The Oregon Medical Board recognizes that the adequate treatment
of sexually transmitted infections is a public health issue. When identified in
a patient, the adequate treatment and prevention of recurrence in the patient
often depends upon treatment of the partner or partners of a patient, who may
not be available or agreeable for clinical evaluation.
(1) As used in this rule:
(a) "Expedited partner therapy" has the
meaning given in ORS 676.350, the practice of
prescribing or dispensing antibiotic drugs for the treatment of a sexually
transmitted infection to the partner of a patient without first examining the
partner of the patient.
(b)
"Partner of a patient" has the meaning given in ORS
676.350, a person whom a patient
diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection identifies as a sexual partner
of the patient.
(2) A
physician or physician associate treating sexually transmitted infections, may
engage in open discussions with a patient to ascertain the ability for a
partner of a patient to access medical services.
(3) A licensee, otherwise permitted by law to
prescribe or dispense controlled substances, may practice expedited partner
therapy for the treatment of sexually transmitted chlamydia and gonorrhea
infections.
(4) A licensee may
initiate expedited partner therapy when the licensee reasonably believes that a
partner of a patient will be unwilling or unable to seek treatment within the
context of a traditional provider-patient relationship.
(5) When initiating expedited partner
therapy, a licensee must:
(a) Instruct the
patient regarding expedited partner therapy and the medications
involved.
(b) Ensure appropriate
information and advice are made available to the partner of a patient,
including educational materials for the patient to share with their partner(s)
encouraging the partner to consult a health care provider and disclosing
potential adverse drug reactions and dangerous interactions between
medications.
(c) Make reasonable
efforts to refer the partner of a patient to appropriate health care
professionals.
(6) Except
as provided in this rule, a licensee may not write prescriptions unless they
have conducted an adequate encounter with the patient, and documented this
encounter in the medical record.
(7) The partner of a patient is considered to
be an individual entitled to receive the prescription drug, and nothing in this
rule is intended to establish a professional relationship between the physician
or physician associate and the partner of a patient.
