health center

SIOUX CENTER – Promise Community Health Center has been awarded a $25,000 grant from the Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation to study potential expansion of its dental services and ways to maximize efficiency of its current space. Significant growth in the health center’s dental program over the past two years has prompted the need for the study. With the program exceeding capacity, patients have experienced increasing wait times for appointments for services ranging from hygiene care to significant procedures. Promise Community Health Center's dental program has exceeded capacity due to strong growth in recent years. Thanks to a $25,000 Delta Dental of Iowa grant, the health center will study potential expansion needs in facilities and staffing and ways it can increase operational efficiency in its current dental space. Thanks to the grant, Promise will use the consulting services of the Capital Link office in Cottleville, MO, to determine the best steps forward. “The grant is a great...

SIOUX CENTER – Jenna Van Bruggen has returned from two years of service in the Peace Corps in Panama and now has found a new way to serve people. She has assumed the role of dental receptionist at Promise Community Health Center. Jenna Van Bruggen recently returned from serving as a Peace Corps volunteer in Panama. She now has found a new way to serve as a bilingual dental receptionist at Promise Community Health Center in Sioux Center. “Promise, from what I see, is making an impact on the community. I wanted to join in making a positive impact here,” she said. “Promise offers services at an affordable rate. I’ve been impressed by Promise.” Jenna grew up in rural Sheldon and graduated from Unity Christian High School in Orange City in 2012. She earned bachelor’s degrees in both biology and Spanish at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, MI, in 2016. She then served two years as a Peace Corps volunteer in Panama, living in an indigenous community near the Costa Rican border. She was there as...

by Derrick Vander Waal SIOUX CENTER – We have a lot to be thankful for here at Promise Community Health Center. We thank our patients for entrusting us with your care. We thank our providers and staff for their dedicated, compassionate care of patients. We thank our board members for their committed, volunteer service. We thank our donors for their faithful support of our mission. We thank our partnering community organizations for working with us. With gratitude in our hearts, we count our blessings this Thanksgiving Day as we continue to grow to better serve our patients and community. We know it’s through the collective teamwork of everyone, working together, that we can make a difference. Here are a sampling of reasons our staff members are thankful about serving at Promise: I’m thankful for the patients we care for and having an opportunity to be part of their lives through their life stories and life experiences they share with us. – Vicki Schrock, Clinic Nurse I’m thankful to wo...

Daniela Ramon is serving as a receptionist at Promise Community Health Center. SIOUX CENTER – Daniela Ramon wanted to work at a place that she knew was making a difference by being involved in the community. She saw that in Promise Community Health Center. Daniela, who is bilingual in English and Spanish, recently assumed the position of receptionist/scheduler at the health center. “They assist everyone, and they make health care accessible to everyone,” she said. Daniela grew up in Rock Valley and graduated from Rock Valley High School in 2015. She is attending the University of South Dakota online with hopes of attaining her bachelor’s degree for accounting next May. She served as a paraprofessional in the Rock Valley School District for six months during 2017 and worked in other jobs since she was 14. She now is playing her part in making a difference at Promise. “I am interested in being able to show patients a positive attitude when they first come in,” she said. “I hope I can hel...

SIOUX CENTER – An expert on medications will be a few steps away at Promise Community Health Center for medical providers and patients. Kendra Borchers, doctor of pharmacy (PharmD), joined the health center’s team this week in the new position of clinical pharmacist. Her hours will be 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Thursday and on an as-needed basis to serve Promise's patients. Kendra Borchers, doctor of pharmacy (PharmD), has joined Promise CHC's team as an onsite clinical pharmacist. In the implementation of the PharmD program, she will serve as a resource to both medical staff and patients. In implementing the new PharmD program, she will serve as an important resource to both the medical staff and patients. “Through this program, the health of the patient and the community can be positively impacted,” Borchers said. Emily Tuschen, co-chief executive officer and chief operating officer at Promise, said the health center had been analyzing and considering implementing a...

SIOUX CENTER – Melinda Scholten has experienced many aspects of health care and now is taking a step up in leadership at Promise Community Health Center . Melinda Scholten She has assumed the position of clinic manager after serving in the roles of clinic nurse and health records specialist at the health center since October 2016. Emily Tuschen, who previously was Promise’s clinic manager and now is the co-chief executive officer and chief operations officer, said Scholten’s prior duties at the health center, along with her hospital nursing experience, “have molded her to be a great fit” as Promise’s clinic manager. “She has a welcoming demeanor and is very knowledgeable,” Tuschen said. “We are so excited to see her excel in this new role.” Here are Scholten’s reflections about her new responsibilities: Q: What are your thoughts about assuming the clinic manager role? A: I am excited about the challenge. Although it is a little overwhelming at times, I believe Promise is doing great t...

SIOUX CENTER – Martha Garza Perez is a familiar face to many of the patients who come into Promise Community Health Center . Martha Garza Perez is serving as a receptionist at Promise Community Health Center. She has returned to serve as a receptionist after previously filling the role from 2011-14. “I like the job,” Martha said. “I like how Promise tries to help people in different areas.” Martha grew up in Mexico in Nueva Rosita, Coahuila, until moving to northwest Iowa nearly 25 years ago. She lived in Hull before coming to Sioux Center 13 years ago. She worked for the past two years as an interpreter for the Northwest Area Education Agency office in Sioux Center before returning to Promise to serve in her bilingual receptionist role. “I hope I can bring help with the Spanish-speaking patients,” she said. Promise Community Health Center  of Sioux Center is a Federally Qualified Health Center serving the northwest corner of Iowa. Promise provides medical, prenatal, dental, vision...

SIOUX CENTER – Melissa Van Berkum has been involved in nursing in some form or another for her entire career, but she was interested in trying a different type of nursing role. Sh e has been serving as the new health records specialist at Promise Community Health Center in Sioux Center for the past couple of months. Melissa Van Berkum has assumed the role of health records specialist at Promise Community Health Center in Sioux Center. “It has been different being in health records rather than patient care, but I can say that I truly enjoy my job,” Melissa said. “Being on the back side of things, I get to work close with the providers and other facilities to ensure our patients' medical information is correct and up-to-date so they can receive the proper continuity of care.” Melissa grew up in Pisgah, Iowa. Since graduating from West Harrison High School in Mondamin in 2004, she has served in a variety of health-care roles as a certified nursing assistant, licensed practical nurse ...