https://www.luriechildrens.org/en/specialties-conditions/eating-disorder-program/
Lurie Children’s Eating Disorder Program is located in Chicago, Illinois. Lurie Children’s offers outpatient treatment and inpatient hospital medical stabilization for children, adolescents, and young adults ages 9-25. New clients must be age 22 or under. The primary treatment approach for children and adolescents is Family-Based Treatment.
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I was there 2 times once in January 2024 and then march 2025
level of treatment: Inpatient/ hospitalization
Electronic policy: they allow cell phones computers and tablets when approved by your team if younger than 18. If older you are allowed whenever. There is a xbox in room so that was nice.
Movement policy: first 72 hrs put on bedrest and sitting showers only also, you need to be hooked up to the monitors 24/7 until your team says so. After 72 hrs you can go on wheelchair rides 3 times a day. You are not allowed to walk around. Basically bed bound the whole time there.
Average length of stay: I stayed 2 weeks but have known people there for months or almost a year. Luries only takes you if you are medically unstable and meet their criteria. So once you’re medically stable they will discharge you to OP or residential.
Food options and compliance policy: Your nurse will bring in a menu and you can go through it. Food is hospital food though but overall not horrible lots of options for everyone. Once you get there you will do 3 meals at first only then they will gradually increase meal plan. 30 min for meals 15 for snacks. Supplement for 10 min meals 5 for snacks. TW: They are very quick to tube and if you refuse they will immediately tube and pull out after first time. Then if it happens again the tube will stay until you complete for 48hrs straight. Also, they will send you home with a tube if you don’t complete and your medically stable so be careful with this. End TW.
Staff: I loved all the stay. Warning you are staying on their oncology unit so most staff don’t know much on Eds. Also you have a 1:1 at all times until your team says otherwise. Nurses are AMAZING loved them all! Drs are great not a huge fan of the Psych but loved the dietitian.
Admission is only through the ED unless already a patient of theirs and tells you to go back inpatient.
Groups?: All they have is art therapy 2 times a week. I loved it and gave me something to do. The art therapist is amazing I loved her. Also she will bring you art supplies if wanted. The child life specialists are great and will come talk with you and bring you things to do. No other groups
Would you recommend this program?: Yes if medically necessary but if not I would go somewhere else because they don’t do any therapy and very very boring. You are alone in room all day.
Weight: You do not get to know your weight but there is a way you can check but not sharing how.
Average weight restoration a week: Im not 100% sure but in my experience it was 2-4lbs a week.
Overall one of the better places for stabilization and behavior control but they don’t help much with finding somewhere for you to go receive more help after ward they pretty much just discharge you and say okay your stable go home.
I was there multiple times, from 2024 to 2025, almost a year.
I would say it was a horrible experience, as doctors only care about weight gain/restoration, as they don’t offer any groups but art therapy. Psych team is the worst, they want to make you think you are not okay, will send you to court to keep you for longer.
*TW: tubes, restraints* If you don’t finish your food a supplement is offered, if not finished you are tubed. If you refuse your feeds you will most likely be restrained and medicated. While I was there, every single day someone would have to be restrained, as you would hear them call the behavioral response team. *END TW*
Nurses are nice, but some don’t really understand why you are there or what even an eating disorder is. I had to bad experiences, where I was having a bad day and a nurse told me “you will stay here forever and stare at this blank shitty wall if you continue to refuse”. The sitters don’t care for what you do, they are just on their phones and sleep at night.
Only go if it’s only place that accepts you!