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Hospital raises concerns that EMS transports bypass North Walton facility; county to request run‑report data
Summary
Representatives of North Walton Doctors Hospital told the Board that local EMS transports dropped after a freestanding ED opened elsewhere and asked the county to obtain patient‑care/transport data to verify whether transports are being diverted from the closest appropriate hospital.
Hospital leaders told the Walton County Board on April 14 that ambulance destinations in some cases do not reflect the closest appropriate hospital and asked the county to review transport records.
John Ward and Eric Fischer of North Walton Doctors Hospital and other medical staff described data showing a sharp drop in EMS transports to the county hospital after a freestanding emergency facility opened elsewhere in the county. Ward said the hospital’s internal tracking indicated that before the freestanding ED opened, Walton County EMS brought 40–50 patients per month to North Walton; after the new facility opened, transports to North Walton dropped to about 20 per month while the new clinic received more than 80 transports in the same period.
Hospital representatives said their internal records show most patients taken to the freestanding facility were later transferred offsite for full hospital care; they said that pattern suggests the closest hospital (North Walton) was not being used for patients who needed hospital‑level treatment. The hospital asked that Walton County Fire Rescue produce EMS patient‑care reports so the county and hospital can verify whether destination decisions reflect patient choice or operational practice.
County staff told commissioners they will ask EMS for run‑report data and documentation of transport destination decisions. County counsel and the county administrator said existing policy directs crews to the “closest appropriate facility,” and commissioners asked staff to compile the data and return with findings and recommended next steps.
Hospital representatives warned that if the documentation shows systematic diversion from the closest capable facility, the issue could affect patient care and local hospital viability; they asked for transparent, auditable data showing destination reasons (patient preference, clinical need, or operational constraints).
What the board requested: Staff to ask Walton County Fire Rescue and EMS leadership to provide patient‑care/run‑report records and to present findings to the board so commissioners can determine whether policy, training or operational changes are needed.
