Abstract
Objective: The aim of this paper is to describe the Eating Disorders Outreach Service (EDOS), which supports clinicians in the treatment and management of eating disorder patients across Queensland. EDOS’s mandate is to facilitate intake to the specialist inpatient and outpatient services at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital (RBWH) and to provide eating disorders education and consultation liaison to clinicians statewide.
Method: EDOS provides services in four key areas: intake facilitation, service development, education and training, and consultation liaison. Each area is described in detail.
Results: EDOS has grown since its inception to currently comprise a full-time team manager and a number of specialist clinician positions in psychiatry, nursing, dietetics, social work and psychology. The Service has become an integral part of the RBWH Adult Eating Disorders Service, providing statewide assessment and treatment recommendations, consultation liaison services and specialist intervention programs.
Conclusions: EDOS has been successful in facilitating patient access to local general medical and psychiatric facilities. EDOS also plays a significant leadership role in the development of effective statewide networking forums for clinicians and key stakeholders, in inservice delivery and in the provision of evidence-based educational opportunities, each of which has contributed to improved access to services for eating disorder patients.
Acknowledgement
The authors would like to thank Dr Aaron Groves, Senior Director, Mental Health Branch, Queensland Health, for his strong support of the EDOS model.