How Do I Get Started?
The easiest way to start the process is to go to the "Home" page of this website and click the "Request an Evaluation" button. You will then be connected to our patient portal. You can then set up your portal account. Setting up this account allows us to quickly gather data in a secure manner. This data will then help us to quickly determine whether to have a therapist contact you by phone right away, set up an in-person meeting, or both. It also allows us to verify your insurance coverage for our programs so that you will know what your insurance company will pay and what will be your personal responsibility. This information will be provided to you over the phone so that you can make an informed decision should you choose to pursue an evaluation and/or treatment. After completing and submitting your information on the portal, you can expect a call from our Administrative Director within 24 hours (and often much sooner). You will then have the opportunity to ask questions and schedule an evaluation.
If at any point during the Admission Process you wish to speak directly to our administrative staff, please do not hesitate to call us at (716) 688-5372.
What Should I Expect At My Evaluation?
Once you have scheduled your evaluation, it is normal to feel apprehensive and question if this is “really necessary”. Try to relax- coming in for an evaluation does not commit you to anything. The purpose of the appointment is two-fold: First, the evaluation at Narins EDC involves a thorough interview assessment to determine symptoms, co-existing problems, psychosocial and other contributory factors, and functional impairment due to the Eating Disorder. Based on the assessment, we recommend the appropriate level of care as well as potential treatment goals that Narins EDC can help you address. Second, Dr. Welchoff will talk to you about the Narins EDC programs, answer questions you may have, and address your concerns.
It is important to know that Admission to NEDC is voluntary, and we work with many people who are ambivalent about recovery. All you need is to be willing to give the program a try. The program recommendation is based on many factors, such as symptom severity, risk, functional impairment, response to previous treatment, quality and availability of support system, and other individually-determined criteria. The program is not chosen based on what you feel comfortable with or willing to do but rather on the type of treatment that has been empirically- proven to have success in treating the presenting concerns. For example, if someone has symptoms meeting criteria for our Partial Hospital Program, it is generally ineffective to “try IOP first” due to convenience or not being ready to commit to PHP. Reasons for recommendations will be explained in detail at the evaluation. Please remember, our recommendations are designed to maximize your success in meeting your recovery goals!
It is important to know that Admission to NEDC is voluntary, and we work with many people who are ambivalent about recovery. All you need is to be willing to give the program a try. The program recommendation is based on many factors, such as symptom severity, risk, functional impairment, response to previous treatment, quality and availability of support system, and other individually-determined criteria. The program is not chosen based on what you feel comfortable with or willing to do but rather on the type of treatment that has been empirically- proven to have success in treating the presenting concerns. For example, if someone has symptoms meeting criteria for our Partial Hospital Program, it is generally ineffective to “try IOP first” due to convenience or not being ready to commit to PHP. Reasons for recommendations will be explained in detail at the evaluation. Please remember, our recommendations are designed to maximize your success in meeting your recovery goals!
What Happens After the Evaluation?
At the conclusion of the evaluation, Dr. Welchoff will discuss your options for treatment and, based on the information gathered, recommend the most suitable course of action. If you do not wish to admit to Narins EDC, you are welcome to return to your current treatment team to discuss other options or request treatment referrals from the admissions staff. If you are ready to move forward with the admissions process, there are a few additional steps that may need to be taken. First, Dr. Welchoff may ask your permission to speak to your current providers and/or obtain medical records to be considered in making the final determination as to whether or not Narins EDC is the right treatment program to best meet your needs. Second, if admitting to the Partial Hospital Program, you will need to obtain specific blood work and an EKG from your primary care provider. These results, along with your medical records and the input of your primary care provider, are reviewed by our Medical Specialist to determine if you are medically stable to be safely treated at Narins EDC. Third, the admissions staff will seek authorization from your insurance company (if required) to cover your treatment. Once these tasks are complete, we will set your admission date and get started on this stage in your recovery.
Referrals from a Higher Level of Care
For those seeking to admit to Narins EDC as a step-down from a higher level of care such as inpatient or residential treatment, it is important to start the process as soon as you are aware of a tentative discharge date from the referring (higher level) facility. First, the referring clinician should reach out by phone or email to alert us that you may be interested in our facility. We then need you (with therapist help if necessary) to go on our website and register. There is a button on the home page to request an evaluation which will take you through this process. We usually need some lead time for those coming from residential/ inpatient, so it is recommended to doing this as soon as possible. Once insurance is verified, a phone evaluation will be scheduled, records sent from the referring facility will be reviewed, and a determination of your appropriateness for our facility will be made. We would then need blood work and EKG (must be within 2 weeks of admission to our facility) as well as a COVID test. Per NYS guidelines, if you are travelling to New York from another state, we need a COVID test completed 3 days prior to travelling back to NY and again on day 4 of arriving home. If both tests are negative, we would then seek insurance authorization and hopefully admit you into our program promptly thereafter.
