Specialty Services

Pediatric and Adolescent Eating Disorder Outpatient Clinic

The outpatient clinic meets daily to provide medical evaluation/management, nutritional management, and therapy (individual, group, or family) for both children and adolescents. Psychiatric evaluation and treatment are also provided. Patients are seen on an ongoing basis for treatment until recovery is achieved.

We would like to announce the formation of two out-patient therapy groups for our patients with eating disorders.  Group therapy can be a very helpful part of treatment and recovery.

Eating Disorder Intensive Outpatient Program (EDIOP)

The Intensive Outpatient Program provides a structure of group sessions three hours, three days per week. These group sessions include:

• Psycho-educational groups
• Psycho-dynamic oriented group therapy
• Meal-time group
• Weekly support group for patients, family and friends (age sixteen and older).

In addition to weekly group sessions, each patient receives nutritional counseling and regular psychiatric and medical evaluations to assess progress.

Partial Hospitalization Programs

The Partial Hospitalization Programs provides a more intensive structure for group therapy meeting five days a week.

These group sessions include:

• Psycho-educational groups
• Psycho-dynamic oriented group therapy
• Yoga, music, art and pet therapy
• Two meals a day and a snack
• Educational instruction (child program only)
• Weekly support group for patient, family and friends (adolescent and adult program - age sixteen and older).

A personalized treatment plan including individuals, family, and group therapy is designed to address each patient's specific needs and goals. Psychiatric evaluation and medication are available, as well as regular medical evaluations to assess progress.

Adolescent and adult program (age sixteen and older), Monday - Thursday Noon - 7:00 p.m. and Friday 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Children and young adolescent program (age eight-fifteen) Monday - Thursday 7:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. and Friday 7:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Inpatient Hospitalization

Children and adolescents, who are medically unstable due to their eating disorder, can be admitted to Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital for medical stabilization. Medically unstable adults can be admitted to Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.

The Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute in Harrisburg, a collaboration between Penn State Hershey Medical Center and Pinnacle Health Systems, offers inpatient psychiatric hospitalization for psychiatrically unstable children, adolescents and adults.