Most healthcare professionals will tell you patients are what motivates them. Christy Cleveland would agree. As a nurse for almost 40 years, Cleveland works tirelessly for her patients at Community Healthcare System.
“As a health and wellness nurse coordinator, I work to help people stay well,” Cleveland said.
Cleveland is based at Valparaiso Family YMCA, which has a partnership with Community Healthcare System's St. Mary Medical Center.
Using an open-door policy at the Valparaiso YMCA, Cleveland and her team provide nutrition and wellness resources for each patient.
“If I can help people learn about making better food choices, that’s a huge help,” Cleveland said. “Just cooking with different ingredients at home not only saves a lot of money, but it helps with nutrition, cholesterol and heart disease risk factors.”
A large part of Cleveland's work involves leading the Ask a Nurse program. Through this service, people can talk to Cleveland about a variety of topics, including blood pressure management, atrial fibrillation detection, healthy eating, diabetes information and more.
“'We develop programs that help the community,” Cleveland said. “People stop in for any kind of health question, and I can get the answers for them.”
Cleveland offers patients resources for total wellness.
“In our lifestyle coaching, we discuss metabolic rate testing and help a person decide where he or she needs to be calorie-wise,” Cleveland said.
Simple decisions like this can provide a wide range of benefits.
“Picking the right fuel that corrects the calorie range supports long-term health,” she said. “Whether it's to address diabetes, heart disease or weight loss, we have a lot of great resources within our healthcare system.”
Throughout her long career, Cleveland has used her creativity and whole-body approach to provide the best support.
Community Healthcare System provides free events, creates community support and exists in a culture of service.
“Community Healthcare System is a nonprofit provider,” Cleveland said. “Every three years, we conduct a health needs assessment to ensure that we base the education programs and screenings on what the community needs and wants.”
The thought of helping people drove Cleveland into nursing as early as high school.
“I’ve always enjoyed helping people,” she said. “I started as a nursing aide in a nursing home before I got into college and saw the work firsthand.”
Cleveland hopes the healthy-lifestyle support she gives patients provides long-term effects.
“'The medical partnership with the YMCA has been so positive,” she said. “By working together and developing these programs, we give people the tools they need to make crucial, lifelong health changes. That's why I want to do this – to give back to the community."
In her free time, Cleveland enjoys crafting, exercising outdoors and spending time with loved ones.
To learn more about Community Healthcare System and its health and wellness nurses, visit COMHS.org.
