Eating Disorder Centers

The Negative Impact of Shortened Stays in Eating Disorder Centers

Eating disorder centers and many other health care providers have suffered at the hands of the insurance industry. More importantly, the patient has suffered for it:

• Prior to the scrutiny cost-conscious insurance organizations placed on eating disorder centers, the average stay would be between six to eight weeks. Today, if you are lucky the average length of stay is between three and four.
• After reviewing statistics, it is clear that many women paid the price for the shortened stays by relapsing. Statistics support that relapsing was directly related to their shortened stay in treatment. This in no way takes the responsibility for recovery away from the patient, but it does mean we are discharging a much "sicker" patient than we would ever care to before they are ready to handle their disorder on their own.

Discharge Criteria in Eating Disorder Centers

Eating disorder centers each have their own clinical discharge criteria, but there is always the financial decisive factor, which in many cases, the insurance industry sets. It is rare these sets of criteria are in concert. Though bulimia and anorexia are defined with a psychiatric diagnosis, insurance carriers approve and deny treatment at an eating disorder center based on such medical criteria as weight, blood pressure and electrolyte balance, which indicates healthy levels of sodium, potassium and calcium in the body.

When a patient reaches a weight where they are no longer medically compromised, they still may be very impaired, yet many the insurance companies will suppose that they are healthy enough to discharge. Treating physicians and family member often disagree, thinking it is too soon for the patient to be discharged from the eating disorder center.

Treatment at even the best eating disorder centers takes time. While a person might improve medically, some self destructive behaviors that lead to disordered eating might not improve. In some cases, the patient might improve both clinically and medically, only to run into trouble psychiatrically requiring an additional stay in the eating disorder center.

Family and the Eating Disorder Center

When looking for an eating disorder center, choose one like the Women's Center for Healthy Living, where the family program is included in the cost. The family recovery program provides treatment and education for the entire family unit building supportive relationships rather than destructive ones. After participating in the family program for a few days, it becomes clear how much the patent's eating disorder has affected the family, not to mention the patient. It is not uncommon during the family program to uncover another eating disorder or addiction among the significant others. If this turns out to be the case, it is a perfect situation to intervene.

Don't wait any longer- call the Women's Center for Healthy Living at: 1-800-391-4309. All calls are toll-free and completely confidential.

The Women's Center for Healthy Living is a nationally recognized center for the treatment of women. Our eating disorder center works in conjunction with our other addictive disease programs, as well as, the trauma and dual diagnosis treatment programs.