Admissions/FAQ
Eating Disorder Center of Denver (EDC-D) realizes that making the decision to seek treatment for an eating disorder, whether it’s you or a loved one can be extremely difficult. Our goal is to make the admission process comfortable and thorough. The answers below explain EDC-D’s admission process covering initial inquiry, verification of insurance benefits, assessment, insurance coverage and other issues regarding treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions - Patients
How do I know if I have an eating disorder?
Why choose the Eating Disorder Center of Denver for treatment?
What is different about the Eating Disorder Center of Denver's partial hospitalization program vs. residential and is it as effective?
How quickly are patients admitted and how long do patients usually stay in the Eating Disorder Center of Denver's partial hospitalization program?
What occurs during the admission process?
I haven’t had an eating disorder very long; do I need such serious treatment?
What should I do if I have already tried outpatient therapy?
What if I’m out of state or live too far to drive every day to the Eating Disorder Center of Denver?
How are meals conducted in the Eating Disorder Center of Denver's partial hospitalization and evening intensive outpatient programs?
What transitional or aftercare programs do you offer?
How much does treatment cost at the Eating Disorder Center of Denver?
Will my insurance cover the treatment I need?
How do I determine if my insurance company considers your center “in network” or a “preferred provider”?
How do I get more information about the Eating Disorder Center of Denver?
How do I know if I have an eating disorder?
There are three primary eating disorders: Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa and Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (including Binge Eating Disorder). All represent serious underlying emotional problems that can have life threatening consequences. Often, individuals will suffer from several of the following symptoms:
- Preoccupation with food, weight or body image
- Negative thoughts about body shape or size
- Using vomiting, exercise, diet pills, diuretics or laxatives to prevent weight gain
- Having a secret life which revolves around food and weight
- Feeling “fat” even when normal or underweight
- Dramatic changes in eating habits or significant weight loss
- Judging your self-worth by how much you weigh or your body size
- Fasting, refusing to eat, or binge eating
- Feeling out of control with eating
If you believe you have an eating disorder, call the EDC-D assessment clinician at 866.771.0861 for more information or to schedule a complimentary assessment. You may also click here to cubmit an inquiry online.
Why choose the Eating Disorder Center of Denver for treatment?
As a center of excellence, the Eating Disorder Center of Denver provides a unique approach to the treatment of eating disordered males and females who are 18 years and older. We offer a cost-effective partial hospitalization program that consists of 10 hours a day, seven days a week, three meals and one snack. Under the guidance of our experienced clinicians, patients are active participants in their treatment and are empowered to seek recovery. Anita Kumar-Gill, MD (Psychiatrist) is Medical Director and Joseph Christenson, MD, is the attending psychiatrist. Trish O’Donnell, MA, ATR-BC, and Tamara Pryor, PhD, serve as the program and clinical directors, respectively.
The Eating Disorder Center of Denver accepts all major insurances and works with the patient’s insurance company to obtain single case agreements, if needed. Unlike other treatment facilities, we not require that the patient make full payment upon admission. If the patient has out-of-pocket expenses, payment is made on a weekly basis.
What is different about the Eating Disorder Center of Denver's partial hospitalization program vs. residential and is it as effective?
More realistically, we should begin with what is the same between partial hospitalization and residential: both programs provide a full day (10 hours) of treatment interventions including group and individual therapy, psychiatric and medical monitoring and three meals and one snack facilitated by a dietitian and a master’s level or above clinician. What is different at the Eating Disorder Center of Denver is that patients go home or to the Eating Disorder Center of Denver apartment in the evenings, allowing time to integrate the days’ events and to practice healthy coping strategies. Patients not only learn to own their recovery, they learn the joy of owning their success.
How quickly are patients admitted and how long do patients usually stay in the Eating Disorder Center of Denver's partial hospitalization program?
Patients are usually admitted to the Eating Disorder Center of Denver within one to three days after the assessment has been completed. Length of treatment is determined individually with each patient according to their diagnosis and needs. Anorexic patients on weight restoration plans have longer lengths of stay with the goal to reach at least 90% of ideal body weight. Some patients with less severe symptoms may require a shorter period of time in treatment to interrupt their eating disorder behaviors. As patients meet individualized goals, they transition to less intensive treatment, attending fewer days per week or fewer hours per day. The length of stay in the partial hospitalization program ranges from four to eight weeks.
What occurs during the admission process?
An assessment, which includes a review of bio-psycho-social issues, is conducted by an Eating Disorder Center of Denver assessment clinician. The assessment takes about 60 to 90 minutes. After the assessment has been completed, the assessment clinician will make a recommendation on the program to which the patient will be admitted. Once the admission date has been determined, the assessment clinician contacts the patient’s insurance company to obtain pre-certification for treatment.
I haven’t had an eating disorder very long; do I need such serious treatment?
The duration of one’s symptoms is less important than the seriousness of those symptoms. Research shows early intervention is key to a healthy recovery. Anorexia has the highest mortality rate of all psychiatric diagnoses. Taking into account current symptoms, the history of attempts to manage those symptoms and the current consequences of the eating disorder (social, financial, medical, emotional and spiritual), the Eating Disorder Center of Denver assessment clinician will make a recommendation as to the appropriate level of care needed.
What should I do if I have already tried outpatient therapy?
If outpatient treatment has been unsuccessful, it may mean that a more intense level of care is needed. This recommendation will be made by the Eating Disorder Center of Denver assessment clinician upon gathering your individual treatment and symptom history.
What if I’m out of state or live too far to drive every day to Eating Disorder Center of Denver?
The Eating Disorder Center of Denver has two deluxe two-bedroom apartments that house up to four patients each. Lodging in the apartments is available for an affordable daily rate. To find out more about the apartment accommodations, visit www.4550cherrycreek.com. In addition, our admissions department can provide, upon request, a list of near-by hotels for family and patient use.
How are meals conducted in the Eating Disorder Center of Denver's partial hospitalization and intensive evening outpatient programs?
Meals are planned by a Registered Dietitian on the Eating Disorder Center of Denver staff in collaboration with the patient's treatment team. All meals are facilitated by a therapist and are designed to be an enjoyable time, with a short period of processing following the meal. Every effort is made to attend to patient needs without supporting eating disordered fears and distortions.
What transitional or aftercare programs are offered at the Eating Disorder Center of Denver?
We recommend that patients move from one level of care to a less intensive level of care to help with successful transition into recovery. Evening aftercare groups are offered to those who have completed treatment at the Eating Disorder Center of Denver or another equally intensive treatment program. For those who required residential treatment out of state, our partial hospitalization and evening intensive outpatient programs are a very good transition back into the patient’s home state and into a supportive recovery environment.
We work closely with each patient and their referring therapist, if applicable, to ensure that the patient is ready to be discharged. We provide the tools that patients need to make the transition back into their families, careers and communities.
How much does treatment cost at Eating Disorder Center of Denver?
The cost for treatment depends on the services provided. Call our assessment clinician at 866.771.0861 for more information.
Will my insurance cover the treatment I need?
The Eating Disorder Center of Denver has been very successful in getting treatment covered by insurance. However, insurance coverage varies for individuals in accordance with their heath plans. The business office at the Eating Disorder Center of Denver supports patients by communicating with their insurance companies about their health plan benefits and payment and will work out-of-network insurance companies to obtain a single case agreement, if needed.
Treatment plans are created according to each patient’s clinical need. Therefore, the length of stay could be less than or more than allowable by the patient's insurance company. Patients are encouraged to develop a “Plan B” for payment if their need should be greater than allowed by their insurance companies.
Some insurance plans have exclusions for eating disorders and/or other limitations that prevent full payment for treatment. Many times, families choose to self-pay for services and/or find resources within their extended family to help with payment. Contact an admissions department at 866.771.0861 for an up-to-date list of insurance companies in which the Eating Disorder Center of Denver participates.
How do I determine if my insurance company considers the Eating Disorder Center of Denver “in network” or a “preferred provider”?
We often negotiate with insurance companies to consider the Eating Disorder Center of Denver “in network” or a “preferred provider” as part of a single case agreement, even if we do not appear on your insurance company’s published list. For more information, contact our assessment clinician at 866.771.0861.
How do I get more information about the Eating Disorder Center of Denver?
If you have additional questions or would like to schedule a complimentary and confidential assessment, call the Eating Disorder Center of Denver toll free at 866.771.0861. You may also click here to submit an inquiry online.