§ 5-19.2-2. Definitions.
(a) "Collaborative pharmacy practice� is that practice of pharmacy whereby one or more
licensed pharmacist(s), with advanced training and experience relevant to the scope
of collaborative practice, agrees to work in collaboration with one or more physicians
for the purpose of drug therapy management of patients, such management to be pursuant
to a protocol or protocols authorized by the physician(s) and subject to conditions
and limitations as set forth by the department. A healthcare professional who has
prescribing privileges and is employed by a collaborating physician may be in such
an agreement.
(b) "Collaborative practice agreement� is a written and signed agreement, entered into
voluntarily, between one or more licensed pharmacist(s), with advanced training and
experience relevant to the scope of collaborative practice, and one or more physicians
that defines the collaborative pharmacy practice in which the pharmacist(s) and physician(s)
propose to engage. Collaborative practice agreements shall be made in the best interest
of public health.
(c) "Collaborative practice committee� shall consist of six (6) individuals: three (3)
individuals to be appointed by the board of pharmacy from nominees provided by the
Rhode Island Pharmacists Association and three (3) individuals to be appointed by
the board of medical licensure and discipline from nominees provided by the Rhode
Island Medical Society. The collaborative practice committee shall advise the director
on all issues pertinent to the regulation of collaborative practice agreements.
(d) "Drug therapy management� means the review, in accordance with a collaborative practice
agreement, of drug therapy regimen or regimens of patients by one or more licensed
pharmacist(s) for the purpose of initiating, adjusting, monitoring, or discontinuing
the regimen. Decisions involving drug therapy management shall be made in the best
interests of the patient. In accordance with a collaborative practice agreement, drug
therapy management may include:
(1) Initiating, adjusting, monitoring, or discontinuing drug therapy;
(2) Collecting and reviewing patient histories;
(3) Obtaining and checking vital signs, including pulse, height, weight, temperature,
blood pressure, and respiration; and
(4) Under the supervision of, or in direct consultation with, one or more physician(s),
ordering and evaluating the results of laboratory tests directly related to drug therapy
when performed in accordance with approved protocols applicable to the practice setting
and providing such evaluation does not include any diagnostic component.
(e) "Limited-function test� means those tests listed in the federal register under the
Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (CLIA) as waived tests. For the
purposes of this chapter, limited-function test shall include only the following:
blood glucose, hemoglobin A1c, cholesterol tests, and/or other tests that are classified
as waived under CLIA and are approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration
for sale to the public without a prescription in the form of an over-the-counter test
kit.
(f) "Pharmacist with advanced training and experience relevant to the scope of collaborative
practice� means a licensed pharmacist in this state with a bachelor of science in
pharmacy and postgraduate educational training or a doctor of pharmacy degree. Such
training shall include, but not be limited to, residency training; board certification;
certification from an accredited professional organization educational institution;
or any other continuing education provider approved by the director of health relevant
to the proposed scope of the collaborative practice agreement.
(g) "Practice of pharmacy� means the interpretation, evaluation, and implementation of
medical orders, including the performance of clinical laboratory tests, provided such
testing is limited to limited-function tests as defined herein; the dispensing of
prescription drug orders; participation in drug and device selection; drug regimen
reviews and drug or drug-related research; provision of patient counseling and the
provision of those acts or services necessary to provide pharmaceutical care; drug
therapy management pursuant to a collaborative practice agreement; and the responsibility
for the supervision for compounding and labeling of drugs and devices (except labeling
by a manufacturer, repackager, or distributor of nonprescription drugs and commercially
packaged legend drugs and devices); proper and safe storage of drugs and devices;
and maintenance of proper records for them.