Ep 49: Equip CEO Kristina Saffran on Effective Eating Disorder Treatments and Scaling New Care Models

Jacob sits down with Kristina Saffran, the Co-Founder and CEO of Equip. Equip delivers at-home, virtual eating disorder treatment for both adolescents and adults. They discuss Kristina’s journey to founding Equip, getting payors on board, evidence-based treatments for eating disorders, and more.

[0:00] Intro

[1:06] Kristina's Personal Journey

[3:27] Founding Project Heal 

[4:07] Challenges in Eating Disorder Treatments 

[5:15] The Role of Evidence-Based Treatments 

[6:40] Transition to Venture-Backed Startup 

[13:33] Virtual Care Model for Eating Disorders 

[17:23] Adapting Treatment for Different Populations 

[22:42] Working with Insurance Companies 

[24:37] Equip's Year-Long Care Program 

[25:15] Challenges in Operationalizing Innovative Payment Models 

[28:21] Patient Archetypes and Outreach Strategies 

[32:41] Provider Education and Partnerships 

[34:16] Growth and Future Plans for Equip 

[39:07] The Role of Peer Support in Treatment 

[43:05] Quickfire

Out-Of-Pocket: https://www.outofpocket.health/