Patrice D Lockhart

While staff are very educated on eating disorders, their care lacks the empathy required when working with patients. Often there are gaps in treatment, rude comments, and lack of discharge planning occurring. Their procedures are very much in line with standards of care, including the thorough renourishing process and access to professionals. However they tend to focus on weight a lot, which can alienate patients who do not have a refeeding plan. Dr. Lockhart herself is extremely educated, however she lacks grace when talking to patients and their families during some of the most traumatic moments of their lives. Their approach when working with minors is rarely trauma informed, in my experience, and can lead to unhealthy adults having a lot of control over their malnourished child. The NEED program is one of the only in the state, if you need treatment, go, it can save lives. However, if able to, I recommend exploring all your options before going to NEED.(only a review of PHP & IOP)

The smartest, most knowledgeable and compassionate healthcare provider I have ever worked with. She's honest and expects patients to do their share of the work (and ultimately push themselves), but she supports them fully in doing so. She is adaptable--I have seen her get through to patients of many ages, walks of life, and stages in recovery. One of the best in her field, IMHO.

It has been nearly 3 1/2 years since I posted my initial negative review. Today, I was deeply saddened to be contacted by a third family that was also seeking help for their child but instead received the same damaging parental treatment that I had received from Dr Lockhart and her staff. What a travesty that this is still one of the only ED resources available for children/families in the State of Maine.

This review is based on my experience from the New England Eating Disorder (NEED) Program Sweetser offers. My child was brought to Sweetser's NEED program due to her poor health (which lead her to being hospitalized at Maine Medical's emergency department); whereas, she was diagnosed with Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa. I share parental rights and responsibility of my child along with her mother (with whom my child currently resides). It so happens that my child's mother (whom I shall call B.) is a very unreliable person. Even though the court ordered B. to keep me updated regarding all of our child's medical health (including doctor's appointments...), B. failed to let me know that both family and group meetings took place at NEED. Once I found out that meetings took place and attended my first group meeting, I brought up my concern to Dr. Lockhart. I asked her if I could be notified of any future appointments, as to make sure that I could be present and show my child my suppp

Lockhart completely wouldn't let me speak, proceeded to get off topic, and is the worst doctor I have ever seen. I was so enraged from speaking to her I nearly walked out 3 times.

When I was was younger and let slip in front of Dr. Lockhart that my parents beat me, she asked me in front of them if this was true. I had been warned I would get sent to foster care if I told the truth, so I lied and said they didn’t hit me. Dr. Lockhart then proceeded to tell my parents I was ungrateful and should volunteer at a soup kitchen to see people with truly difficult lives. My parents continued to abuse me for 10 years. What a disgusting person to consign a child to that.