RHCare Clinical Practice Standards (CPS's)

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. To view a summary of the most recently updated CPSs, see Clinical Practices Standards Changes Table.

You may also watch the webinar RH Program staff hosted to review the most recent changes: video | slides

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	10/2022
Core Reproductive Health Services	10/2022
Depo Provera	10/2022
Diaphragm and Cervical Cap	10/2022
Emergency Contraception	10/2022
External Condoms	1/2021
Fertility Awareness Methods (FAM)	1/2021

Hormonal Contraceptive Patch	10/2022
Internal Condoms	1/2021
Intrauterine Contraception	10/2022
Lactational Amenorrhea (LAM)	10/2022
Pharmacy - Dispensing Medications	10/2022
Preconception Health Visit	1/2021
Pregnancy Test Visit	10/2022
Prescription Visit	10/2022

Progestin-Only Pills	10/2022
Reproductive Health Well Visit	10/2021
STI Screening, Testing, and Treatment	10/2022
Subdermal Implant	10/2022
Tubal Sterilization - Counseling & Referral	1/2021
Vaginal Contraceptive Ring	10/2022
Vaginal Spermicides & pH Modulators	10/2022
Vasectomy - Counseling & Referral	1/2021

Resources for Implementing the CPSs

All Birth Control Method CPSs

Sample Standing Orders (Word) - adapt these sample standing orders for RN dispensing.

US MEC:

Contraception App,
Order/download form for a quick access color summary chart for contraceptive use and wheel.

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

Screening Tools

Screening for alcohol and drug use, depression, and sexual coercion is a healthcare best practice. These are four validated screening tools that clinics may use.

Alcohol Use	English	Spanish
Depression	English	Spanish
Drug Use	English	Spanish
Sexual Coercion	English	Spanish