Private, university-based, and community-based are the three types of anorexia treatment facilities, and differ primarily in their cost. The main goal of most anorexia treatment facilities is to provide personalized treatment to individuals suffering from eating disorders. Types of treatment will vary depending on the severity of a patient's case and the facility that her or she is able to afford. Health insurance will also play a major role in the kinds of anorexia treatment facilities that are available to patients.
Private facilities are funded by small groups or individuals, and these locations usually have expensive accommodations, highly-trained professionals, and a wide variety of treatment plans. These anorexia treatment facilities are usually very expensive and do not have to accept all applying patients. The equipment used in these facilities is generally of higher quality than public institutions, and there is an increased number of staff available to each patient. Most private facilities are used by extremely affluent patients who usually pay out of pocket for services.
University-based facilities are usually inexpensive because most employees are medical students training to become specialists. Services offered sometimes include research projects in search of volunteers who have various eating disorders. Some of the treatments are not as well-developed as treatment offered at public clinics, but they may assist patients with symptoms and other afflictions caused by anorexia. Funding may be provided from numerous sources, including the government, private contributions, fundraisers, and local charities.
Community-based or public facilities are almost always government funded and provide a range of services for anorexic patients. Some patients are admitted to the emergency room (ER) before being referred to public anorexia treatment facilities for either inpatient or outpatient treatment. Insurance and payment plans are generally available at these facilities, and a local hospital usually takes this into consideration before writing an appropriate referral.
Treatment plans may vary depending on the location and severity of the medical case, but most anorexia treatment facilities offer nutrition education, weight restoration, psychotherapy, group counseling, and medication as needed. Anorexia is a serious disorder that causes the patient to have a false self-image and an obsession with gaining weight. He or she may deprive the body of nutrients, which can lead to rapid weight loss, expressed fear of being overweight while appearing to be drastically underweight, depression, and inducing vomiting. Patients suffering from symptoms should research all treatment plans and facilities available to him or her.