Fort Walton Beach Medical Center has opened a new, state-of-the-art neonatal intensive care unit to care for moderately ill to high-risk newborns in need of emergency treatment. In addition, the medical center has opened a new electrophysiology lab that provides a full array of diagnostic and treatment options for patients suffering from heart rhythm irregularities.

With the $3 million Center for New Life, many newborns needing emergency care can get treatment in-house instead of being transported to a hospital in Pensacola or elsewhere for treatment. The unit can accommodate newborns with a minimum birth weight of 2 pounds, 3 ounces for 32 weeks or longer.

In addition, the neonatal unit can stabilize severely ill newborns before they are transferred to another hospital. The new center includes a neonatal ICU with 10 beds, family birthing suites, postpartum suites and a nesting room.

The Medical Center’s new $2.7 million dollar Electrophysiology ("EP") lab features the latest digital fluoroscopy, impulse stimulation and recording technology.

With the addition of the new EP lab and the recruitment to the community of Dr. Ben Naidoo, a Board Certified Cardiovascular Disease Physician with 15 years experience in Electrophysiology, The Heart Center at Fort Walton Beach Medical Center now offers its cardiac patients a full range of diagnostic and treatment options that include: catheter directed arrhythmia ablation, implantable cardioverter defibrillation, cardioversion, permanent pacemaker implantation, and cardiac resynchronization therapy.