Laurie Beam, APRN
Laurie Beam, APRN, is a dual-certified Family and Acute Care Nurse Practitioner specializing in emergency and cardiovascular medicine in Arkansas and Oklahoma. She currently serves as an inpatient Cardiology Nurse Practitioner at Mercy Hospital Fort Smith while continuing her work in emergency medicine across the region. With 17 years of nursing experience and five years as a nurse practitioner, Laurie is board-certified as an Emergency Nurse Practitioner (ENP-BC) and holds a postgraduate cardiovascular subspecialty certification. Her advanced procedural training includes intubation, central line placement, lumbar puncture, and comprehensive acute care management, reflecting the depth and versatility of her clinical expertise.
Laurie earned her Master of Science in Nursing from University of South Alabama, where she completed focused preparation for FNP-BC, AGACNP-BC, ENP-BC, and CVNP-BC certifications. Her background includes hospitalist practice, emergency department leadership, and experience as a Legal Nurse Consultant providing medical record review and clarification for legal cases. Whether managing high-acuity cardiovascular patients or stabilizing emergencies in fast-paced ER settings, Laurie is known for her clinical confidence, decisiveness, and commitment to evidence-based care.
Most recently, Laurie launched Summit HealthLink, a telemedicine practice created to address the healthcare gaps she witnessed in her rural community. Living in an area where patients often drive over an hour for minor medical concerns, she developed a model focused on accessible, patient-centered virtual care—bringing treatment closer to home for families, farmers, and seasonal workers. Her mission is rooted in service: reducing unnecessary emergency room visits, improving local access to quality care, and creating a sustainable work-life balance while continuing to serve her neighbors with compassion and expertise.
• University of South Alabama - Master of Science - MS, Nurse Practitioner
• The University of Texas at Arlington - Bachelor's Degree, Emergency Room/Trauma Nursing
• University of Central Oklahoma - Bachelor of Science (BS), Pre-Medicine/Pre-Medical Studies
• OSU-OKC - Associate of Science (A.S.), Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse
• FNP
• AGACNP
• ENP
• CVNP
Areas of Specialization/Expertise
- Emergency Department
- Inpatient Cardiovascular
- Telemedicine
What do you enjoy most about practicing medicine?
What I enjoy most is being able to help people in my rural community get the care they need without having to drive an hour to a hospital for minor issues. I live in the middle of nowhere where the healthcare system is pretty poor, and people can't get in to see their primary care physician. They would come to the emergency room in the middle of the night, in a blizzard, for a rash, risking their family's safety just to get a prescription. I took all of that knowledge over the years and thought, why don't I do something about it? So I started my telemedicine business to provide something for the locals here, to bring services closer to home to help my neighbors. I also reach out to local farmers, offering to come out to their sites to treat seasonal workers with injuries. My patients have told me this is really easy and a whole lot easier than going to their doctor. That's what keeps me going - making healthcare accessible and helping people get better.
Locations
Summit Health Link
Lexa, AR 72355