Workers' Compensation Guide to Craig Hospital
Creating the Best Outcomes After Brain or Spinal Cord Injury
Craig Hospital is exclusively dedicated to the neurorehabilitation of people with spinal cord and brain injuries. Workers’ compensation carriers choose Craig Hospital for the rehabilitation of their injured workers because of our exceptional outcomes that maximize functional independence.
Craig Hospital's overall average of 82% discharges directly to home following rehabilitation greatly exceeds the national average. Home placement results in superior long-term functional patient outcomes and savings. Our clinical management staff works closely with patients and their families to make sure that they have their needs met upon returning home, including home adaptations, assistant needs, medications and doctor visits.
A virtual tour of the Craig campus produced during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Meet Our Team Members
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Alexandra Sharp Director of Admissions
Alexandra Sharp, RN, BSN, CNRN, is the Director of Admissions. Previously she was a clinical nurse liaison and evaluated patients throughout the United States for admission to Craig. Prior to becoming a liaison, Alex was a nurse on the spinal cord injury floor at Craig Hospital. She has also worked with patients with other chronic neurological conditions and is a Certified Neuroscience Registered Nurse. -
Dan Frank Chief Financial Officer
Dan Frank serves as the Chief Financial Officer. Dan earned his undergraduate degree in Business with a specialization in Accounting from the University of Colorado in Boulder. He also has a Master of Healthcare Administration degree from the University of Colorado in Denver. Dan has 30 years of financial experience in the health care industry. Prior to joining Craig Hospital in 2019, Dan was the CFO at Longmont United Hospital, and also served previously as the Director of Accounting and Reimbursement for Exempla Healthcare. Dan is responsible for Admissions, the Business Office, Health Information Management, Information Technology, and Materials Management. He is active in his community and has served on a variety of non-profit and community Boards.
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Kent Hamstra Director of Clinical Care Management
Clinical Care Management
Kent Hamstra MA, received his training and degree in Psychology from Hastings College in 1985 and Master of Arts degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from University of Iowa in 1986. He has been a member of the Craig Hospital inpatient TBI clinical team since 1987. Kent has been involved with multiple projects involving TBI. He is a member of the Craig Hospital TBI Supervisors Group.
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Thomas E. Balazy, MD Medical Director
Thomas E. Balazy, MD, has been at Craig since 1987 and for 17 years Dr. Balazy was Craig's Medical Director at the Multitrauma unit at Swedish Medical Center.
Dr. Balazy received his medical degree and completed his residency at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and completed a fellowship in spinal cord and brain injury at Craig. He is also an assistant clinical professor at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. In 2006, Dr. Balazy received the Jerome Gersten Clinical Teaching Award from the Dept. of PM&R at the UCHSC School of Medicine.
Most recently, Dr. Balazy created the TRAC (Teenage Rehab at Craig) Program to provide a comprehensive patient and family rehabilitation plan of care for this age group.
Dr. Balazy is board certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Spinal Cord Injury Medicine. He is also the author of a widely read publication on chronic pain in spinal cord injury.
Programs Geared Toward Functional Independence
Craig Hospital offers the most comprehensive and unfragmented system of care all on one campus for people with brain or spinal cord injuries, including specialty programs aimed at maximizing independence, like driving and adaptive transportation, community reintegration and assistive technology.
Resources and Education
We offer a number of clinical resources for you and your injured workers, as well as for family members and caregivers.
Craig Rehab U is a free online educational and continuing education program for clinicians and insurance and rehabilitation professionals. Built on the experience of Craig Hospital's leading experts in neurorehabilitation, the webinars provide insight on the best possible diagnosis, care and case management of patients with spinal cord or brain injuries.
Craig Hospital Resource Library is a go-to online resource for information on living with spinal cord or brain injuries, including video tutorials and printable care guidelines.
Craig Hospital Nurse Advice Line, with nurses licensed in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, fields health-related phone calls daily from people living with spinal cord and brain injuries, their families and caregivers, and health care professionals.
Craig Connect / Workers' Compensation Newsletter
Our monthly newsletter helps workers' compensation professionals be prepared for managing spinal cord and brain injury. cases, some of the most complex, high visibility and costly cases to manage. Sign up below for work comp industry insights, the latest innovations and research at Craig Hospital, and more.
