At a press conference held on August 16, representatives from St. Joe/Arvida and Sacred Heart Health System announced plans for the construction of a hospital in Santa Rosa Beach. Patrick Madden, President and CEO of Sacred Heart Health System, said that they recognized a need for better, more convenient health care in the area and that a letter of intent to seek a certificate of need has been filed with the state.

The $25 million proposed facility will be capable of handling 24-hour emergency care, in-patient and ambulatory surgical procedures, physical therapy, laboratory and X-ray diagnostic services. It will have 30 beds initially, which can be expanded to a 60-bed facility later.

Madden stressed Sacred Heart's commitment to the project and their intent to keep services local. Some procedures however, such as open heart surgery, will continue to be handled in their Pensacola facility.

James Rester, President of St. Joe/Arvida in West Florida, and Chris Corr, Vice President of Public Affairs for Arvida, echoed their commitment to the project. Corr said that Arvida is just beginning a 10-year development program and early on identified the need of such a health care facility in the area to service the growing population of southern Walton County and Destin. He added that St. Joe/Arvida partnered with the well-respected Sacred Heart and will contribute a 35 acre parcel of land as a starting point for the project. The two primary sites under consideration are on Highway 98, one at the intersection of Mack Bayou Road and the other near the western 30-A intersection.

When asked about the time frame for the project, Madden explained that the facility could be open within 2 to 3 years. The process has already been in the works for about a year and a half and discussions with high ranking state officials have been going well, he added.

An informational meeting to discuss the project is planned for September.