Residential Treatment Centers ...

Residential Treatment Centers in the United States which provide treatment for eating disorders are an evil which need to be completely exorcised from the industry! A bold statement. A strong statement.  A statement steeped in ... complete and utter nonsense.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

A well-run and professionally operated residential treatment center saves lives. Its professionals give hope, strength and faith to those suffering from eating disorders. Parents justifiably rave about those specific facilities. As so shall I.

By way of example, two residential treatment centers will be highlighted. On the surface, these residential treatment centers could not be more different. One center exists in the fourth largest metroplex in the United States. It is supported by an army of professionals, is part of an ever expanding chain of treatment centers and its parent company has access to multi-million dollar funding from private sources. It has contracts with the vast majority of the largest insurance providers in the United States. By contrast, the other center exists in the 751st largest city in the United States. It is independently owned, has minimal private funding and few contracts with insurance providers. It fights ferociously to have Single Case Agreements approved while having to fight on-going battles with the largest insurance provider in the United States. However, these two treatment centers share one very important commonality ... a commonality that binds them and enables parents to place their faith, their trust, and the lives of their loved ones under their care.

The first of these residential treatment centers is ... The Eating Recovery Center --- in Dallas. Yes, ERC Dallas (technically Plano). Yes, I am aware that my more recent articles could be construed as "slightly, perhaps mildly" critical of private equity firms coming into the eating disorder industry, particularly CCMP Capital Advisors d/b/a The Eating Recovery Center. Nonetheless, quality and professionalism are elements that know no boundaries and where they exist, should be highlighted for the welfare of those millions of people who suffer from this insidious disease.  

On October 24, 2016, after previously being open and treating patients on an IOP and PHP basis, ERC Dallas opened its new Inpatient Treatment Center. This was a mere 6 days before eating disorders claimed the life of my beloved daughter, Morgan. In fact, had Morgan been able to medically stabilize, she would have entered this program due to the tireless work of one ERC employee, its medical director.

That medical director at ERC Dallas is Dr. Stephanie Setliff. Dr. Setliff, who had previously been the medical director over the children's psychiatric program at Children's Medical Center in Dallas, was the first doctor to oversee Morgan's inpatient treatment. In fact, we twice entrusted Morgan’s life to Dr. Setliff.  And if given the opportunity to make those decisions again, without reservation, we would have once again entrusted the life of our daughter to Dr. Setliff. 

Along with Dr. Setliff, ERC Dallas includes Dr. Tyler Wooten as a medical director.  A number of years ago, Dr. Wooten saw Morgan on a few occasions. We both remembered the office of Dr. Wooten, who was then in private practice as being “very well appointed.”  We also fondly remember Dr. Wooten as an excellent, insightful practitioner. 

Finally, ERC Dallas also includes Dr. Michael Lutter as a physician/scientist and attending psychiatrist. Dr. Lutter’s research focuses on the genetic and neurobiological basis of eating disorders. He would be a welcome addition at any treatment facility specializing in eating disorders.

Similarly, ERC Dallas’ counselors and support staff strive for excellence. And whereas no facility, business or individual is perfect, ERC Dallas is a shining example of what a residential treatment program could be.

The second residential treatment program is Avalon Hills located in the 751^st largest city in the United States, Logan, Utah.  Its chief medical director is Dr. Nina Jorgensen, a pediatrician and adolescent medical provider who has an outstanding team surrounding her.  With five therapists on staff being overseen by its clinical director, Tera Linsegrav-Benson, the patients entrusted to Avalon Hills are receiving more individualized assistance than most centers.

Avalon Hills is also a pioneer for utilizing neurofeedback as part of its treatment protocol.  The MUSE device, which is a neuroregulation device worn on the forehead is geared toward developing mindfulness, focus and anxiety regulation.

Avalon Hills’ founder and CEO is Benita Quackenbush, Ph.D. Dr. Quackenbush embraces her founding principles of independence, compassion, and strength while being the heart and soul of Avalon Hills.

In the face of opposition and obstacles created by well-financed third parties, Avalon Hills has acquired the reputation of having success helping those patients who unsuccessfully received treatment elsewhere, those people diagnosed with “treatment-resistant” eating disorders. Because in large part Avalon Hills is “independent,” and because of a lack of treatment facilities in that part of the United States, Avalon Hills fights ferociously with insurance entities for single case agreements.  These agreements allow it to treat patients, to save the lives of those suffering from this disease when all else has failed.

Two treatment centers that could not be more different in size, location, staff, funding, and ownership.  And yet, these two treatment centers share one very important commonality, a commonality that binds them together. That commonality is an uncompromising demand for excellence from their apex professionals. Dr. Setliff has fought many wars against so-called “peer-to-peer” doctors employed by insurance providers who make medical decisions based not on the patient’s medical needs but on the language in an insurance policy. Dr. Quackenbush has fought battles in which so called “outside medical professionals” have contacted patients and their families and spread scurrilous prevarications steeped in flights of fantasies. Above all, these two providers place the needs of their patients first and foremost and do not accept anything less than the absolute best from themselves and others. They remember why they chose to go into this field of medical treatment and remain true to their ideals.  They have chosen to not be “the jack of all trades and masters of none.” They do not toy with the notion of being mergers and acquisitions specialists or Wall Street business tycoons. They save lives, not for their own glory and accolades, but because of their souls' recognition of the Power of the Message.

This commonality, which is anything but common, shows a shared purpose that for Dr. Setliff … that for Dr. Quackenbush, clearly demonstrates the incredibly important reality that it truly is about embracing the Power of the Message. And in embracing the Power of the Message over the Image of the Messenger, they have not just the ability, but their soul’s calling for them to save lives. Our lives. The lives of our loved ones.

And that is what draws us to them. That defines them. And that can define us all, and which by its very nature, constitutes the very best of us.