A Destin native has launched a new pediatric concierge service that brings medical care directly to families’ homes across Okaloosa County and the surrounding 30A community.

• Samantha Beard, a board-certified pediatric nurse practitioner, opened Salt & Sun Pediatric Concierge to provide in-home medical services for children up to age 18. The service covers Destin, Santa Rosa Beach, Fort Walton Beach, Freeport, Panama City Beach and surrounding areas. 

“I want to get out of the office, I want to get into people’s homes,” Beard said. “I really want to take medical care back to what it used to be, so that’s how this vision was born.”

Beard returned to the area about four years ago with her husband after spending time away to pursue her nursing career. She said she always planned to return to raise her family in the community where she received her own pediatric care from Dr. Calvin Blount, who still practices in the area. 

“I knew I wanted to get away and experience life a little bit, but this place has my soul,” Beard said. “So I knew that I would always return to raise my family.”

After working various roles that required long commutes, including a two-hour daily drive each way to Pensacola while living in Santa Rosa Beach, Beard sought a way to serve her immediate community more directly.

Beard, who graduated from Fort Walton Beach High School in 2009, spent eight years as a pediatric nurse before earning her Master’s degree at the University of South Alabama. Six of her nursing years were at Stanford Children’s Hospital in Palo Alto, California. She has worked as a nurse practitioner for four years, including roles in pediatric orthopedics with Ascension Children’s Hospital in Pensacola, alongside a pediatric gastroenterologist in Panama City, and most recently with White Wilson Medical Center in the Destin area. 

• The concierge model allows Beard to conduct well-child visits, sports physicals and sick visits in patients’ homes. Services include comprehensive physical exams, developmental milestone assessments, behavioral consultations and various testing procedures including flu, COVID-19, RSV and strep tests. 

Beard partners with Health Tracks, a company that provides comprehensive overnight testing. She can perform testing in the home and receive results the next day for conditions affecting ears, throats, urine and stool samples.

The practice also offers telehealth services for situations that don’t require in-person visits. Parents can text or call for consultation on minor issues like rashes or conditions they’ve dealt with before. Within 48 hours, Beard provides follow-up communication to ensure treatment is progressing properly. 

• “I try to cover everything to make convenience and practical, patient-centered care, the goal,” Beard said.

Salt & Sun Pediatric Concierge operates outside traditional insurance models, instead offering transparent pricing listed on the practice website. Beard provides “super bills” that patients can submit to insurance companies for potential reimbursement. The practice offers discounts for military families, first responders and siblings, along with membership options. 

Beard charges a $25 travel fee for appointments beyond a 20-mile radius from her base location in Santa Rosa Beach. 

The practice maintains flexible scheduling that accommodates parents’ needs. Beard recently worked with a mother whose daughter was napping during a scheduled appointment, allowing multiple 30-minute delays to accommodate the child’s sleep schedule. The practice is designed to be adaptable to families’ daily routines and unexpected situations.

“If I am awake, I am going to answer my phone,” Beard said. “I want parents to know that’s my goal. I am open all the time, even on the weekends. Most things, on the weekends, can be done over the phone or by text. I’m pretty big on jumping on a call and talking it through to see what’s going on. I’m definitely doing visits on the weekends and after hours. I want to fill that need in the community where parents aren’t stuck going to the ER for something as simple as an ear infection, even if it’s Sunday at 10 a.m.”

• Parents can schedule appointments without previous visits to the practice. Beard said she frequently sees vacationing families and patients who cannot get timely appointments with their regular pediatricians.

Regarding vaccinations, Beard takes a neutral approach. The practice does not stock vaccines but offers counseling and guidance for parents who choose to vaccinate their children. Beard emphasized that she sees all children regardless of vaccination status. 

“I truly believe that parents know their children best,” Beard said. “My approach is centered on working with families — respecting your choices, listening to your concerns, and creating care plans that prioritize gentle, effective treatment.”

Beard describes her medical philosophy as blending functional and modern medicine to provide evidence-based yet holistic care when appropriate.

Families can contact Salt & Sun Pediatric Concierge through the business phone at 850-303-6797, the website here, or through social media platforms including Instagram and Facebook.