What must be in a Ohio NP collaborative practice agreement?

An Ohio NP collaborative practice agreement—called a standard care arrangement—must include core elements such as signatures of the parties, execution and review dates, full identification and contact information for the APRN and collaborating physician, a statement of APRN services, the scope of prescriptive practice, plans for new technology, coverage plans for absences or emergencies, and a process to resolve patient-management disagreements¹². These agreements must also set out referral criteria, consultation processes, and chart/prescribing review procedures to ensure quality of care¹².

Prescribing-related quality assurance provisions must specify when a physician’s timely direct, personal evaluation is required; any prescribing parameters; use of Schedule II drugs; opioid analgesic prescribing to minors (if applicable); and obtaining/reviewing OARRS reports¹². Quality assurance must further include periodic random chart review—covering prescribing patterns and Schedule II prescribing, if indicated—at least annually, followed by discussion of feedback and a process for evaluating patient care³.

A copy of the standard care arrangement must be kept on file by the APRN’s employer, and previously effective arrangements must be retained for at least three years⁴⁵⁶. The Board of Nursing does not approve standard care arrangements but may review them for compliance⁴⁷.