As the world slowly opens back up amid the COVID-19 pandemic, some eating disorder treatment centers have returned to in-person appointments due to concern that health professionals can’t fully monitor high-risk patients through virtual meetings. However, many practices are staying remote — including Columbus Park.
The Benefits of Telehealth Eating Disorder Treatment
As founder Melissa Gerson, LCSW, recently shared with Teen Vogue, the center has been able to address the limitations of telehealth services by working with doctors, using careful observation, and employing tech, like scales that don’t display a weight but send the results directly to a provider.
Thanks to online appointments, patients can easily access telehealth treatment, and providers have more flexibility to meet with clients in different areas. “There definitely are people who are asking for in-person services, but we find many people who are very pleased that virtual eating disorder treatment services are offered, just because of the way it fits into their lives,” Melissa explained.
In fact, the only thing that would push Columbus Park to offer fully in-person counseling would be if insurance providers stopped covering virtual appointments.
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