Health Services & Education

Visitors from all over the United States have returned to the area to enjoy life as permanent residents of the community, contributing their diverse philosophies to the atmosphere that makes this an interesting and delightful place in which to live and work. Niceville-Valparaiso-Bay Area is the chosen home of citizens from all over the world and all walks of life. There’s a feeling of friendliness and well-being among the residents of the Bay Area.

Health Care

Twin Cities Hospital - Twin Cities Hospital - is a 65-bed general acute care facility that is currently ranked in the top 10% of all HCA Hospitals for patient satisfaction. They are a full-service medical facility with the exception of Obstetrics; offering a physician staffed 24-hour emergency room, EEG/EKG, C.T. Scanner, Stereotactic Breast Biopsy Machine, Intensive Care/Coronary Care Unit, Nuclear Medicine and a new Cath Lab along with complete Outpatient Services, and a state-of-the-art Open MRI. The Women’s Health and Imaging Center provides a warm, comfortable environment for mammography and bone density screening. Twin Cities Hospital offers a full range of rehabilitative services including physical and occupational therapy, pain management, industrial wellness and hand therapy. An extensive expansion of the operating rooms is underway with an anticipated completion date of August 2006. Destin and South Walton residents are provided quality medical care by Twin Cities Medical Clinic of Destin. Twin Cities Hospital has the only hospital based Wellness Center offering community programs including Safe Sitter, Aerobics, Youth Wellness, Heart Smart Cooking Classes, Diabetes Management, Stop Smoking, Stress Management, Weight Loss and programs on current health issues. The Wellness Center also houses the Twin Cities Diabetes Education Center, Pulmonary and Cardiac Rehabilitation Programs and provides a free physician referral service. Twin Cities Hospital coordinates services to employers whose employees utilize the emergency room for on-the-job injuries. Also offered is H2U, a program for seniors that provides special benefits to those individuals who are 50 and over. The hospital and wellness center are located on a 17-acre site at Highway 85 North and College Boulevard in Niceville. (678-4131)

Fort Walton Beach Medical Center - Fort Walton Beach Medical Center - the Tri-County’s only full service acute care hospital, has 247 licensed beds and a medical staff of over 200 physicians representing over 30 specialties. The Heart Center at Fort Walton Beach Medical Center is the only comprehensive cardiovascular program in the Tri-County area. The Heart Center provides the latest and most advanced treatments in cardiac care including: beating heart surgery, endoscopic vein harvesting, and cardiac catheterization with coronary angioplasty and stenting. The Vascular Center at Fort Walton Beach Medical Center offers today’s technologically advanced treatments for
peripheral and carotid artery disease The Cancer Care Center at Fort Walton Beach Medical Center is a dedicated 33 private room Oncology Unit that offers the areas only comprehensive cancer care program. In addition to its Medical/Surgical,
Obstetrics/Women’s, Rehabilitation, and Psychiatric inpatient units, the Medical Center has four critical care units: a 6 bed Cardiovascular ICU, a 10 bed CCU, a 13 bed ICU, and a 33 bed Progressive Care Unit. The Medical Center’s full range of diagnostic imaging includes the area’s highest field strength MRI and the Tri-County’s only fixed PET/CT, for diagnosing cancer staging and Alzheimer’s disease,
and 64 Slice CT, the most technologically advanced diagnostic imaging system for cardiovascular disease. Other outpatient services include a same day surgery center, two cardiac catheterization labs, and outpatient cardiac, pulmonary, occupational, speech and physical therapies. Fort Walton Beach Medical Center operates Express Care for minor emergencies from 10am to 10pm daily and a 22-bed ER for 24-hour emergency care. 1000 Mar Walt Drive, Fort Walton Beach (862-1111) www.fwbmc.com

North Okaloosa Medical Center - North Okaloosa Medical Center – offers quality health care to 290,000 residents of the Emerald Coast region of Florida’s panhandle. The 110-bed facility is fully accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, and has a medical staff of more than 75 active physicians. In a recently released health-care industry study, North Okaloosa Medical Center was named as one of the nation’s 100 Top Hospitals, achieving excellence in the category of mid-sized community hospitals. The recognition was given due to North Okaloosa Medical Center’s quality of care, efficiency of operations and sustainability of overall performance. As a full-service facility, North Okaloosa Medical Center features 24-hour emergency care, “Caring for Kids” pediatric suites, same day surgery and outpatient care, advanced pulmonary care, physical therapy and rehabilitation services, broad-based diagnostic services including on-site CT and MRI capabilities, cardiac services, senior wellness programs, and an on-site clinical laboratory. North Okaloosa Medical Center is also well known in the community for its “Especially for Women” healthcare program, which features specialized education services, breast cancer screening programs, and newly remodeled Labor and Delivery suites. (689-8100) www.northokaloosa.com

Nursing and Extended Care Facilities

Sterling House - a 42-resident facility in Bluewater Bay boasts beautifully landscaped grounds and decorated interiors. The spacious apartments each have a kitchen area and are fully accessible for the handicapped. The center focuses on a family type atmosphere where couples and pets are welcome. The staff activity director organizes many day trips and outings, as well as in-house events. Volunteers are welcome. (729-3323)

The Manor at Bluewater Bay - The Manor at Bluewater Bay - offering an excellent home-like environment for long or short term living and rehabilitation. The Manor provides the perfect combination of caring, through a highly trained and compassionate staff, and commitment to the health and well being of its residents. The Manor is certified for Medicare and Medicaid as well as accommodations for the private paying resident. Services include 24-hour nursing care, social services, a variety of activities, and specialized Alzheimer’s/Dementia living arrangements. The Manor has an exemplary rehabilitation program. Our in-house therapy department specializes in orthopedic rehabilitation and stroke recovery. Quality care is demonstrated through the happiness and contentment of our customers. (897-5592)

Westwood Retirement Resort - is a private apartment community for seniors who live independently in the privacy of their own apartment for an affordable monthly rent. Everyday services include meals in an elegant dining room, housekeeping, maintenance, transportation and 24-hour security. There are social, recreational and educational opportunities available daily. Westwood apartments surround a six-story temperature-controlled garden atrium, and the community offers a heated swimming pool, library, hair salon, exercise room and much more. The Westwood family also includes Crystal Bay Senior Living where residents receive a helping hand in getting around the community, medication supervision and personal care in addition to an elegant lifestyle. There is also a comfortable secure Memory Care area with a trained staff to assist loved ones with all of their needs. The Westwood Health Care Center is fully equipped to meet your needs, whether it is for short-term rehabilitation or long-term care. We are a 60-bed skilled nursing facility which also offers comprehensive on-site therapy skills including Physical Therapy, Speech and Language Pathology and Occupational Therapy. The Westwood family treats every resident like a member of our own family. (850-863-5174 or 800-595-8846)

Education

Elementary Schools, grades K-5 - the four area schools and the two serving Eglin Air Force Base serve approximately 3200 students. An extensive array of curriculum is offered to students, including various exceptional educational programs. The Florida Department of Education recognized all four area elementary schools, Bluewater, Edge, Plew and Valparaiso as A+ schools in 2005. Oak Hill and Cherokee Elementary on Eglin Air Force Base also received A and A+ ratings, respectively from the Florida Department of Education in 2005.

Middle Schools, grades 6-9 - the two area schools offer curriculum carefully designed to meet the unique needs of the middle level student. In addition to the mathematics, language arts, social studies and science courses taught, electives and programs are offered in the areas of fitness, web design, reading, drama, art, music, foreign language, technology and computer literacy. Students at Ruckel may take courses for high school credit, taught on the middle school campus. Ruckel is also recognized as a National Blue-Ribbon School of Excellence. Lewis Middle School offers a “Success For All” curriculum with high school credit courses, accelerated and enhancement courses. School wide focus in reading, an outstanding performing arts program, and widespread student involvement in the full range of athletics enable every child to be successful in the county's smallest middle school. Together the middle schools serve over 1,500 students. Both schools received the A+ in 2005 from the Florida Department of Education.

High School, grades 9-12 - Niceville High School is an institution which emphasizes a rigorous program of study complemented by extensive co-curricular opportunities that combine to prepare students to be happy, productive and successful life-time learners. Serving over 2,300 students in grades 9-12, the staff works diligently to insure that our students can confidently take their places in the demanding society of the twenty-first century. Niceville High School is a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence, A New American High School, and an A+ recipient for three consecutive years from the Florida Department of Education.

Rocky Bayou Christian School (RBCS) - is accredited by Florida Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (FACCS). The primary campus (K3-12) is located in Niceville and a satellite campus (K3-6) is located in Fort Walton Beach. We prepare children to engage the world through a program that emphasizes academic excellence, leadership development, and Christian character. RBCS has the highest average College SAT scores in the area and the class of 2004 earned over $1.4 million in scholarships. The girl’s soccer team and boy’s baseball team won district championships. RBCS has a nationally recognized band program that includes beginners, marching, and symphonic bands.

The Rocky Bayou Christian School (RBCS) Home Study Assistance Program (HSAP) is designed to support parents who want to provide a Christ-centered education at home for children in Grades K-12. Our Special Services Program is accredited by the National Institute for Learning Disabilities (NILD). We help each student to meet their God-given potential.

Okaloosa-Walton College (OWC) - is an accredited public institution which offers bachelor's degrees, associate degrees and occupational certificates in a wide variety of academic and technical disciplines. OWC serves more than 15,000 students annually at six full-time campuses and centers. Collegecredit, non-credit, adult basic education, professional development, retirement learning, GED preparation and testing, and continuing education are offered in both day and evening classes. In addition to the 265-acre Niceville campus, OWC operates a joint campus with the University of West Florida in Ft. Walton Beach and centers in Crestview, DeFuniak Springs, Eglin AFB and Hurlburt Field. The Arts Center at the OWC Niceville campus offers instructional facilities for students of the visual, musical and theatrical arts. (678-5111) www.owc.edu

OWC Collegiate High School - The Collegiate High School at Okaloosa- Walton College is a public charter school of the Okaloosa County School District. The school is free of charge and allows students in grades 10-12 the opportunity to earn a high school diploma and a transferable college degree at the same time through full-time study at the OWC Niceville Campus. The school is consistently one of the highest scoring “A” schools in the entire state. For more information please visit www.owcollegiatehigh.org. (729-4949)