Questions to ask the care team

Finding the right care team and care setting can be daunting because many factors usually go into a decision about where to go for treatment. If residential or inpatient care is under consideration, there are questions to ask in addition to these. See the list of “Questions to ask when seeking a treatment center.” The questions to ask range from practical questions about costs, insurance, and availability to take on new patients, as well as to experience and types of treatment offerings. This list will help guide you through the maze of questions that are important to ask the care team. Be sure to take notes or record responses to refer to at a later time as needed.

• • What are the names, roles, titles, and contact information for the people treating the patient?
  • What other professionals will be involved in the treatment?
  • Is there any psychiatric diagnosis in addition to bulimia nervosa? How will it be treated?
  • Are there any physical complications that need to be addressed?
  • What treatment plan do you recommend?
  • What will the sequence of treatment be?
  • Do you recommend any alternative or adjunct treatments?
  • What are the benefits and risks associated with the recommended treatments (including drug therapy) and any alternatives?
  • What specific goals will be set for the patient’s treatment plan?
  • How do you measure success for the patient?
  • What’s your prognosis for the patient’s chance of a full recovery? How long might it take?
  • What are your criteria for determining whether a patient needs to be partially or fully hospitalized?
  • What happens in counseling sessions? Will there be individual and group sessions? Will there be family sessions?
  • How long does each counseling session last? How many will there be? How often will they happen?
  • What contact can the patient have with family and friends through the course of treatment?
  • What are we permitted to bring when visiting? What are we not permitted to bring?
  • What should we do and who should be contacted if the patient suffers a partial or complete relapse?
  • Which staff member will coordinate aftercare planning when the patient is ready to be discharged? What specific plans will be made for further treatment and support?