This continuing professional education activity provides registered dietitian nutritionists with a structured, evidence-informed framework for assessing level-of-care appropriateness in adults with eating disorders. Participants will review clinical indicators that suggest outpatient treatment may be insufficient to ensure patient safety, including the cognitive and behavioral effects of malnutrition (“starved brain”) on insight, judgment, and treatment engagement.

The session emphasizes ethical decision-making when working with adults who decline recommended higher levels of care, including strategies for documenting informed refusal and establishing clear conditions for continuing outpatient treatment. Participants will learn how to defi ne measurable escalation triggers, navigate ethical termination when appropriate, and support safe transitions in care.

In addition, the program outlines best practices for interdisciplinary collaboration, caregiver integration, and coordination of care across medical and mental health providers. Practical tools for documentation, care agreements, referral justifi cation, and structured team communication will be presented to support risk management and standard-of-care alignment in outpatient practice.

Upon successful completion of this one-hour course, the participant should be able to:

• Identify clinical signs indicating that outpatient eating disorder treatment may be insufficient for patient safety.



• Describe the neurocognitive effects of malnutrition (“starved brain”) and explain how they impair a client's insight, judgment, and engagement in treatment.



• Evaluate a client's readiness for outpatient treatment.



• Apply ethical principles when making level-of-care decisions with adult clients who refuse higher care.



• Implement conditions for continuing outpatient care and establish escalation triggers consistent with the standard of care.



• Evaluate the ability to provide necessary support and navigate the termination of care when appropriate.



• Establish a framework for a collaborative care plan that validates the complexity of a patient's needs and guides communication among the family, providers, and the patient.



• Set a clear agenda for coordination of care team meetings.



• Complete documentation for informed refusal of care.



• Develop a client care agreement and define triggers for re-evaluation.



• Consider and integrate the support needs of caregivers.



• Make appropriate referrals supported by necessary objective data.



• Collaborate effectively with medical and mental health providers during transitions in the level of care.

Live Webinar Date: Apr 02, 2026   (04:00 PM - 05:00 PM Eastern Time) (US and Canada)

Expiration Date: Feb 24, 2027

Performance Indicators/Learning Objectives: 5.2.5, 9.1.2, 11.2.12, 10.6.3

Target Audience: RDs, DTRs, Health Professionals

Number of Credits: 1.0

Total Cost: 1 Site Credit