SEATTLE, May 14 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) and the Academy for Eating Disorders (AED) today introduced a patient bill of rights, launching a statewide initiative in Washington to help families access quality care for individuals affected by eating disorders.
Entitled the Worldwide Charter for Action on Eating Disorders, the Charter calls for a partnership among patients, families and their treatment team to ensure the highest quality care for every person undergoing treatment for anorexia nervosa (which has the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric disorder), bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder. NEDA, along with the AED, the international organization of eating disorder specialists who drafted the Charter, is seeking support for the Charter in Washington State from national and state policymakers, clinicians, and families affected by eating disorders.
"The Charter was created by the AED to ensure that eating disorders --
serious mental illnesses with often severe physical consequences -- are
treated as such, and that patients and their families are afforded every
opportunity to receive high quality, affordable care," said Lynn Grefe,
NEDA CEO. "We hear from families every day who don't know where to turn or
what to expect from their treatment providers. It's gut wrenching. Now
their rights as patients are clearly defined -- a huge step for the
millions of affected families."
The Charter calls for patients and their families to:
-- have ongoing communication/partnership with health professionals
-- receive comprehensive assessment and treatment planning
-- receive accessible, high quality, fully funded, specialized care
-- receive respectful, fully informed, age-appropriate, safe levels of
care
-- have caregivers who are informed, valued and respected as a treatment
resource
-- have caregivers who provide accessible, appropr
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