Alan D., Health Educator
“Prior to my on-site visit to the Eating Recovery Center, I had heard many great things about the program from some close colleagues in the Academy for Eating Disorders. These incredibly comments, coupled with the marketing information I had received encouraged me to attend an on-site visit. I set out for Denver with the buzzword in my mind that the Eating Recovery Center is “rapidly becoming recognized as the best inpatient eating disorders treatment facility in the country.” Going in to a visit with such high expectations, one might assume to be disappointed. However, I can say that not only were my high expectations of the Eating Recovery Center met during my on-site visit, but they were actually exceeded! The work that Dr. Ken Weiner and the world class team of staff that he has assembled are doing at Eating Recovery Center is truly exceptional. Eating Recovery Center impresses me on three critical levels: treatment environment, treatment models, and treatment staff.
First, in all of the treatment facilities I’ve visited prior to this, I’ve only witnessed two kinds of environment: a typical psychiatric hospital ward that feels more fitting as a prison than a place of care; or a lavish residential house that does not really feel at all like a clinical environment. What I truly love about Eating Recovery Center is that it is a psychiatric hospital with all of the appropriate facilities and a clinical environment. However, with all of the fireplace lounges and the incredible spa bathroom, you feel like you are in a resort. Inpatients have access to 24-hour care and can even be taken by cart in a skybridge to a major Emergency Room in a couple of minutes, but they can feel like they are in the relaxing a nurturing environment they need to begin recovery from an eating disorder.
Second, the treatment models that are employed at Eating Recovery Center are research-based and dynamic, especially the use of ACT. I also really appreciate the unique partnership with Denver Health that allows even the most acute patients to come to Denver to receive care and then transfer in to Eating Recovery Center after they have been stabilized so that they can begin treatment in the inpatient program. The availability of seemingly well-structured PHP, IOP, and outpatient programs really adds to the strength of the Center. I have known Dr. Ovidio Bermudez for a few years and I was very excited to learn last year that he was moving to the Eating Recovery Center to help operate the Child and Adolescent unit. Not only is the unit equally well laid out to the main Center, but I believe that Dr. Bermudez is the best pediatrician in the country working with eating disorders, and parents and patients could not ask for a better physician to be overseeing their care!
Last, the staff at Eating Recovery Center is world class and committed to providing the best care in the best manner. From Dr. Weiner, Dr. Johnson, Dr. Bishop, and Dr. Bermudez at the top right down to administrative staff, everyone is professional and really wants to help people as best as they can in their recovery.
Moving forward, I will have no hesitation in saying that any severe or acute eating disordered patients should consider being flown by air ambulance to Denver Health (if possible) to begin a path of recovery with Eating Recovery Center. As for the young women and men I most commonly see, I will strongly recommend that they consider working with intake coordinators at Eating Recovery Center to be placed the inpatient or PHP programs. While Eating Recovery Center may not be the right fit for every individual I work with, I know that for those it is the right fit for, it will be my most recommended treatment facility into the future.”
- Alan D., Health Educator
