08 Jul
by Derrick Vander Waal
SIOUX CENTER – Maria Arias came to appreciate what Promise Community Health Center in Sioux Center is all about several years ago when her family started getting its health services there.
SIOUX CENTER – Maria Arias came to appreciate what Promise Community Health Center in Sioux Center is all about several years ago when her family started getting its health services there.
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| Maria Arias has begun serving patients as a new receptionist in the front office at Promise Community Health Center. She hopes to help ensure patients have a good experience from the time that they walk into the front door. |
For example, bilingual staff was readily available in every area of the health center to help interpret for her mother when she was pregnant. Previously, Maria had to get a note for school so that she could translate for her mother when she had an appointment at another clinic.
“Just from the first time we came here, it was really amazing to see how patients are treated,” she said. “It was one of the few places in the communities nearby where I lived that I saw them go beyond to help people.”
Now, she has the chance to help people in a similar manner.
Maria started in late June as a new receptionist for Promise. Her role includes greeting patients, answering phones and scheduling appointments.
She hopes to make patients feel comfortable as she assists them with their needs when they arrive so they will want to return.
“It’s the front-end position. We get to talk and meet the patient who come here,” Maria said. “What really interested me was the fact that I’m also bilingual and I speak Spanish, so I can help them with that.”
Maria immigrated to the United States from Mexico when she was 6 years old. Her family first lived in Sheldon for a year and a half before moving to Orange City 13 years ago. She graduated from MOC-Floyd Valley High School in 2013 and earned an associate of applied science degree in business management from Northwest Iowa Community College in Sheldon in May.
She looks forward to her first career role.
“I hope to be able to work with all off the staff as a team for the good of the community – just helping people understand and meeting their needs,” Maria said.
Promise Community Health Center, headquartered in Sioux Center, is the only Federally Qualified Health Center in the far northwest corner of Iowa. To learn more, visit www.promisechc.org.
MORE ABOUT MARIA:
Maria married Jesus in February. In her free time, she enjoys shopping, playing soccer and spending time with family.