Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, please download a digital brochure here: EDCMT BROCHURE

Or contact us to have printed brochures sent to your office: CONTACT US

Depending on severity of the eating disorder symptoms, treatment may be delivered on a strictly outpatient basis, or through our intensive outpatient program (IOP), or partial hospitalization program (PHP). With these differences in treatment intensity level, the amount of time a patient spends in treatment per week varies from 1-7 days per week. This amount may change as he or she progresses through our program.

The total length of treatment depends entirely on each patient. EDCMT does not use a “one size fits all” approach to care. We treat every patient as an individual, coming to us with a unique background and set of circumstances. Therefore, treatment duration depends on each patient’s unique needs. Some individuals will complete treatment with us in a matter of months, while others require ongoing support at varying levels of intensity over the span of several years. Some patients choose to participate in our outpatient group opportunities long after completing initial treatment.

EDCMT treats common eating disorders including:

• Anorexia Nervosa
• Bulimia Nervosa
• Binge Eating Disorder
• Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)
•  Other specified feeding or eating disorder (OSFED)

Many eating disorders share multiple signs and symptoms, making diagnosis difficult. Often times, individuals with disordered eating behaviors are embarrassed by their struggles and avoid sharing information that would assist with diagnosis. You may find our assessment tool helpful in making a diagnosis. However, if you are still unsure whether your patient has an eating disorder or requires treatment, we are happy to assist you in the assessment process. Just give us a call: (406) 451-7370

Because the dynamics predisposing an individual to disordered eating are complex, initial resistance to treatment is very common. Often, resistance to treatment centers around common barriers that, when addressed proactively, free the individual to openly consider treatment. Our staff is highly trained in understanding these barriers, and are happy to help you address them with your patient.

EDCMT staff works closely with referring providers to prepare you for your patient’s completion of treatment. It is important that providers share a common understanding of best practices related to interacting with individuals who have eating disorders. Common elements of these best practices that EDCMT staff are happy to review with you include:

• Blind weighing when checking in a patient for a medical appointment
• Communicating with the patient about his or her eating disorder experience using neutral, non-judgmental language
• Assessing urges to restrict, avoid, overeat, binge, and/or binge/purge.
• Monitoring nutritional status
• Monitoring lab results in patients who have recently been discharged from inpatient care

The vast majority of EDCMT patients succeed in addressing the root causes of their symptoms, thereby disrupting the damaging behaviors associated with eating disorders. However, some will intermittently struggle with urges to re-engage in those behaviors during times of great stress. For this reason, it is important for referring providers to remain vigilant for signs and symptoms that suggest a return of disordered eating behaviors. EDCMT staff are happy to review with you the signs and symptoms to watch for, such as:

• Dental enamel deterioration
• Skin breakdown due to insufficient protein intake
• Gastrointestinal or genitourinary system complaints suggestive of misuse of laxatives or diuretics
• Vital sign anomalies (cardiac arrhythmias, in particular)
• Cold intolerance
• A sudden change in affect
• Suicidality
• A strong tendency to minimize symptoms or emotional suffering due to outside pressures or expectations to be “better.”

Fax a face sheet with your most recent visit note to us at 406.571.7956. We will then reach out to the referred patient to schedule an initial call. 

If you have any questions, call us at 406.451.7370.