East Metro Eating Disorder Specialist Service (EMEDSS)

The East Metropolitan Eating Disorder Specialist Service (EMEDSS) is an outpatient service that provides early access to specialised treatment with the aim of helping clients remain in the community. The service helps to bridge the gap between inpatient treatment and longer-term community eating disorder services.

EMEDSS takes a person-centred and recovery-oriented approach to treatment with a multi-disciplinary team consisting of clinical nursing, dietetics, psychology, social work, psychiatry, general practitioner, social work and peer support. 

EMEDSS is available to consumers, residing in EMHS catchment area who are aged ≥16 years where an eating disorder is of primary concern.

Services offered

Triage and assessment

  • Comprehensive triage and assessment are the processes used to determine suitability and direct consumer to the most suitable service elements.
  • Onward referral options are determined for those referrals not deemed to be a good treatment fit.

Intensive Clinical Monitoring (ICM)

  • A nurse-led service providing nutritional and physical health monitoring and motivational support.  ICM runs over 8-weeks with a maximum of 4 appointments/week, as determined by clinical need. 

Specialist Multidisciplinary Outpatient Clinic (SMOC)

  • SMOC offers specialist discipline-specific consultation by the EMEDSS multidisciplinary team.  SMOC functions include in-reach, evidence-informed therapies, relapse prevention planning, transition support, and support for general health and wellbeing.  SMOC typically runs over a 12-week period, as determined by clinical need.

Referral pathway

Current Phase (Phase 1 and Phase 2A)

As part of a phased implementation, referrals are currently accepted from:

In our current phase, referrals are accepted from: 

  • Liaison Psychiatrist/psychiatry registrar (medical inpatient and Emergency Department) 
  • Treating Psychiatrist/ psychiatry registrar (mental health inpatient and community mental health teams) 
  • General Practitioners (GPs) 

Referral pathway contact

To obtain an EMEDSS referral form and to discuss eligibility, please contact our team on (08) 9224 4242 between 8.30 and 16.30 weekdays or email us at EMEDSSReferrals@health.wa.gov.au

Inclusion criteria

  • Agreeable to engaging with the service and willing to attend weekly appointments as a minimum, as determined by clinical need. 
  • Aged 16 years and older. 
  • Eating disorder is a diagnosis of primary concerns. 
  • Resided within the HSP catchment, including WACHS links catchment. 
  • Medically stable - can be maintained in the community or out of hospital. 
  • Engaged with a GP in the community or is willing to do so. 

Future services - commencing late 2025 

  • EMEDSS relocation to larger premises to allow for expansion of current services. 
  • Commencement of Intensive Day Program. 

 

Last Updated: 30/01/2025