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