Gratitude for Primary Care Physicians

Re-posted from Cleveland Center for Eating Disorders (CCED) blog archives. CCED and The Emily Program partnered in 2014.

By Dr. Mark Warren

Over the past few weeks, I have started rounding on a pediatric inpatient unit with Drs Gillespie and Rome, adolescent medicine specialists who we are privileged to work closely with. It has been a new experience for me to work with patients at the medical inpatient level of care.

Upon admit, these clients and families often are in a state of extraordinary surprise, confusion, and fear. They may have gone to their physician thinking everything was alright, then learned their heart rate was low, EKG was abnormal, or electrolytes were off balance. Instead of going home with a prescription or reassurance, they find themselves in a hospital with fears about the things that might happen next. As I have sat with these patients and their families I have had an awareness of what it means to be a pediatrician or family medicine provider – to be the first person to see the eating disorder, its negative physical consequences, and to give the news to families and patients that is so new, painful, and frightening. Once a patient is at an eating disorder treatment center they are already halfway to knowing what is happening and what they need treatment. While our work here is often difficult it has been profound to stand as the line of first defense. I am so appreciative of the work these physicians do and their abilities to transition patients into life-saving treatment.

Contributions by Sarah Emerman