(A) Safe haven program is a confidential, non-disciplinary program for treatment of impaired licensees, certificate holders, or applicants of the nursing board established pursuant to section 4723.35 of the Revised Code.
(B) Monitoring organization is an entity which conducts the safe haven program and performs monitoring services for impaired licensees, certificate holders, or applicants under a contract with the nursing board.
(C) Treatment provider is an entity approved by the monitoring organization to provide evaluation, treatment, and/or continuing care to impaired licensees, certificate holders, or applicants participating in the safe haven program.
(D) For purposes of this chapter, licensee, certificate holder, or applicant includes those licensees, certificate holders, or applicants whose license or certificate is subject to disciplinary action by the board or who is an applicant for a license or certificate that is subject to disciplinary action by the board.
(E) Licensees, certificate holders, or applicants of the board who may be impaired or potentially impaired in the ability to practice in accordance with acceptable and prevailing standards of care and who want to participate in the safe haven program shall complete the following requirements:
(1) The licensee, certificate holder, or applicant shall register with the monitoring organization under contract with the board and obtain a list of the approved treatment providers;
(2) If the licensee, certificate holder, or applicant reports directly to an approved treatment provider, the licensee, certificate holder, or applicant shall register with the monitoring organization upon referral from the approved treatment provider;
(3) The treatment provider shall conduct an evaluation in accordance with the recommendation of the monitoring organization;
(4) The treatment provider shall provide the information regarding the diagnosis and the treatment plan to the monitoring organization for confirmation of eligibility;
(5) If the licensee, certificate holder, or applicant is determined to be impaired and not to be eligible for the safe haven program, the monitoring organization shall report this information to the board.
(F) Once a licensee, certificate holder, or applicant is determined to be eligible for the safe haven program, the licensee, certificate holder, or applicant shall report to an approved treatment provider for treatment within the timeframe recommended by the monitoring organization. The treatment provider shall develop an individualized treatment plan that may include a combination of inpatient, residential, partial hospitalization intensive outpatient treatment, outpatient, continuing care, or other therapy or treatment.
(1) The licensee or certificate holder shall be required to immediately refrain from practice if it is recommended by the treatment provider or the monitoring organization. The licensee or certificate holder shall refrain from practice until the licensee or certificate holder is determined to be able to practice according to acceptable and prevailing standards by the treatment provider and the medical director of the monitoring organization, or his or her designee.
(2) The monitoring organization shall notify the board of any licensee or certificate holder who returns to work prior to obtaining the release from the treatment provider and the monitoring organization medical director, or his or her designee.
(3) The monitoring organization shall notify the board of any licensee, certificate holder, or applicant who does not successfully complete the prescribed treatment.
(G) If continuing care is recommended, the monitoring organization shall confirm that the licensee, certificate holder, or applicant completes continuing care sessions in accordance with the recommendation until released by the continuing care provider and the monitoring organization medical director, or his or her designee.
(H) In order to continue participation in the safe haven program, after successful completion of any recommended treatment, the licensee, certificate holder, or applicant shall enter into an agreement with the monitoring organization. An individual who chooses not to continue in the safe haven program shall be referred to the board for further investigation or disciplinary action. The agreement may include the following provisions:
(1) Random toxicology testing, if applicable;
(2) Attendance at drug and alcohol support meetings (e.g. alcoholics anonymous or narcotics anonymous) or other support group, as directed by the monitoring organization, if applicable;
(3) Treatment and therapy plan;
(4) Continuing care participation;
(5) Case management;
(6) Duration of monitoring. Relapses and other failure to comply with terms of the agreement may result in a longer period of monitoring;
(7) Releases for information or records related to the licensee, certificate holder, or applicant's impairment, including but not limited to family, peers, health care personnel, employers, and treatment providers;
(8) Grounds for dismissal from participation in the safe haven program for failure to comply with program requirements;
(9) Any required fees associated with participation in the safe haven program, including but not limited to fees for toxicology testing;
(10) The licensee, certificate holder, or applicant shall be released from monitoring by the medical director of the monitoring organization, or his or her designee, upon successful completion of monitoring.
(I) The board shall develop guidelines in collaboration with the monitoring organization for the reporting of non-compliance with conditions of the safe haven program. Non-compliance shall be reported to the board by the monitoring organization.
Last updated September 15, 2025 at 7:37 AM