Good Luck Getting Intensive Feeding Therapy

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WG Sharp et al. J Pediatr 2024; 272: 114126.Intensive Multidisciplinary Feeding Day Programs in the United States: A Report Regarding the Treatment Landscape

Key findings:

  • 16 programs met the criteria for inclusion. None of these programs were in the Western U.S. Among feeding programs that were not included, there were 16 programs excluded due to lack of an intensive day program and 1 program excluded as admissions were on hold due to transition in leadership. .
  • “Results suggest current treatment capacity of <1000 slots per year.”
  • Estimates place pediatric feeding disorders as between 1 in 23 and 1 in 37 children under the age of 5 years. Thus, if 5% needed intensive care, this would equate to ~45,000 children under age 5 yrs. This estimate does not include children >5 yrs.

The discrepancy in need (~45,000) and availability (~1000) explains why wait times can be 12 months or longer.

My take: There is a huge mismatch between supply of intensive feeding therapy programs and demand. The potential barriers include training of sufficient numbers of qualified professionals, institutional support, and reimbursement,

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Channel Islands (off California coast)