Joplin, Mo – The unique strengths of the Joplin-based “Reconnect” Eating Disorders Clinic – a program of Ozark Center, an entity of Freeman Health System – could one day be duplicated nationwide to help individuals with eating disorders in rural communities. 

“Access to eating disorder treatment programs is difficult to come by in rural locations; it gets very costly and it’s not an option for a majority of people in rural areas who have an identified eating disorder,” said Jacob Hefner, Ozark Center Director of Adult Psychiatric Practices. “Typically, treatment centers are located in large cities.”

“Reconnect,” established in 2018, was the first documented eating disorder treatment program at Ozark Center, offering comprehensive behavioral healthcare.

“As far as we are able to determine,” Hefner said, “we were one of the first ones to attempt an eating disorder program on an outpatient basis.”

The clinic consists of trained professionals with a variety of backgrounds. Together, they take a coordinated team approach to treating patients suffering from a wide range of eating disorders, from binge eating to bulimia. The program links each patient with a psychologist or therapist, as well as a registered dietitian, psychiatric provider, primary care physician, medical support and Reconnect coach. 

Dr. Jennifer Copeland, Ozark Center Psychologist, recently promoted the program at the 56th Annual Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies Conference in New York City, a three-day event which drew fellow psychologists, researchers and physicians from around the country.

Both Copeland and Hefner highlighted the alarming lack of eating disorder treatments found in the country’s rural areas while underscoring Ozark Center’s determination to continue treating four state residents with leading edge services. Due to the exposure from the national conference, they hope “Reconnect” will be used as a blueprint to establish similar programs in other rural parts of the country.

“Our hope in presenting was to inspire others,” Copeland said. “There are other communities around the country like ours that need these programs, and they need to know it is possible.”

Nine percent of the U.S. population – 28.8 million people – suffers from an eating disorder, according to the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders, and eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness.

“I think what’s really important is that our community has access to expert care that was not available previously,” Copeland said. “It’s such a privilege to do the work we do. For some folks who are really struggling, their treatment is more intense, and we get to spend more time with them throughout the week. Speaking for the whole “Reconnect” team, we care about them and the work we do together.”