 
Throughout the year, meeting professionals 
nominated the meeting sites they believe provide 
exemplary service for group events. The nominated 
properties were then compiled into an online ballot 
where meeting professionals were asked to vote for the 
best of the best. More than 4,000 voters participated 
this year in the selection process.

In addition to its more than 40,000 square feet 

of indoor meeting space, stunning gulf views and 
beautiful beachfront location, Hilton Sandestin Beach 
offers an array of amenities to create the ideal meeting 
experience, including award-winning restaurants, 
luxurious spa and fi tness center, recreational activities 
such as golf and tennis and miles of sugar white sandy 
beaches. 

For more information on Hilton Sandestin Beach, 

visit HiltonSandestinBeach.com.

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