Preventing Medical Errors in the GLP-1 Era
$29.00
Learning Level : Intermediate
Online
Course Abstract
Preventing Medical Errors in the GLP-1 Era is a 2-hour online continuing education (CE) course that examines common sources of error associated with GLP-1 use in mental health and dietetics.
This course was created for behavioral health clinicians and registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) who collaborate on GLP-1 care by pairing medical nutrition therapy – managing gastrointestinal side effects, protecting muscle and nutrient intake, and building sustainable eating habits – with psychological support for body image, emotional eating, identity shifts, and eating disorder risk that can arise with appetite suppression and rapid weight loss.
It is not a pharmacology course and not a course on weight-loss treatment. It is a course on preventing medical errors with the rapidly expanding use of GLP-1 receptor agonists (including semaglutide and tirzepatide). A medication that can change the meaning of familiar clinical signs – appetite, weight, reward, mood, body image, and alcohol use – can thereby create preventable errors in assessment, diagnosis, documentation, and interprofessional communication.
The course applies core patient-safety methods – root cause analysis, error reduction, and systems thinking – to ordinary therapy and nutrition-care encounters. Participants learn to keep medication use and dose changes visible in formulation; distinguish expected pharmacologic effects from depression, malnutrition, and eating-disorder pathology; reassess suicide risk and substance use without relying on outdated or overstated safety claims; and communicate observations to prescribers using structured handoffs while remaining within scope of practice. Special attention is given to high-risk gaps: missed or minimized eating disorders in higher-weight bodies, malnutrition labeled as “successful” weight loss, compounded or poorly monitored product sources, discontinuation and weight-regain distress, and weight bias that shapes who is screened and what is dismissed.
Through case examples, checklists, and practice prompts, the course shows how to build repeatable safeguards – updated medication review, reassessment triggers after rapid physical change, clearer documentation of differential reasoning, and referral pathways – so safer care does not depend on extra vigilance alone.
Outline
- Introduction
- Section 1: The GLP-1 Landscape and Why It Matters
- Section 2: Root Cause Analysis and a Framework for Preventing Errors
- Section 3: Diagnostic Errors in Mental Health and Dietetics
- Section 4: Assessment and Screening Errors in Mental Health and Dietetics
- Section 5: Communication, Documentation, and Collaboration Errors
- Section 6: Systems Factors, Cultural Bias, and Building Error-Resistant Practice
- Conclusion
Disclosure Statement
The authors have no financial relationships with any pharmaceutical company, device manufacturer, or commercial entity related to the content of this course. No manufacturer of any glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist or other medication funded, reviewed, or influenced this material. Brand names are used only for clarity and recognition and do not constitute endorsement. This course is educational and does not constitute medical, legal, or clinical supervision advice. Clinical and legal decisions depend on jurisdiction, board rules, agency policy, and individual client context.
RDNs: This course is currently undergoing CDR approval.
Florida: This course meets the “medical errors” requirement for license renewal.
Course #21-72 | 2026 | 15 posttest questions
Learning Objectives
- Describe how GLP-1s affect assessment and identify the presentations most likely to be affected
- Apply a root cause analysis framework to medical errors involving clients who use GLP-1 medications
- Identify common diagnostic errors that occur with GLP-1s in behavioral health and dietetic practice
- Explain assessment and screening errors related to eating disorders, suicide risk, and alcohol use in clients using GLP-1 medications, and select safer assessment practices
- Implement documentation, communication, and interprofessional collaboration strategies that reduce errors and support patient safety
- Evaluate systems factors, biases that contribute to errors, and prompts that prevent errors
Course Directions
This course is text-based (reading), and the CE test is open-book (you can print the test to mark your answers on it while reading the course materials). Successful completion of this course involves passing an online test (80% required, three chances to take) and we ask that you also complete a brief course evaluation. Contact us with any questions – we are here to help!
About the Author(s)
CE Information
Counseling
Professional Development Resources (PDR) has been approved by the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 5590. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. PDR is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. Professional Development Resources is also approved by the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners; the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy, and Mental Health Counseling; the Georgia Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers, and MFTs; the Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board for Professional Counselors; the Mississippi State Board of Examiners for Licensed Professional Counselors; the New Hampshire Board of Mental Health Practice; the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors (#MHC-0135 - Note: New York counselors will receive 2 continuing education credits for completing this self-study course); the Ohio Counselor, Social Worker, and Family Therapist Board; the South Carolina Board of Professional Counselors and Marriage & Family Therapists (#193); the Tennessee Board for Licensed Professional Counselors, Licensed Marital and Family Therapists, and Licensed Clinical Pastoral Therapists; the Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors; the West Virginia Board of Examiners in Counseling; and is CE Broker compliant (#50-1635 – completions are reported within 24 hours).
Marriage and Family Therapy
Professional Development Resources is approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Professional Development Resources maintains responsibility for this program and its content. Professional Development Resources is also approved by the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC ACEP #5590); the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB #1046, ACE Program); the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners; the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy, and Mental Health Counseling; the Georgia Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers, and MFTs; the Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board for Marriage & Family Therapy; the New Hampshire Board of Mental Health Practice; the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists (#MFT-0100 - Note: New York MFTs will receive 2 continuing education credit(s) for completing this self-study course); the Ohio Counselor, Social Worker, and Family Therapist Board; the South Carolina Board of Examiners for Licensure of Professional Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists, Addiction Counselors, and Psycho-Educational Specialists (#193); the Tennessee Board for Licensed Professional Counselors, Licensed Marital and Family Therapists, and Licensed Clinical Pastoral Therapists; the Texas State Board of Examiners of Marriage and Family Therapists (#114); and is CE Broker compliant (#50-1635 – completions are reported within 24 hours).
Psychology
Professional Development Resources, Inc. is approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Professional Development Resources maintains responsibility for this program and its content. Professional Development Resources is also approved by the Arizona Board of Psychologist Examiners; the Florida Board of Psychology; the Georgia State Board of Examiners of Psychologists; the Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board for Psychology; the Michigan Board of Psychology; the New Hampshire Board of Psychologists; the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of self-study continuing education for licensed psychologists (#PSY-0145); the North Carolina Psychology Board; the North Dakota State Board of Psychologist Examiners; the South Carolina Board of Examiners in Psychology; the Tennessee Board of Examiners of Psychology; the Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists; the Wyoming Board of Psychology; and is CE Broker compliant (#50-1635 – completions are reported within 24 hours).
School Psychology
Professional Development Resources is approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Professional Development Resources maintains responsibility for this program and its content. Professional Development Resources is also approved by the Arizona Board of Psychologist Examiners; the Florida Board of Psychology and Office of School Psychology; the Georgia State Board of Examiners of Psychologists; the Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board for Psychology; the Michigan Board of Psychology; the New Hampshire Board of Psychologists; the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of self-study continuing education for licensed psychologists (#PSY-0145); the North Carolina Psychology Board; the North Dakota State Board of Psychologist Examiners; the South Carolina Board of Examiners in Psychology; the Tennessee Board of Examiners of Psychology; the Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists; the Wyoming Board of Psychology; and is CE Broker compliant (#50-1635 – completions are reported within 24 hours).
Social Work
Professional Development Resources, #1046, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 6/12/2025 - 6/12/2028. Social workers completing this course receive 2 clinical continuing education credits. ACE format: Reading-based asynchronous distance learning.
Professional Development Resources is also approved by the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners; the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, and Mental Health Counseling; the Georgia Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers, and MFTs; the Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board for Social Workers; the Michigan Board of Social Work; the New Hampshire Board of Mental Health Practice; the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers (#SW-0664 - Note: New York social workers will receive 2 continuing education credit(s) for completing this self-study course); the North Dakota Board of Social Work Examiners; the Ohio Counselor, Social Worker, and Family Therapist Board; the South Carolina Board of Social Work Examiners; the Tennessee Board of Social Workers; the Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners (#5678); the West Virginia Board of Social Work; and is CE Broker compliant (#50-1635 – completions are reported within 24 hours).
Customer Testimonials
What a timely course, and a welcome spin on the biennial medical errors requirement in Florida. GLP-1 use is exploding and this course covered everything you need to look out for in practice. Also nice to see what mental health professionals are screening for, and how to refer to them.
