As Director of Neuro RehabCare’s Arizona program, Jessica focuses on making their program a successful resource firmly ingrained within the brain injury community.

Taking Community-Based Rehab to the Next Level

The latest item on the list of Jessica Nathan’s professional achievements is being named to the Brain Injury Alliance of Arizona’s Advisory Council. This dovetails perfectly with her recent appointment as Senior Vice President of Operations for Neuro RehabCare, a state-of-the-art rehabilitation program specializing in person-centered treatment for those with brain, spinal, and other catastrophic injuries.

Jessica’s connection to the brain injury community starts in 2001, when she moved from her native country of Colombia to the Sunshine State to attend Florida International University, where she earned her BA in Psychology. For the next 15 years, she was based in New York, running community-based programs primarily for people with various disabilities.

During this time, she received an MA in Social Work from Fordham University, working for both non-profit and for-profit organizations. Regardless of the environment, she always sought to answer a single question: How do we help people with disabilities lead their fullest lives?

In 2019, she brought this wealth of experience and can-do approach to the West Coast. As Director of Neuro RehabCare’s Arizona program, she sought to make their program a successful resource firmly ingrained within the brain injury community. “We work with people who want to return to their home,” explains Jessica. “By emphasizing life in the real world, we are truly a community-based program, regardless of medical need.”

She believes the results are already being manifested. “This is evident by the increase of referral partners and families. As a provider, we’re laser-focused on outcomes of care.”

“Over the last two fiscal years, July to June, we have seen success rates of 88% and 84%, respectively, which are far above the industry norm,” she emphasizes. “Those figures are even more impressive when you realize that we help those with more severe and catastrophic brain injury. These typically require the highest level of care for supervision and safety in residential rehabilitation.”

Jessica credits a great deal of Neuro RehabCare’s success to her philosophy that it takes a village. “Being part of the community aligns with our vision and mission. At any given time, we have eight residents undergoing intensive neuro-rehabilitation.”

“Because we’re in a beautiful neighborhood, they learn how to fulfill simple, foundational needs, like relearning how to shop or how to order at a restaurant. In the process, we establish a culture of immediate response by being pro-active and providing for the ongoing and emerging needs of the people we care for.”

In 2020, as validation of their superior services, Neuro RehabCare received its CARF (Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities) accreditation with a brain injury specialty. This provided recognition of the importance of small personal care settings in an industry packed with large-scale institutions.

In her eyes, Jessica believes much of their success lies in key partnerships, such as the one they have formed with the Brain Injury Alliance of Arizona. “They are the pioneer of initiatives, services, and advocacy within the brain injury community,” she affirms. “They truly are the leader and convener of all things brain injury. I am proud to be part of the team, always searching for new ways to increase awareness of the prevention and treatment of brain injuries.”

Carrie Collins-Fadell, CEO of the Brain Injury Alliance, is equally impressed with Jessica’s accomplishments. “Jessica has done an amazing job at Neuro RehabCare… actually everywhere she has been, and we welcome her involvement on the Advisory Council. Her passion is unmatched and her impact continues to impress everybody she reaches.”

The compassion and experience Jessica exhibits are a winning combination for everyone involved, especially the survivors of brain injury and their families who are in need of both.

“She understands we’re all here to help and advance the understanding of treatment for people with all types of brain injury,” Carrie says. “We thrilled to have her join us in moving the Brain Injury Alliance’s mission forward.”

ABOUT BRAIN INJURY ALLIANCE OF ARIZONA

The Brain Injury Alliance of Arizona (BIAAZ) is the only statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of adults and children with all types of brain injuries through prevention, advocacy, awareness and education. BIAAZ also houses the Arizona Brain Health Resource Center, a collection of educational information and neuro-specific resources for brain injury survivors, caregivers, family members and professionals.

What began in 1983 as a grassroots effort has grown into a strong statewide presence, providing valuable life-long resources and community support for individuals with all types of brain trauma at no charge.

The Brain Injury Alliance of Arizona:

• Works with Congressional Brain Injury Task Force
• Houses Arizona Brain Health Resource Center
• Hosts Statewide Opioid Use Disorder & Cognitive Impairment Workgroup
• Has Statewide Opioid Use Disorder & Cognitive Impairment Response team with peer support, training, and family wraparound services
• Facilitates Brain Health Advisory Council
• Manages statewide Neuro Info-Line: 888-500-9165