When should I refer a patient to the Eating Disorder Center of Denver’s partial hospitalization or intensive outpatient programs?

Why choose the Eating Disorder Center of DenverEDC for my patient’s treatment?

How do I make a referral to the Eating Disorder Center of Denver?

What is different about Eating Disorder Center of Denver’s partial hospitalization program vs. residential and is it as effective?

How long do patients usually stay in the Eating Disorder Center of Denver's partial hospitalization program?

How much does treatment cost at the Eating Disorder Center of Denver?

What alternatives are available for a patient who has received treatment on an outpatient basis?

What if my patient doesn’t live in Denver or lives too far to drive every day to Eating Disorder Center of Denver?

What transitional or aftercare programs does the Eating Disorder Center of Denver offer?

How do I get more information about the Eating Disorder Center of Denver?

When should I refer a patient to the Eating Disorder Center of Denver’s partial hospitalization or intensive outpatient programs?
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 dramatic changes in eating habits or significant weight loss and have several of the following symptoms:

Anorexia Nervosa Emaciated Bradycardic Hypotensive Hypotermia Lanugo hair Carotenemia Hyperkeratosis Edema Anemia Spontaneous fractures

Bulimia Nervosa Normal or overweight Hypertensive Parotid enlargement Dental erosions Scars on knuckles of hands Edema Extremity weakness Esophagitis Electrolyte imbalance Sore throat

If your patient is 16 years or older and is suffering from one or more of the above symptoms, and/or has been unsuccessful with other treatment programs, it may be time for a more intense or different level of treatment. Call the Eating Disorder Center of Denver assessment clinician at 866.771.0861 for more information on our treatment programs.

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Why choose the Eating Disorder Center of Denver for my patient’s 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 16 years and older. We offer a cost-effective partial hospitalization program that consists of 11 hours a day, seven days a week, three meals and two snacks, and an evening intensive outpatient program that consists of four hours a day, three days a week, and one meal. Under the guidance of our experienced clinicians, patients are active participants in their treatment and are empowered to seek recovery.

During treatment, our primary therapist confer and collaborate on a weekly basis with the patient’s referring therapist. Referring therapists are invited to weekly  staffings and updates on the patient’s progress is provided weekly by the Eating Disorder Center of Denver primary therapist. In addition, our clinicians work with referring therapists to develop an aftercare program to facilitate their patient’s transition to his/her home environment.

The Eating Disorder Center of Denver accepts all the major insurances in Colorado and works with the patient’s insurance company to obtain single case agreements with out-of-state insurance companies, if needed. New insurance contracts are added yearly; contact an assessment clinician at 866.771.0861 for an up-to-date list. Unlike other treatment facilities, the Eating Disorder Center of Denver does 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. Our assessment clinicians will also provide information to assist patients with limited resources. Note that the Eating Disorder Center of Denver does not participate in Medicare, Medicaid, Champus or TriCare.

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How do I make a referral to the Eating Disorder Center of Denver?
We have found that individuals are more likely to seek and be positive about treatment when their referring therapist provides them with information about the treatment facility to which they are being referred. To facilitate this process, the therapist can contact an Eating Disorder Center of Denver assessment clinician at 866.771.0861 to provide information on the patient’s history and past treatment and obtain information on our levels of care. The assessment clinician then contacts the patient to start the admissions process, conducts an assessment, discusses the appropriate level of treatment, and keeps the referring therapist informed of the patient’s status (admission date, program admitted to, contact information for the patient’s primary therapist at the Eating Disorder Center of Denver, etc.). Patients are usually admitted within one to three days after their complimentary assessment has been completed by the Eating Disorder Center of Denver assessment clinician.

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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: a full day (11 hours) of treatment interventions including group and individual therapy, psychiatric and medical monitoring and three meals and two snacks facilitated by a dietician and a master’s level 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 day's events and to practice healthy coping strategies. Our patients not only learn to own their recovery, they learn the joy of owning their success. And, an Eating Disorder Center of Denver physician reviews the medical and physical needs of each patient weekly.

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How long do patients usually stay in the Eating Disorder Center of Denver's partial hospitalization program?
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 eating disorder behavior. As patients meet individualized goals, they transition to less intensive treatment, attending fewer days per week or fewer hours per day.  The average length of stay for the Eating Disorder Center of Denver's partial hospitalization program is 45 days—shorter for bulimia patients and longer for patients suffering from anorexia as the length of stay is determined by the amount of weight restoration needed.

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How much does treatment cost at the Eating Disorder Center of Denver?
The Eating Disorder Center of Denver accepts all the major insurances in Colorado and works with the patient’s health plan to obtain single case agreements with out-of-network insurance companies, if needed. The cost for treatment depends on the services provided.  Call one of our assessment clinicians at 866.771.0861 for more information.

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What alternatives are available for a patient who has received treatment on an outpatient basis?
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 the patient’s treatment and symptom history.

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What if my patient doesn’t live in Denver or lives too far to drive every day to the 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 or contact our assessment clinicians at 866.771.0861. In addition, our admissions department can provide, upon request, a list of nearby hotels for family and patient use.  

[Back to Top]What transitional or aftercare programs does the Eating Disorder Center of Denver offer?
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 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. 

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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 for a patient, call the Eating Disorder Center of Denver tollfree at 866.771.0861. You may also click here to submit an inquiry online.

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