-- Lack of the medical resources to treat medical complications (63%) -- Lack of the necessary resources to treat patients (49%) -- Patients have co-existing psychological illnesses or addictions they do not treat (38%) -- Their facility is not eligible for or does not accept patients' insurance (37%) -- They lack the necessary expertise to treat patients (16%) -- Liability issues (13%)"Results show that the majority of eating disorder professionals will refer patients when they feel they don't have the resources to effectively treat them," added Weiner. "It's critical that when making that decision, clinicians understand the importance of finding the right solution for each patient's individual needs." The vast majority (92%) of behavioral health professionals look to an organization with which they have an existing professional relationship when making a referral. Of respondents, 48 percent consult other professionals, 36 percent rely on a referral from the patient's insurance company and 23 percent seek referral sources using the Internet. Most respondents (74%) have referred to an eating disorder-specific inpatient treatment center or an eating disorder-specific residential treatment center (73%). Data shows that most professionals treating eating disorders (86%) consider clinical strength the most important factor to consider when making a referral decision. Other factors considered include reputation of the referral source (47%), cost (36%), location (35%) and aftercare availability (29%). This survey was completed by 158 clinicians from across the U.S. who are engaged in eating disorder treatment. Psychologists represented 39 percent of all survey respondents, with psychiatrists, therapists, licensed social workers, registered dietitians and other clinical professionals representing the remaining respondents. Nearly half of the survey respondents (47%) treat patients in an individual private practice. The Eating Recovery Center is currently producing a white paper that discusses the survey results in further detail. The white paper will be available in early July. To request a copy, please visit http://www.eatingrecoveryinfo.com. About the Eating Recovery Center Located in the heart of Denver's medical district, the Eating Recovery Center is the only facility in the Rocky Mountain region that offers adults a full spectrum of eating recovery treatment options. Services offered include inpatient, residential, partial hospitalization and outpatient programs to meet each patient's unique needs. The Eating Recovery Center combines highly-trained medical staff with a unique integrated treatment philosophy to make each patient's successful recovery a life-restoring event. For more information, visit http://www.eatingrecoveryinfo.com.
Contact Information: Contact: Shannon Fern Office: 303-433-7020 Cell: 303-667-3553