Laureate Offers Innovative Free Eating Disorder
Extended Care Program to Bridge Recovery Process

TULSA, OKLA., December 6, 2006–In a radical new approach to treating eating disorders, Laureate Psychiatric Hospital and Clinic in Tulsa, Okla., is offering extended care to bridge treatment and everyday life for patients on the road to recovery. Women who have completed Laureate’s intensive in-patient eating disorders program will be eligible to stay in the Magnolia House support program for 30 days at no cost. Magnolia House provides an independent living environment where residents attend school, work or participate in volunteer activities during the day. Residents eat together in the evenings and attend support groups as part of the program.

The goal, according to Dr. Craig Johnson, Director of Laureate’s Eating Disorders Program is to give women the extended care necessary to find success in their recovery. The no-cost program was available as of October 1 and is underwritten by Saint Francis Health System in Tulsa.

“We know that the hardest phase of recovery is the initial transition from the highly controlled hospital environment back to their regular lives.  This gives patients an opportunity to practice their recoveries in a less structured setting before they return home.   Since 90% of our patients come from out-of-state, it gives us a chance to work on relapse training before they get too far away from the treatment center.  We feel so strongly about the importance of this phase of treatment that we are giving it away,” says Dr. Johnson.

Laureate’s Eating Disorders Program is entering its 18th year of operation and is one of the most established programs in the country.  It offers acute, residential and partial hospital care for both adolescents and adults.  Magnolia House was added as an additional level of care in 2002. 

The nationally recognized eating disorders program at Laureate Psychiatric Clinic and Hospital is designed to meet the needs of individuals with anorexia nervosa, bulimia and other eating-related difficulties. The staff at Laureate has extensive experience in learning how to help patients and families understand the causes of these disorders and how to recover. For more information, visit eatingdisorders.laureate.com or call 800-322-5173.