One of Equip’s main differentiators is our clinical model. Equip has an internal training program that certifies our clinicians in order to deliver evidence-based modalities virtually, and we have a comprehensive research team dedicated to tracking and ensuring effectiveness. Unlike other programs, Equip is proven to work for patients needing a high level of care who might otherwise seek in-person IOP or PHP programs, in fact 87% of Equip patients are high acuity.
Another differentiator is our multidisciplinary care teams, which consist of a medical provider, therapist, dietitian, and peer and family mentors with lived experience. This care team not only collaborates with each other but also closely with referring providers.
This leads to another significant differentiator, our industry-leading outcomes. 70% of patients improving to subclinical symptom levels and 84% meeting weight restoration goals by the end of treatment. After discharge, 76% of patients report that eating disorder symptoms only interfered with daily life “a little” or “not at all” during the previous 28 days.
Initial signs of an eating disorder may include changing eating habits, cutting out food groups, and skipping meals. In general, if you’re concerned about a patient it’s best to refer them to an eating disorder program for a free assessment. Early intervention carries a better prognosis for eating disorder recovery, so the earlier a patient can be diagnosed and begin treatment, the better. You can learn more about when to refer a patient here.
We treat patients of all ages and all eating disorder diagnoses in all 50 states. Our providers are trained to treat patients with all types and subtypes of eating disorders in the DSM, including anorexia, ARFID, bulimia, binge eating disorder (BED), and OSFED, and we also treat patients without an official eating disorder diagnosis.
Many of our patients experience comorbidities, and our clinicians are trained in treating these alongside the eating disorder. In fact, the majority of our patients present with one or more comorbid conditions, which are addressed over the course of treatment.
Equip redefines the fragmented eating disorder treatment landscape, offering evidence-based treatment throughout a patient's entire journey to recovery. Rather than segmenting patient treatment by acuity level (requiring step-down from one setting to another), Equip provides integrated, flexible treatment that meets patients where they are. As long as patients are medically stable, we can begin treatment. Learn more about Equip's level of care here.
As long as patients are medically stable, we can begin treatment. For patients who are medically vulnerable, we require an in-person medical clearance exam before beginning treatment at Equip. This typically involves a visit to their primary care provider for a physical exam and to check weight, height, orthostatic vitals, and/or labs.
After they are medically cleared (using the criteria from the American Psychiatric Association Practice and the Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine), we continue to monitor medical status during their time at Equip, either through virtual medical monitoring or by collaborating with in-person medical providers, depending on a patient's needs. By closely tracking weight, vitals, and other markers as necessary, we're able to ensure that all patients can safely be treated at home. Visit our provider resource center for more details on how to medically evaluate a patient for eating disorder treatment.
Length of treatment varies from patient to patient, but the average patient in remission discharges after 51 weeks. This may sound long, but the length of treatment is specifically designed to prevent relapse, which is so common for these illnesses. Additionally, since patients go through treatment from home, treatment doesn’t impede their lives or the lives of their loved ones, and many of our insurance partners provide coverage for at least a year.
Generally, treatment begins as a high-touch process with several appointments per week, and gradually becomes a lower-touch experience as each patient moves through their treatment journey and toward recovery.
Our provider team includes trained and licensed therapists, medical providers, and dietitians, all of whom specialize in eating disorders, as well as certified mentors for both the patient and the people supporting them.
Every therapist is licensed (with licenses such as LCSW, LMFT, AMFT, and others) and has training in eating disorder treatment. Therapists undergo approximately 80 hours of training and supervision in their first three months at Equip. Our medical providers are MDs (physicians, pediatricians, or psychiatrists), registered nurses, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners with training in eating disorders. Medical providers complete 30 hours of training when onboarding with Equip, and nurses complete 50 hours of training. Every dietitian has been licensed as an RD and has experience working with patients with eating disorders. They complete 30 hours of training.
Our mentors are Equip employees who either have lived experience with an eating disorder (meaning they have recovered from an eating disorder themselves) or have helped a loved one recover from an eating disorder. Mentors also receive over 30 hours of specialized mentorship training through Equip.
All Equip providers receive ongoing training and supervision, including 24 hours of continuing education. You can learn more about our in-depth, evidence-based training curriculum and advanced certifications on our provider training page.
