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NEDA TOOLKIT for Parents Questions to Ask When Seeking a Treatment Center Does the center accept the patient’s insurance? If so, how much will it cover? Does the center offer help in obtaining reimbursement from the insurer? Does the center offer financial assistance? How long has the center been in business? What is its treatment philosophy? Does the center have any religious affiliations and what role do they play in treatment philosophy? Does the center provide multidisciplinary care? Is the location convenient for the patient and his/her support people who will be involved through recovery? If the location is far away for in-person family participation, what alternatives are there? What security does the facility have in place to protect patients? How quickly will you complete a full assessment of my child? Prior to traveling to the treatment center: what are your specific medical criteria for admission and will you talk with my insurance company before we arrive to determine eligibility for benefits? What is expected of the family during the person’s stay? Anorexic specific: Please describe your strategy for accomplishing refeeding and weight gain, and please include anticipated time frame. What are the visiting guidelines for family or friends? What levels of care does the center provide? Please define criteria for each level mentioned. What types of professionals participate on the care team and what is each person’s role? What are the credentials and experience of the staff? How many hours of treatment are provided to a patient each day and week? Which professional serves as team leader? What types of therapy does the center consider essential? Optional? What is the patient-staff ratio? What is the rate of turnover (staff resigning) for clinical staff? How is that handled with patients? Who will the patient have the most contact with on a daily basis? What is the mealtime support philosophy? Who will update key family or friends? How often? How is care coordinated for the patient inside the center and outside if needed? How does the center communicate with the patient’s family doctors and other doctors who may routinely provide care? What are your criteria for determining whether a patient needs to be partially or fully hospitalized? What happens in counseling sessions? Will there be individual and group sessions? Will there be family sessions? How does the care team measure success for the patient? How do you decide when a patient is ready to leave? How is that transition managed with the patient and family? What after-care plans do you have in place and at what point do you begin planning for discharge? What follow-up care after discharge is needed and who should deliver it? Does the patient have a follow-up appointment in hand before being discharged? Is the follow-up appointment within 7 days of the discharge date? When is payment due? Key Sources ECRI Institute Bulimia Resource Guide http://www.bulimiaguide.org ECRI Institute interviews with families and treatment centers Page | 58