A Chance To Heal::For Healthcare Providers

A Chance to Heal Website for Healthcare Providers

This information provided as reference material only. This site should not be relied upon as a comprehensive guide for treating eating disorders. Please feel free to contact us for more information.

A Chance to Heal board members and advisors have created this website for physicians and health care professionals. Please feel free to email us for more information.

A Chance to Heal Offers Healthcare Provider Training

WHAT does the training provide? Comprehensive information on eating disorder signs and symptoms, tools to prevent eating disorders, referral information, and tips for screening patients
WHO should attend? Physicians, Nurses, Medical Students, Nursing Students, Nutritionists, Dentists, Alterative Medical Providers, and more
WHY should our hospital or healthcare center participate? An estimated 9 million Americans stuggle with eating disorders and few healthcare providers have the tools and information for early diagnosis and prevention. This program will help break down barriers to treatment and teach best practices for diagnosis and treatment.
WHERE? Greater Philadelphia Area (Southeastern PA and some parts of NJ)
WHERE do the workshops take place? Hospitals, Medical and Nursing Schools, and Medical Centers
WHEN? the hospital/school decides what best fits their community
HOW much does it cost? Programs are provided free of charge
HOW many can attend? Programs range in size from 15 to 200
TO SCHEDULE programs for your hospital or school, contact us by email or at 215 855-2420.

Your Role in Eating Disorders Prevention

Compiled and written by Margo Maine, PhD

Primary Prevention: Reducing to eliminating the problem by understanding and addressing causes and risk factors.
Physicians practice primary prevention whether you know it or not when you:

Educate patients about nutrition
Play the role of health educator
Encourage healthy physical activity
Promote positive body image
Help families to communicate effectively, have healthy relationships, and build self-esteem
Guide parents and children through the challenges of growth and individuation

Secondary Prevention: Identifying the problem early, before it becomes severe.
You play an important role by:

Noticing changes in physical parameters such as growth, weight, vital signs
Sharing concerns and providing initial counseling
Educating patients about the importance of adequate nutrition and health habits
Consulting to schools, athletic organizations, and other influential groups

Tertiary Prevention: Developing strategies to keep the problem from getting worse.
You are unique in your ability to:

Refer for appropriate therapy by knowing resources in the area
Break the denial by giving an historic perspective of your observations of the patient's condition and potential consequences of the eating disorder
Educate patients about the positive benefit of treatment
Monitor medical status and keep patients stable while treatment proceeds
Set a positive example of needing others by collaborating and communicating with mental health professionals
Advocate for appropriate care when third party payers deny it