5 Reasons PHP/IOP Can Help Your Patient Recover From an Eating Disorder Without Residential Care
Your patient seems to be struggling more lately. More talk about food, more self-judgment and isolation. Their eating disorder behaviors are up and their motivation for recovery is down. They could use some extra support.
Then again, this doesn’t exactly scream crisis. Surely your patient doesn’t need residential or inpatient care yet.
Where to turn?
At Veritas Collaborative, we offer partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient programs (PHP/IOP) to treat eating disorders; these are early intervention services that help patients recover sooner. These structured programs offer more support than traditional outpatient eating disorder treatment and more flexibility than around-the-clock care. Patients can admit directly to PHP/IOP, well before 24/7 care is warranted.
Rather than wait until your patient may need the highest level of care, consider how early intervention may help them now. Here are five reasons PHP/IOP may be right for your patient.
5 Reasons to Consider PHP/IOP for Your Eating Disorder Patient
1. Improved treatment outcomes
Eating disorder treatment works best when it’s delivered early. Research shows that early intervention reduces the length of recovery, symptom intensity, and recurrence rates. As soon as you notice the signs of an eating disorder in your patient, we’re here to help you navigate the next steps. If clinically indicated, PHP or IOP can start your patient on the path to recovery as soon as possible.
2. Comprehensive support
Eating disorders are serious at every stage. While your patient may not currently need 24/7 medical or behavioral supervision, they may benefit from the multidisciplinary support that PHP and IOP provide. Patients can live at home or at our lodging facility while receiving necessary therapeutic, nutritional, and medical support during the week. Should your patient’s needs change, our full continuum of care allows patients to step up and down in treatment as necessary.
3. Recovery in a real-life setting
Returning to “normal” life after residential treatment for an eating disorder can be an overwhelming experience. PHP/IOP often allows for a smoother transition, as recovery is “taken home” sooner. Outside of programming hours, patients and families can immediately practice recovery skills in the context of their daily lives. And professional support is never far away as they’re applying the tools learned in treatment.
4. Necessary structure
Both PHP and IOP eating disorder treatment consist of a variety of individual and group sessions, including therapeutic meals as well as psychoeducation, nutrition, and emotional processing sessions. Patients typically spend a minimum of 30 hours per week in PHP and a minimum of 12 hours per week in IOP gaining the resources they need for lasting recovery.
5. Virtual options
Virtual PHP and IOP treatment are available in North Carolina and Georgia, making these care options even more accessible. We bring these virtual services directly to patients who live far from our eating disorder treatment facilities (in Durham and Charlotte, NC and in Atlanta, GA) or who simply prefer to receive care at home.
Among our virtual care options is CARE IOP, an intensive outpatient program for adults with binge eating. This unique program provides intersectional and inclusive care, addressing the needs of those with binge eating disorder and compulsive overeating. It is currently available in North Carolina with plans to expand.
Intervene Today and Avert the Need for Residential Care
Many individuals with eating disorders hold the false belief that they are not “sick enough” to get treatment. They imagine that those who truly need help are those who require hospitalization. In reality, everyone with an eating disorder deserves professional help, and the sooner they get it, the smoother their recovery will go.
Our PHP and IOP eating disorder treatment programs may be the right level of care for your patients who need structure and support from a dedicated team of specialists. We’re here to help you intervene early.
The road to recovery is paved together. If you think PHP/IOP may be appropriate for your patient, give us a call at 1-855-875-5812 or make an online referral today.
About the Author
Dr. Jillian Lampert is the Chief Strategy Officer of Accanto Health, the parent company of Veritas Collaborative and The Emily Program. Additionally, Dr. Lampert is Co-Founder and President of the REDC, the national consortium representing eating disorders care focused on treatment standards, best practices, access to care, and collaborative research. She is also a Board Member of the Eating Disorders Coalition, a DC-based national organization for eating disorders policy and advocacy, and a Board Member of WithAll, a Minnesota-based organization that empowers eating disorder prevention and strengthens support for recovery. She holds an adjunct graduate faculty position in the Department of Food Science and Nutrition at the University of Minnesota.
Dr. Lampert completed her doctorate degree in Nutrition and Epidemiology and Master of Public Health degree in Public Health Nutrition at the University of Minnesota. She earned a Master of Science degree in Nutrition at the University of Vermont and completed her dietetic internship at the University of Minnesota Hospital and Clinics. She has an expansive range of policy, clinical, research, education, teaching, and program development experience in the area of eating disorders.
Dr. Lampert has served on the Board of Directors of the Academy for Eating Disorders as the Electronic Media Portfolio Director and co-chair of the Academy for Eating Disorders Nutrition Special Interest Group. She is a Fellow of the Academy for Eating Disorders (FAED) and a member of the Academy for Nutrition and Dietetics (formerly the American Dietetic Association), and BHN (Behavioral Health Nutrition) dietetic practice group. Dr. Lampert is the author of numerous book chapters and articles addressing the nutritional treatment of eating disorders, body image, sports participation, adolescent health, and disordered eating and she regularly speaks regionally and nationally on numerous eating disorder-related topics.
One of her primary goals in life is to have the kids in her house (and everywhere!) have confident, loving relationships with their bodies and themselves.