# Plan your calls

Lesson 1 of [Compare eating disorder programs in writing](https://eatingdisorder.fyi/academy/compare-eating-disorder-programs-in-writing.md), 12 minutes.

Contact more than one program. Then you can compare what each one offers. The questions you ask the first program can get sharper by the second call.

## Build one question list

Use one list for every program. This site has a free tool called Questions to ask about levels of care. It asks a few short questions and gives you a list. It is not an assessment and it does not diagnose. Start from that list and add your own questions.

## Start with the listing

Check the address and phone number on the listing. Visit the program's website if it has one. Note what the listing shows and what it leaves empty. An empty field is a question to ask. The listing shows what the program told SAMHSA on a set date, so confirm it.

## Keep a call record

For each call, write down:

- The date and the name of the program.
- The name and role of the person you spoke to.
- Each question and the answer you got.
- What you asked to receive in writing, and by when.

## When a program will not answer

If a program will not answer a question or put costs in writing, ask who can answer it and when. Write down the reply. A missing answer is a fact to record.

## Ask what the program needs from you

Ask what information the program needs from you before the first assessment. Ask who decides the level of care and how the assessment works.

## In an emergency

A call list is not a crisis plan. In a medical or mental health emergency call 911 in the US, or call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

## Sources

- Eating Disorder Directory guide: How to compare eating disorder treatment programs (updated 2026-10-20)
- Eating Disorder Directory guide: Common mistakes when choosing an eating disorder program (updated 2026-10-20)
- Eating Disorder Directory tool: Questions to ask about levels of care (updated 2026-10-20)

This course is general information, not medical, legal or financial advice.

Also on the [web page](https://eatingdisorder.fyi/academy/compare-eating-disorder-programs-in-writing/plan-your-calls).

> Talk to a doctor or other qualified clinician before you start, stop or change treatment. In a medical or mental health emergency call 911 in the US, or call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.