31 Jul
by Derrick Vander Waal
SIOUX CENTER – Vicki Schrock needed only two words to describe the last year of her life: “Life changing.”
SIOUX CENTER – Vicki Schrock needed only two words to describe the last year of her life: “Life changing.”
She served as a nurse on the mission field in Guatemala through Paradise Bound Ministries. She managed a medical clinic in Chimaltenango and made weekly treks to remote villages to provide medical services in makeshift medical clinics.
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| Vicki Schrock has returned to Promise Community Health Center in Sioux Center to assume the position of clinic manager after a yearlong stint on the mission field in Guatemala, where she managed a medical clinic. |
“It makes you realize how much we have here and that they’re just as happy as we are even though they have so little,” Schrock said. “Just because my expectations are this, other people have different expectations. They look at life differently, and we have to realize everyone is coming from a different perspective, and I’m not right in my perspective.”
That renewed viewpoint will serve her well as she returns to Promise Community Health Center in Sioux Center as the new clinic manager. She will step in to the position that has been held by Brittany Hamm, who is moving into a quality and compliance director role at Promise while taking graduate classes through the University of Iowa.
“I believe in the mission and ministry that they have here, at Promise, and I love to assist in medical care for the underserved,” Schrock said.
Schrock grew up on a farm near Maurice and graduated from MOC-Floyd Valley in 1997. She earned a bachelor’s degree in social work from Northwestern College in Orange City in 2001.
She then served as a caregiver at a Bethany Christian Services home for pregnant teens in Modesto, CA, for three years, 2001-04. After her family moved back to northwest Iowa, she worked for Hospice of Sioux Center for nearly two years, 2004-06. She then returned to school to earn her degree in registered nursing at Northwest Iowa Community College in Sheldon in 2008. She worked for Sioux Center Hospital for nearly five years, 2008-13.
Schrock then served for a year in her first stint at Promise as a nurse before going onto the mission field for a year.
She’s happy to be back at Promise.
“It feels like home,” she said. “It’s just the right place for me. A lot of great progress has been made this last year, so that’s fun to observe – whether it’s construction or processes with computers or staffing.”
Here are her reflections as she assumes her new role:
Q: How did you initially become interested in going into the medical field?
A: One of my supervisors at Hospice said to me: “Why don’t you become a nurse?” I said, “OK.” So I did. As a kid, I wanted to be a pediatrician, and I was not necessarily encouraged to do that, but it comes back full circle.
Q: What are most rewarding aspects of nursing work?
A: I think my favorite part is the education – when patients get it, when they understand their condition, or the education piece that goes with prenatal care – so they can live a healthier life. That’s the most rewarding for me.
Q: Why were you interested in transitioning into a medical administration position?
A: I just felt it was the right step. It really wasn’t on my radar, but a few of the staff here actually approached me about it, so I entertained the idea.
Q: How will your background experiences help you in this role?
A: My social work and my passion to serve the Guatemalan population, the Latino population, is going to give me a more holistic approach and help me to understand the big picture. I also love to work alongside people, so that will help me with working with the whole staff.
Q: What do you hope you can bring to Promise in the clinic manager role?
A: I feel like the groundwork has been laid so very well. I just hope to refine some of the processes and continue the education piece with our patients. Maybe that means educating our staff here better, and then we’ll just have more tools in our toolbelt. I’m excited to get to know the different grants and programs that we have in place and continue to build that groundwork.
Q: How is Promise important to the greater community?
A: Promise allows for great access to many opportunities – whether it’s medical, dental, prenatal or behavioral health. It’s a unique place to access services all in one building.
Q: If you could clear up any misconception, what would it be?
A: As I’ve been telling people that I have this job opportunity, a lot of people ask me: “Can I be seen there because I have insurance?” I always say, “Absolutely. We see all patients, all people, all demographics. Whoever wants to be seen, we’ll see, and we’ll help you access the care that you need.”
Q: Is there anything else you would like to add?
A: I’m just excited to work at a place that has a great vision and mission and that stays true to its goals.
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 VICKI:
Vicki Schrock and her husband, Justin, have six children, AJ, 12; Caleb, 11; Emilee, 9; Miya, 6; Kira, 6; and Naomi, 4. In her free time, she enjoys working with her family on their acreage near Orange City, sewing, taking photographs and baking.