Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix received a $100,000 grant to expand its pioneering treatment program for traumatic brain injuries in domestic violence victims.
The Arizona Super Bowl Host Committee, in partnership with the NFL Foundation and the Arizona Community Foundation, provided the funding to the Barrow Neurological Foundation.
“This grant will help ensure that domestic violence victims who have sustained a traumatic 
brain injury will receive proper medical attention,” says Javier Cárdenas, MD, medical director of the Barrow Concussion and Brain Injury Center at Dignity Health St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center. “We are grateful for the generosity of the Arizona Super Bowl Host Committee, the NFL Foundation and the Arizona Community Foundation to help us meet a critical need in our community.”
The Barrow Concussion and Brain Injury Center has created a novel program to treat homeless women who have sustained a traumatic brain injury (TBI) as a result of domestic violence. Barrow created the life-changing program after identifying a 3-way link between homelessness, domestic violence and TBI.
“We provide victims with a full spectrum of medical care and help them return to living a productive and healthy life,” Cárdenas says.
The Barrow program, which has evaluated and treated more than 200 patients since it was formed in 2013, teams with various shelters throughout the Phoenix area to identify victims of domestic violence who may be suffering from a TBI. Each victim completes a health screening at the shelter and if they screen positively for a possible brain injury, they are referred to Barrow for evaluation.
Once at Barrow, Dr. Cárdenas and his team provide comprehensive medical care that includes diagnostic services, physical therapy, neuropsychology, social work, speech therapy, surgery and injury prevention education.
To make an appointment with Dr. Cárdenas or any of our other providers, please call 602.406.3464 or visit our website at http://www.dignityhealth.org/medical-groups/arizona.
