7/31/2019 Professionals Maing a Difference in Eating Disorder Treament

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Philip S. Mehler, MD/FACP, CEDS, a Denver nativeis the Chie Medical Ofcer o Denver Health. A PhBeta Kappa and Honors Graduate o the UniversityColorado and an Alpha Omega Alpha Graduate the CU Medical School, Mehler has been at DenveHealth since training there as a resident in the early1980s. He served as Chie o Internal Medicinerom 1993-2003 and was named Denver HealthsAssociate Medical Director in 2003. He served in position until 2008, when he was promoted to ChieMedical Ofcer or Denver Health. Philip Mehleris also a Proessor o Medicine at the CU MedicalSchool where he holds the Glassman Endowed Cho Medicine. This was the frst ever endowed chair a public hospital.

These disorders inherently

have a whole litany of medica

complications associated with

them. The average physician

may only see a few of these in h

or her career, explains Mehler

If youre not familiar with the

complications that can arise,

the medical issues can

quickly escalate.

People with ImpactProfessionals Making a Dif ference in Sustainable Recovery

Philip S. Mehler, MD/FACEP, CEDS

While treating a severely medically compromised eating disorder patient is typicallya once-in-a-career experience or the average physician, or Dr. Philip S. Mehler,Chie Medical Ofcer at Denver Health Medical Center, interaction with thesepatients is a daily occurrence. An author, lecturer and avid researcher, Mehler iswidely recognized as the nations oremost expert on the medical complicationsassociated with eating disorders.

Mehlers interest in the treatment o medically compromised eating disorder patientsmaterialized early in his career. Twenty years ago, Dr. Kenneth Weiner, Co-Founder

and Chie Executive Ofcer oEating Recovery Center, opened his frst eatingdisorder program at Columbine Psychiatric Center, where Mehler specialized as aninternist. The medical centers new inux o eating disorder patients, coupled with anapparent lack o research, published materials and other resources on the medicalcomplications associated with the diseases, oered Mehler a unique opportunity.

I had the opportunity to build this expertise mysel, explains Mehler. Imvery rigorous about staying current. I read a lot, write a lot, give lectures andoer workshops.

Today, with 20 years o research, hands-on experience and proessional outreachunder his belt, Mehler is recognized as the preeminent expert in the feld. Thisexperience has led to the development o a tremendous body o research, publishedmaterials and other work that has enabled members o the eating disorder feld togain a more thorough understanding o the unique medical complications associated

with these diseases.

This work led directly to the development o Mehlers A.C.U.T.E. Center or EatingDisorders at Denver Health Medical Center. Opened in 2008, A.C.U.T.E. is an inpatientmedical service or patients whose eating disorders have become lie threatening. Itis one o the only hospital-based treatment programs in the nation able to care or themost complex medical complications o both anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa,regardless o patients percentage below ideal body weight.

Mehler continues to lecture extensively around the United States and was recentlynamed one o Denvers Top Docs by5280magazine. A new version o his book,Eating Disorders: A Guide to Medical Care and Complications,will be releasedby John Hopkins University Press in December 2009. Building understanding o thecritical need or specialized care o medically compromised eating disorder patientsremains one o his key priorities. For clinicians and medical proessionals aced with

these unique patients, Mehler o ers the ollowing three recommendations:1. Recognizethesepatientsbeforetheybecomemorechronic.

2. Understandthetruthsandmythsofmedicalcomplicationsassociatedwitheatingdisorders,includingrefeeding,osteoporosis,stomachcomplaints,dehydrationandlowpotassium.

3. Understandwhentheserarepatientsneedtobetreatedbysomeonewithexpertisedealingwithmedicalcomplications.

1830 Franklin Street, Suite 500 | Denver, Colorado 80218 | 877-218-1344 |www.EatingRecover yCenter.com

Volume I, IssueNovember 2009

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