RHCare Clinical Practice Standards (CPS's)

image of policies and procedures binders

RHCare agencies are required to adopt and follow the RHCare Clinical Practice Standards (CPSs). The CPSs are based on national standards of care and ensure that all clients receive the same high quality reproductive health services.

To adopt the CPSs, agencies' Health Officer, Medical Director, or medical designee* must review all RHCare Clinical Practice Standards and attest that certified RHCare clinics will follow them in all RHCare visits.

*A medical designee is a clinician who is trained and permitted by state-specific regulations to perform all aspects of the physical assessments recommended for contraceptive, related preventive health, basic infertility care. They must work at the agency on a regular basis, have prescribing and medical decision-making authority, and be familiar with RHCare requirements and the agency’s staffing and clinical practices.

Note: If your agency cites different national standards of care than those cited in these CPSs, your agency will be responsible for keeping your CPSs up to date.

Clinical Practice Standards

The RH Program is committed to keeping its CPSs current, which means that as national standards of care change so must the Clinical Practice Standards. The most recently revised CPSs are posted below. If the title and date are bolded it means it was updated recently and agencies are required to adopt and follow the updated version. To view a summary of the most recently updated CPSs, see Clinical Practices Standards Changes Table.

Agencies are expected to revise their CPSs to align with the CPSs posted on the RH Program website within 3 months. Agencies that cite different national standards of care than those cited by the RH Program are expected to keep their CPSs up-to-date.

Basic Infertility Services	10/2022
Coitus Interruptus (Withdrawal)	1/2021
Combination Oral Contraceptives	1/2025
Core Reproductive Health Services	1/2024
Depo Provera	1/2025
Diaphragm and Cervical Cap	1/2025
Emergency Contraception	1/2025
External Condoms	1/2021

Fertility Awareness Methods (FAM)	1/2021
Hormonal Contraceptive Patch	1/2025
Internal Condoms	1/2021
Intrauterine Contraception	1/2025
Lactational Amenorrhea (LAM)	10/2022
Preconception Health Visit	1/2021
Pregnancy Test Visit	10/2022
Prescription Visit	1/2025

Progestin-Only Pills	1/2025
Reproductive Health Well Visit	1/2025
STI Screening, Testing, and Treatment	1/2024
Subdermal Implant	1/2025
Tubal Sterilization - Counseling & Referral	1/2021
Vaginal Contraceptive Ring	1/2025
Vaginal Spermicides & pH Modulators	1/2025
Vasectomy - Counseling & Referral	1/2021

Resources for Implementing the CPSs

National Standards of Care

The following publications from the Centers for Disease Control and Office of Population Affairs describe national standards for the provision of reproductive healthcare:

STI Screening, Testing, and Treatment CPS

2022 Oregon STI Screening Recommendations

Webinar by Dr. Tim Menza, the Medical Director of OHA's HIV/STD/TB Section
AIDS Education & Training Center (AETC) webpage to order the 2022 Oregon STI Screening Recommendations color chart poster and booklet.

2021 STI Treatment Guidelines

CDC's STI Treatment Guidelines Provider Resources webpage to order wall charts, pocket guides, or the full PDF version of the guidelines.

Core RH Services CPS

See this brief screening instrument for anxiety: GAD-2

Emergency Contraception CPS

The following job aids from the Reproductive Health National Training Center (RHNTC) are a useful overview of the different ECP and IUD options.

Emergency Contraception Facts for Family Planning Staff

EC Methods Table

All Birth Control Method CPSs

Sample Protocols (Word) - Agencies are welcome to use these sample protocols (sometimes referred to as "standing orders") as a template for allowing RN-initiated contraceptive methods or other medications.