Northwest Florida & Big Bend Health Councils The Northwest Florida Health Council is a private, non-profit health planning organization serving Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Walton counties since 1969. The Council is governed by twenty-one concerned citizens who are appointed by the fourteen county commissions of the service area. The Council members are health leaders within their communities. They either provide or purchase health care for large segments of the community, or they are interested, active, and concerned consumers. The Council shares a staff of health planning professionals with the Big Bend Health Council, as well as a central office located in Panama City.