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 EDC-D for treatment?
What is different about EDC-D’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 EDC-D 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 EDC-D?
How are meals conducted in the partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient programs?
What transitional or aftercare programs do you offer?
How much does treatment cost at EDC-D?
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 EDC-D?
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.
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Why choose EDC-D for treatment?
As a center of excellence, EDC-D provides a unique approach to the treatment of eating disordered males and females who are 16 years and older. EDC-D offers a cost-effective partial hospitalization program that consists of 11 hours a day, seven days a week, three meals and two snacks. Under the guidance of our clinicians, patients are active participants in their treatment and are empowered to seek recovery. Trish O’Donnell, MA, ATR-BC, LPC, and Tamara Pryor, Ph.D. serve as the program and clinical directors, respectively.
EDC-D accepts all major insurances and works with the patient’s insurance company to obtain single case agreements, if needed. Unlike other treatment facilities, EDC-D 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.
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What is different about EDC-D’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 (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 EDC-D is that patients go home or to the EDC-D apartment in the evenings, allowing time to integrate the days’ events and to practice healthy coping strategies. EDC-D patients not only learn to own their recovery, they learn the joy of owning their success.
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How quickly are patients admitted and how long do patients usually stay in the EDC-D partial hospitalization program?
Patients are usually admitted to EDC-D 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 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 length of stay in the partial hospitalization program ranges from four to eight weeks.
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What occurs during the admission process?
An assessment, which includes a review of bio-psycho-social issues, is conducted by the EDC-D 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.
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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 EDC-D assessment clinician will make a recommendation as to the appropriate level of care needed.
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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 EDC-D assessment clinician upon gathering your individual treatment and symptom history.
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What if I’m out of state or live too far to drive every day to EDC-D?
EDC-D 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, the EDC-D admissions department can provide, upon request, a list of near-by hotels for family and patient use.
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How are meals conducted in the partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient programs?
Meals are planned by a Registered Dietitian on the EDC-D staff in collaboration with the inpatient and the EDC-D treatment team. All meals are facilitated by an EDC-D 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.
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What transitional or aftercare programs do you offer?
EDC-D recommends 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 EDC-D or another equally intensive treatment program. For those who required residential treatment out of state, EDC-D’s partial hospitalization and 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.
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How much does treatment cost at EDC-D?
The cost for treatment depends on the services provided. Call the EDC-D assessment clinician at 866.771.0861 for more information.
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Will my insurance cover the treatment I need?
EDC-D has been very successful in getting treatment covered by insurance. However, insurance coverage varies for individuals according to their heath plans. The business office at EDC-D supports patients by communicating with their insurance companies about payment.
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 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. EDC-D does not participate in Medicare, Medicaid, Champus or TriCare.
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How do I determine if my insurance company considers your center “in network” or a “preferred provider”?
We often negotiate with insurance companies to consider us “in network” or a “preferred provider” as a single case agreement, even if we do not appear on your insurance company’s published list. For more information, contact the EDC-D assessment clinician at 866.771.0861.
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How do I get more information about EDC-D?
If you have additional questions or would like to schedule a complimentary and confidential assessment, call the EDC-D toll free at 866.771.0861. You may also click here to submit an inquiry online.
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