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UTILITY NAVIGATION

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MAIN NAVIGATION

 * PATIENTS
   * Column 1
     * Why ACUTE?
     * Adolescent Patients
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   * Admitting to ACUTE
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   * Read recovery stories from ACUTE patients
     Learn more
 * CONDITIONS
   * Column 1
     * Anorexia Nervosa (AN)
     * Bulimia Nervosa (BN)
     * Atypical Anorexia (A-AN)
     * Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)
     * Severe Malnutrition (non-ED)
   * See the latest research about conditions treated at ACUTE
     Learn more
 * TREATMENT
   * Column 1
     * What is Medical Stabilization?
     * Refeeding for Eating Disorders
     * Refeeding for Severe Malnutrition
   * Treatment at ACUTE
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     * Aftercare Support
   * What to Expect: A Day at ACUTE
     Learn more
 * FOR PROVIDERS
   * Column 1
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SAVING A LIFE BEGINS HERE

The world’s only Center of Excellence treating patients with extreme medical
complications of eating disorders and severe malnutrition from progressive
disease or infection.

Get life-saving help now
Call 866.824.4306
Free Assessment


WHEN LIFE-SAVING MEDICAL CARE IS NEEDED, EXPERIENCE MATTERS

Severe eating disorders are the only mental illnesses regularly accompanied by
dangerous, life-threatening medical complications. Significant medical
instability results from progressive malnutrition, purging behaviors and blood
chemistry abnormalities, and compromises virtually all of the body’s vital
organs and systems.

ACUTE’s private, hospital-based medical telemetry unit at Denver Health Medical
Center in Denver, Colorado only treats these complex medical issues in patients
with extreme forms of eating disorders and severe malnutrition.

Treatment at ACUTE


TAKE A VIRTUAL TOUR OF ACUTE

 

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Conditions Treated

Understanding common medical complications or anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia
nervosa (BN) and avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) is crucial to
saving lives and helping patients achieve the medical stability and cognitive
function necessary to engage fully in the recovery process.

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ANOREXIA NERVOSA

Anorexia Nervosa (AN) is a highly lethal mental disorder manifested by marked
food restrictions, resulting in a very thin body habitus, an abnormal focus on
body image and a host of medical complications which progress as the
malnutrition worsens.

Learn more
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BULIMIA NERVOSA

Bulimia Nervosa (BN) is an eating disorder characterized by a dangerous cycle of
bingeing and purging via compensatory behaviors to rid the body of ingested
calories and prevent weight gain.

Learn more
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ATYPICAL ANOREXIA NERVOSA (A-AN)

A myth in eating disorders is that restrictive eating disorders including
anorexia nervosa and ARFID are only problematic at very low BMIs and % Ideal
Body Weight (IBW).

Learn more
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AVOIDANT RESTRICTIVE FOOD INTAKE DISORDER (ARFID)

Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) is a feeding disturbance
characterized by a persistent failure to meet appropriate nutritional or energy
needs.

Learn more
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SEVERE MALNUTRITION (NON-ED)

Liver failure, non-tuberculosis mycobacterium infection (NTM, aka MAI), cancer,
HIV or other chronic infections can cause significant unintended weight loss and
medical instability related to malnutrition.  

Learn more


AIR AMBULANCE TRANSPORT

For patients with extreme forms of eating disorders and severe malnutrition,
ACUTE’s admission process removes the logistical issues and risks of commercial
air travel, taxis/Ubers and nights alone in hotels. It also acknowledges
emerging considerations related to COVID-19 and safe travel, including social
distancing and closures, that may complicate one’s ability to travel to
treatment.

Learn More


LEADING INTERNATIONAL EXPERTS

We recognize that traveling across the country, or to another country, for
treatment can feel overwhelming, particularly when you or a loved one are
already dealing with the emotional burden of serious illness. Once you reach out
to us,  you are no longer alone. Our compassionate admissions
team will support you every step along the way, making it as easy as possible
for you to make the journey to our unit in Denver.

Learn More
Previous Next
Jill Mark Melanie

 * “Following more than 2 years, 3 countries, 7 hospitals, I was dropped at
   Denver airport with no direction. 70% blind, it was up to me to create a
   vision. What could I make of this clean slate; how could I take on the
   mountains of my mind?”
   
   Jill
   
   
   JILL'S STORY
   
   During her life-changing treatment at ACUTE, Jill Wheatley “found signs
   leading me to travel and embrace every day and every stride.” Dialing in from
   the Himalayas, Jill participated in a beautiful Facebook Live conversation to
   explain how she followed those signs to a life of recovery involving skiing,
   ice climbing and exploration around the world.
   
   Watch Jill's Story

 * “There is such a misunderstanding about eating disorders and the health
   consequences in the medical community that I was able to easily hide behind
   my disorder and did so for many years.”
   
   Mark
   
   
   MARK'S STORY
   
   On my first day, I knew right away that all the people treating me were on my
   side and only wanted the best for me. They were caring, compassionate and had
   a deep understanding of my condition. I could not believe the extent to which
   each caregiver went to be sure that I was receiving the highest level of care
   which they had promised me at the beginning of my stay. With all of that in
   mind, I found quickly that getting healthy was not going to be an easy
   journey and it did require me giving into the process. I needed to open
   myself up to the process and allow it the time necessary to stabilize both my
   mental and physical health. I had a long road ahead and with the help of my
   team, the road seemed much more manageable and, for the first time, I felt
   confidence in my ability to beat this thing.
   
   Read Mark's Story

 * “After many failed attempts in inpatient facilities, residential treatment
   programs and partial programs, I was beginning to lose faith that there was a
   light at the end of the tunnel. I was accomplished in so many ways, but my
   eating disorder was full-blown and affecting my daily life. The anorexia and
   use of laxatives was my only friend. I knew I needed to do something.”
   
   Melanie
   
   
   MELANIE'S STORY
   
   The weekend prior to my arrival at the ACUTE, I laid in bed for 48 hours
   straight – throwing up, running to the bathroom every hour on the hour with
   diarrhea, and shaking from my electrolytes being so out of whack. I prayed
   all night that something bad wouldn’t happen to me. I prayed that I wouldn't
   have a heart attack, a stroke, a seizure and not to go into cardiac arrest. I
   prayed my kidneys wouldn't fail and that I wouldn't need dialysis one day –
   something my doctor told me was possible if I didn't get help now. I made a
   promise – a promise that if I made it through the night I would call ACUTE, a
   hospital treatment program that treats the most severe eating disorder
   patients with medical complications and ask them to help me. That next day I
   booked a flight and I left for Denver, Colorado. I flew halfway across the
   country and found my light at the end of tunnel. The day of my admission to
   ACUTE, I was so excited. I was excited because I knew that this would be my
   saving grace. I was greeted with a wheelchair and smiles; and in that
   wheelchair I felt all of my worries wash away. My gut told me I was in the
   right place.
   
   Read Melanie's Story


COMPASSIONATE, HONEST ANSWERS TO YOUR QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS.

 * CAN I DIE FROM AN EATING DISORDER?
   
   Eating disorders are the deadliest mental illnesses, second only to opioid
   overdose. While many premature eating disorder deaths are from suicide, the
   serious medical complications of starvation and purging can be fatal.

 * AM I TOO SICK FOR ACUTE?
   
   No patient is too sick for ACUTE. Our experts have successfully treated
   patients as low as 37% of Ideal Body Weight and with myriad complex medical
   complications. Everyone deserves a chance to survive and recover—we can help.

 * AM I SICK ENOUGH FOR ACUTE?
   
   Life-threatening medical issues can arise quickly from malnutrition and
   purging, even in young people and those new to their eating disorder. Some
   patients with normal or above normal BMIs will experience serious medical
   instability and require specialized inpatient medical stabilization to
   address these concerns.

 * WHAT IF I’VE BEEN DENIED ADMISSION TO OTHER TREATMENT CENTERS?
   
   Treatment guidelines discourage inpatient behavioral treatment centers from
   accepting patients with BMI < 15 or with severe medical complexity; they
   simply don’t have the medical capabilities to safely refeed and stabilize
   these fragile patients. ACUTE is the only dedicated inpatient medical
   stabilization unit with a Center of Excellence designation capable of this
   specialty treatment.

 * IS ACUTE A RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT CENTER?
   
   No, ACUTE is an inpatient medical stabilization unit offering behavioral
   support, not an inpatient behavioral treatment unit. Once patients achieve
   medical stability at ACUTE, they transition to an appropriate next level of
   care, usually a residential eating disorder treatment center providing
   inpatient behavioral care.

 * AM I TOO ILL TO TRAVEL TO DENVER?
   
   Many of ACUTE’s patients require air ambulance transport due to extreme
   medical instability. We partner with elite air ambulance providers to get
   patients to our unit at Denver Health safely and swiftly, usually within 48
   hours.

 * WILL INSURANCE COVER MY TREATMENT AT ACUTE?
   
   ACUTE is medical treatment and bills under the patient’s medical insurance
   benefit. ACUTE is contracted and in-network with most private insurance
   programs, and can work to secure a waiver or single case agreement on behalf
   of patients with other insurance programs.

 * CAN ACUTE TREAT SEVERE MALNUTRITION IF I DON’T HAVE AN EATING DISORDER?
   
   Yes. ACUTE treats patients with severe malnutrition stemming from advanced
   illness or infection, including liver failure, cancer, HIV, NTM (aka MAI) and
   substance abuse, who must safely weight restore to begin or continue
   treatment or have a life-saving surgery. These patients receive ACUTE’s
   world-class refeeding and stabilization, care for co-occurring diagnoses and
   any behavioral support that may be helpful in recovery.


LIFESAVING MEDICAL TREATMENT WHEN ALL OTHER CARE HAS FAILED

Adult Patients



ADULT PATIENTS

Eating disorders can be deadly—in fact, they have the highest mortality rate of
any psychiatric illness second only to opioid addiction. When your medical
issues from starvation, malnutrition or purging become severe and uncomfortable,
entrust your survival and recovery to the world’s experts in the medical
treatment of eating disorders.

Learn More

Adolescent Patients



ADOLESCENT PATIENTS

Both male and female patients from the age of 15—regardless of how low their BMI
is—are accepted at ACUTE.

A 30-bed telemetry unit, ACUTE provides inpatient medical treatment for
life-threatening eating disorder complications, as well as behavioral support
tailored to the needs of adolescents.

Learn More

What to Expect



WHAT TO EXPECT

Whether you, a loved one or a health care professional contacts ACUTE about your
care, the inquiry will be met with compassion and a sense of urgency due to the
life-threatening potential of medical complications of severe eating disorders
and malnutrition. Our team of highly skilled admissions professionals will
complete an assessment at your convenience, including gathering medical records
from medical and behavioral health providers. If it is determined that you meet
criteria for admission to ACUTE, your dedicated admissions professional will
initiate insurance authorization on your behalf and discuss timing of admission
based on the severity of your medical issues, sometimes within 48 hours.

Learn More

Close


BILLING THE MEDICAL BENEFIT

Treatment for severe eating disorders and malnutrition at ACUTE is covered under
the patient’s medical insurance benefit. This preserves mental health benefits
for ongoing care at a traditional inpatient or residential eating disorder
treatment facility.

LEARN MORE ABOUT INSURANCE COVERAGE


READ OUR LATEST ARTICLES

resource-icon-notes-diary@32x32
May 16, 2023


THE EATING DISORDER PERSONALITY: PERSONALITY AS A RISK FACTOR

Read |
Education
resource-icon-notes-diary@32x32
May 8, 2023


EATING DISORDERS & CO-OCCURRING PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS

Read |
Education
Health
April 28, 2023


CHALLENGING THE EATING DISORDER VOICE

Read |
Recovery
resource-icon-medical-file@32x32
April 17, 2023


THE IMPACT OF FOOD RESTRICTION ON THE BODY

Read |
Signs and Symptoms
All Resources
If other treatment has failed, ACUTE can help. Contact us for lifesaving
treatment for severe eating disorders and malnutrition today.
Call Now: 866-824-4306
Schedule a Consultation

ACUTE Earns Prestigious Center of Excellence Designation from Anthem
In 2018, the ACUTE Center for Eating Disorders & Severe Malnutrition at Denver
Health was honored by Anthem Health as a Center of Excellence for Medical
Treatment of Severe and Extreme Eating Disorders. ACUTE is the first medical
unit ever to achieve this designation in the field of eating disorders. It comes
after a rigorous review process.



777 Bannock Street 
Denver, CO 80204 
Phone: 866.485.6911

Contact Us


FOOTER MENU

 * Patients
   * Why ACUTE?
   * Admitting to ACUTE
   * FAQ
   * Patient Stories
 * Conditions
   * Anorexia Nervosa (AN)
   * Bulimia Nervosa (BN)
   * Atypical Anorexia Nervosa (A-AN)
   * Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)
   * Severe Malnutrition (non-ED)
 * Treatment
   * Medical Stabilization
   * Treatment Team
   * A Day at ACUTE
   * Aftercare Support
 * Expertise
   * Research
   * Medical Experts
   * Outcomes
   * Resources
 * For Providers
   * Diagnostic Criteria
   * Provider Relations Team
   * Air-ambulance Transport
   * Transitions of Care
   * Medical Insurance
   * Referent Testimonials
 * About
   * Mission
   * COVID-19 Safety
   * Media
   * Events & Webinars
   * Blog
   * Leadership Team
   * Careers
   * Contact Us
   * Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy

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