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Table of Contents
Facility Types and Patient Needs ..................................2 Factors to Consider When Making a Referral Decision .........................................................2 How to Find a Referral Source ......................................3 Overcoming Obstacles to Referral ...............................4 Conclusion .......................................................................5 Works Cited .....................................................................5
For more information, contact: Eating Recovery Center 877-825-8584 info@eatingrecoverycenter.com To learn more about Eating Recovery Center, please visit www.eatingrecoverycenter.com
Introduction
In May 2009, the Eating Recovery Center, one of a few treatment centers in the U.S. to provide a full spectrum of treatment options for adults with eating disorders, surveyed a number of eating disorder professionals from across the country to gain a better understanding of how eating disorders are diagnosed, treated and referred in facilities across the country. From the surveys 158 respondents, the Eating Recovery Center discovered a number of trends in eating disorder diagnosis, treatment and referral. This report discusses those trends and provides eating disorder clinicians with recommendations for effectively referring patients when patient situations dictate a need for collaborative treatment.
In general, if a patient requires medical stabilization, a referral to an inpatient or residential treatment center that offers ongoing medical and nursing support may be necessary. If a patient is not advancing in treatment, continues to engage in eating disordered behaviors or fails to restore weight, he or she may require a higher level of care. While referral to a higher level of care may be the most appropriate solution in the short run, patients can often return to their outpatient therapist, dietitian or other care provider after their referral to support and aid their ongoing recovery from the eating disorder.
E.
Additional Considerations. In their comments, clinicians also identified the following factors as impacting their decision: 1. Specialization in the Treatment of Co-morbidities. Co-morbid addictions such as alcohol or drug dependence and psychological conditions such as depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder or anxiety are frequently seen in eating disorder patients. Should a patient require addiction counseling or medical assistance with withdrawal, choosing a treatment center that specializes in these areas of treatment is most appropriate. 2. Treatment Philosophy. A variety of philosophies, techniques and treatment modalities exist in the field of eating disorder treatment. The approaches each treatment center takes can differ significantly. Elements of treatment philosophy may include: Religion: Many treatment centers offer a religion-based treatment. Others have religious counselors on staff. Program Curriculum: Curriculum, which may include classes, process groups, individual and group therapy and alternative therapies will vary greatly from one treatment center to the next. When seeking an appropriate option, consider the interests and needs of the patient as well as the structure of the curriculum whether it is standard or tailored to each individuals needs. Approach: Therapeutic focus, integration of program areas, measurement of success, levels of care and structure of patient movement through programming are all elements that should be considered when seeking an appropriate facility for a patient. Length of Stay: Philosophies on length of stay vary greatly. While some centers employ a minimum length of stay, others have set program lengths (eg. 90-day set programs), and yet others treat to the patients individual needs with a treatment stay based on the patients tailored program.
guidance and continue to work collaboratively with them in the aftercare process? Does this facility work with insurance companies? Do they offer pointers about how to secure optimized insurance coverage and are willing to intervene on the patients behalf with insurance companies? Does this facility offer a sliding pay scale if needed? What is their experience and how long have their clinicians been treating eating disorders? How is the facility licensed? What are their training credentials? Do they belong to the Academy for Eating Disorders (AED)? Does the facility have a quality improvement program in place or regularly assess the outcome of the treatment provided? Is this facility familiar with either the APA Guidelines or Britains NICE Criteria for the treatment of eating disorders? What kind of evaluation process will be used in recommending a treatment plan? When will we know its time to stop treatment? Ask the facility to send information brochures, treatment plans, treatment prices, etc. The more information the facility is able to send in writing, the better informed you will be.
www.eatingrecoverycenter.com
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Family Enmeshment. Whether the patient is a child, a teen or an adult, families can become over-involved in their care and ignore boundaries. Remember, an educated family is one that will be a positive influence on the referral process. Provide the family with as much information as possible, not only about eating disorders in general, but also about the benefits of the referral treatment center. Help them understand the value of a higher level of treatment, as well as the dangers their loved one may face if they dont receive the higher level of care. Engage them in the decision-making process so that they feel ownership in the decision. Unfamiliarity with Treatment Facilities. Though the majority of respondents work with facilities with whom they are familiar, many voiced a lack of knowledge about treatment options available. A number of resources are available online and in print to help professionals become more familiar with treatment facilities. EDReferral.com and NationalEatingDisorders.org provide listings of treatment providers, as well as resources for referring professionals. Gurze Books prints an annual resource catalogue, which can be ordered for free at bulimia.com.
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Conclusion
Whether referrals occur because clinicians lack appropriate resources, or because patients need a higher level of care, the practice of shared treatment is growing in the field of eating disorders. Clinicians have found that the complex nature of eating disorders requires a multi-faceted, multi-disciplinary approach to treatment. This approach can differ in every treatment center, as well as treatment philosophies, curriculum approaches, patient capacities and medical capabilities. Effective referral requires a thorough knowledge of the needs of a patient, a grasp of the appropriate time to refer and an informed, thoughtful decision about a suitable referral location. This survey was completed by 158 clinicians from across the U.S. who are engaged in eating disorder treatment. Psychologists represented 39 percent of all survey respondents, with psychiatrists, therapists, licensed social workers, registered dietitians and other clinical professionals representing the remaining respondents. Nearly half of the survey respondents (47%) treat patients in an individual private practice. Eating Recovery Center was founded in October 2008 by Drs. Emmett R. Bishop and Kenneth L. Weiner, psychiatrists with more than 50 years of combined experience treating eating disorders. As a treatment center that offers a full range of treatment options for adults with eating disorders from intensive inpatient to outpatient programs, Eating Recovery Center works collaboratively with eating disorder clinicians and others to both refer and intake referral patients when treatment or other circumstances dictate the need. Eating Recovery Center in Denver is one of few treatment centers in the nation to be able to provide a full range of treatment options for adults with eating disorders from outpatient to the most medically compromised inpatient. Eating Recovery Center employs a number of experts with decades of experience treating eating disorders at every level of care.
Works Cited
Association, N. E. (n.d.). Questions to Ask When Considering Treatment Options. Retrieved June 22, 2009, from National Eating Disorders Association: http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/p.asp?WebPage_ID=286&Profile_ID=41151 Powers MD, P. (n.d.). Getting Coverage for Eating Disorders Treatment. Retrieved June 22, 2009, from Eating Disorders Review: http://www.bulimia.com/client/client_pages/newsletter10.cfm Vendereycken, M. P. (2007, Spring). Finding the Needle in the Haystack of Eating Disorders Care-Providers. Eating Disorders Today
For more information, contact: Eating Recover y Center 877-825-8584 info@eatingrecoverycenter.com To learn more about Eating Recovery Center, please visit www.eatingrecoverycenter.com Copyright 2009. Eating Recovery Center. All rights reserved.