Caring Beyond the Clinic: Chronic Care Team Spotlight 

Sheila Young

Sheila Young, LPN, has been a devoted nurse with Ozarks Healthcare for an incredible 38 years. Serving as the Chronic Care Management (CCM) nurse at Ozarks Healthcare in Thayer, Sheila is dedicated to helping patients stay healthy, independent, and informed, often going above and beyond to provide guidance and support.

Sheila’s day often begins with a phone call or visit from a CCM patient, addressing needs ranging from medication refills to questions about recent specialist visits or emergency room care.

“I tell my patients I’m their private nurse - I just don’t come into their home,” Sheila said. She works closely with patients to schedule appointments, coordinate medications, and connect them with resources like pill packing, diabetic supplies, incontinence items, and even food assistance.

A lifelong resident of the area, Sheila has cared for generations of patients, including many she first met at Ozarks Healthcare’s former clinic in Mammoth Spring when she began her career with Dr. Kelly in 1988. Her passion lies in education and prevention: helping patients lower their A1C, maintain kidney function, follow diet and exercise plans, and stay independent in their homes.

Sheila also navigates the unique challenges of rural healthcare, including insurance differences across state lines, arranging transportation, and connecting patients to providers who accept their coverage.

“Some of my patients just need someone to check on them or to listen,” Sheila said. “No one wants to feel like a burden or unwanted. The knowledge and wisdom they share is priceless.”

Through decades of experience, dedication, and compassion, Sheila has made a lasting impact on the health and lives of her patients in her community.