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Refer

Admissions

Navigating the journey after a brain injury, stroke, or other neurological diagnosis can be challenging, but our admissions team is here to help. View the admissions criteria for each of On With Life's programs and refer to the best fit below. If you are unsure if On With Life is the best rehabilitation location for you or your loved one, please reach out to our team to discuss and learn more. You can contact our Referrals and Admissions team at (515) 289-9618.

Referrals may come from a variety of sources and will be handled on an individual basis. All admissions, transfers, and discharges are done in accordance with On With Life’s non-discrimination policy.

Click here to refer to an On With Life program

Admissions Information by Program

Inpatient

To learn more about our Inpatient Programs and Services, visit our Inpatient Post Acute Rehabilitation program and services page.

Admission Criteria

The person to be served:

Has acquired a brain injury or other neurological disorder. Persons who also present with a spinal cord injury may be considered on a case-by-case basis
Has the potential to participate in, and benefit from, comprehensive rehabilitation services
Is medically stable and no longer requires acute hospitalization
Breathes independently, without medical assistance
Does not demonstrate a severe behavioral, psychiatric or personality disorder that poses a threat to self or others, or that requires intensive or long-term psychiatric intervention
Is age 10 or older (persons from age 10 to 17 need permission from the state of Iowa)
Has either a legally appointed decision maker or a family representative responsible for decisions and/or informed choices in cases of a minor or adult not capable of informed decision making
Has means of payment for services

Medical Complexity

On With Life’s staff can manage tracheostomy tubes, CPAP, BiPAP, supplemental oxygen, PICC and IV

On With Life’s nursing staff can manage a variety of complex medical needs including but not limited to; tracheostomies, CPAP/BiPAP, supplemental oxygen, PICC and IV antibiotics or fluids, gastrostomy tubes, jejunostomy tubes, urinary catheters of any kind, wound care including wound VACs, and ostomies.

On With Life’s inpatient program is also equipped to manage persons with bariatric needs, limb dysfunction or amputation, as well as other post injury complications such as seizures, dysautonomia, and autonomic dysreflexia.

The medical providers at On With Life also routinely manage common medical diagnosis including diabetes, sleep apnea, edema, hypertension, and anticoagulation therapy.

Discharge Criteria

The person served:

Has improved sufficiently so he or she no longer needs the services provided within the Inpatient Rehabilitation program.
Is no longer medically stable and cannot benefit from the intense rehabilitation program.
Has had a responsible party determine that he or she no longer wants to participate in the comprehensive rehabilitation program.
No longer has a viable funding source for inpatient rehabilitation services.
Has the means to pay but has failed, after reasonable and appropriate notice, to pay for services.

Funding Sources

Health Insurance (various commercial benefit plans such as Wellmark BCBS, United HealthCare, Aetna, Cigna, etc)
Workers’ Compensation Insurance
Iowa Medicaid
Medicare
Private Pay

Outpatient

To learn more about our Outpatient Programs and Services, including our stroke program, brain injury program, concussion clinic, Parkinson’s clinic, aquatic therapy, cognitive rehabilitation, vestibular/balance therapy and others, visit our Outpatient Neuro Rehabilitation program and services page.

Admission Criteria

The individual has sustained a traumatic brain injury, stroke, or other neurological disability.
The individual demonstrates a need and the potential to benefit from outpatient therapy intervention/services provided by On With Life.
The individual is medically stable and breathes independently without mechanical assistance.
The individual has a viable funding source or means of payment.
The individual does not demonstrate a severe behavioral and/or personality disorder which poses a threat to self or others, or which requires intensive psychiatric or programmatic intervention.
Any individual, who is either a minor or adult not capable of informed decision making, must have either a legally appointed decision maker or a family representative who is responsible for decisions and/or informed choices.
An individual with a communicable disease will be considered on a case-by-case basis, with consultation from the Iowa State Department of Health.
An individual is ten years of age or older (individuals younger than ten years of age will be considered on a case-by-case basis).
Individuals who have a diagnosis of spinal cord dysfunction based on their complexity of needs and level of dysfunction. On With Life is unable to serve individuals with spinal cord dysfunction of C4 or above.
The individual has written therapy order(s) for services recommended by a physician.
The program is able to adequately address the individual’s needs post traumatic brain injury, stroke, or neurological disability.

Each referral to On With Life is reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Exceptions to the admission criteria may be made at the discretion of the medical director.

Transition & Discharge Criteria

The individual has achieved his/her individualized program goals and no further targeted goals are needed to maximize his/her ability to function in the community.
The individual’s needs fall beyond the scope of services provided by the Outpatient Service program.
The individual no longer has a viable funding source for outpatient rehabilitation service.
The individual has determined they no longer want to participate in the outpatient rehabilitation services.
The individual refuses services as scheduled, or refuses to address targeted goals as established.
The individual has missed two (2) scheduled therapy appointments without advanced notification (no call/no show) in the absence of extenuating circumstances.
The individual’s medical acuity is too high to safely participate or compromises the health of the individual or others.

Funding Sources

Health Insurance
Workers’ Compensation Insurance
Iowa Medicaid
Medicare
Private Pay

Long-Term Care

To learn more about our long-term services, visit our Long-Term Skilled Care program page.

The persons we serve in this program include those that:

Have experienced a brain injury or other catastrophic injury or disease
Require skilled nursing services
Breathe independently, without medical assistance
Are medically stable and do not require daily doctor visits or ongoing hospitalization
Do not demonstrate a severe behavioral or personality disorder that pose a threat to self or others, or requires intensive psychiatric intervention
Have a means of payment for service (see below)

Funding Sources

Iowa Medicaid
Workers' Comp
Private pay

Residential Neuro Rehab

To learn more about our Residential Neuro Rehabilitation program visit the Residential Neuro Rehabilitation program and services page.

Admission Criteria

Has a brain injury diagnosis and is at least 18 years of age.
Demonstrates the potential to benefit from this program in terms of future reduced need
for support and increased independence.
Is medically stable and breathes independently.
Must be able to ambulate or operate a wheelchair independently and able to perform activities of daily Living with no more than one-person assistance.
Must be exhibiting neurobehavioral symptoms in such frequency or severity that he/she
has undergone or is currently undergoing treatment more intensive than outpatient care and is currently hospitalized, institutionalized, incarcerated or homeless or at risk of one of these.
Has a history of presenting with neurobehavioral or psychiatric symptoms resulting in at Least one episode that required professional supportive care more intensive than outpatient care more than once in a Lifetime.
Must not demonstrate severe behavioral, mental health or chemical dependency issues
which pose a threat to self or others, Limit his/her ability to participate in the program or require intensive psychiatric or programmatic intervention.
Must have a funding source for the program.

Funding Sources

Iowa Medicaid
Workers' Comp
Private Pay

Day and Respite Services

To learn more about On With Life @ New Horizons Center, visit the Day Services and Respite programming page.

Admissions Criteria

Coming soon

Funding Sources

Iowa Medicaid
Worker's Comp
Private Pay

Our Clinical Liaisons

View Bio

Angie Jackson

Director of Referrals + Admissions

Angie joined On With Life as director of referrals and admissions in 2022, bringing over 30 years of experience in healthcare. She's a licensed speech language pathologist, has her MS and MBA, holds a certified brain injury specialist-advanced practitioner designation as well as trainer for CBIS.

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Sonni Ricklefs

Rehabilitation Clinical Liaison

Sonni is a registered nurse who has worked at On With Life since 2014. She received her Bachelors of Science in Nursing through Mercy College of Health Sciences and is also a Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse and a Certified Brain Injury Specialist.

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Natalie Hite

Rehabilitation Clinical Liaison

Natalie is a registered nurse who joined On With Life in 2023. She received her associate nursing degree at Des Moines Area Community College, Bachelor's of Science in Psychology and Sociology through Iowa State University and is also a Certified Brain Injury Specialist.

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Adam Rowley

Rehabilitation Clinical Liaison

Adam Rowley started at On With Life in the therapy department in 2021 and then transitioned to the admissions and referrals department in 2023. He is certified as a both a brain injury specialist and stroke rehabilitation specialist.