New OUHC Main Consent Template and Updated HIPAA Templates Now Available

A new version of the OUHC Main Consent Form Template and updated HIPAA Authorization Templates (English and Spanish) have been published, effective May 13, 2026. These updates reflect the University’s transition to the University of Oklahoma Health Campus (OUHC) name.

Key Updates to the Main Consent Template (2026)

The 05/13/2026 consent template includes:

• Updated campus name and acronym (OUHC) throughout
• A reorganized Who to Contact section with clearer, participant‑friendly headers
• A new section for optional text messaging and email communication, including opt‑in/out initial lines
• Simplified headers in the Key Information section
• Compensation moved from Key Information to Detailed Information
• Improved headers for confidentiality and plans for storing, sharing, and reusing participant data
• Updated language and instructions throughout to improve clarity and readability

Updates to HIPAA Authorization Templates (English and Spanish)

All HIPAA templates were updated on May 13, 2026, to reflect the new campus name (OUHC). No other content changes were made.

This update applies to:

• All English HIPAA Authorization Forms
• All Spanish HIPAA Authorization Forms (only the English campus name was updated; all translated content remains unchanged from the 2024 versions)

The 2026 HIPAA templates continue to meet all regulatory and institutional requirements.

Implementation Guidance

New studies not yet submitted:

• Must use the 2026 OUHC Main Consent Template and the 2026 HIPAA templates.

New studies in pre‑review:

• Will be asked to transition to the new templates before review and final approval.

New studies currently pending final IRB approval:

• May be asked to transition to the new consent and HIPAA templates at the discretion of the IRB, depending on the stage of review.

Existing studies with approved consent forms or HIPAA forms:

• Are not required to switch to the new templates.
• May voluntarily update to the 2026 consent or HIPAA templates, particularly if enrollment is ongoing.
• Regardless of whether study teams keep their existing consent forms or update to the 2026 version, study teams:     
  • Should update contact phone numbers if their clinics were affected by the recent rollout of new numbers.
  • May update the campus name and acronyms on existing IRB‑approved consent forms.
• IRB approval is required before any changes may be implemented. Submit revised documents via the Modification/Notification form or Continuing Review w/ Proposed Modification in iRIS.

Accessing the Updated Templates

All updated templates are available in the Researcher Toolkit on the HRPP website under:

• Consent Templates
• HIPAA Form Templates (English and Spanish)

They are also available in the Help section in iRIS, where study teams can download the current versions directly while preparing submissions.

The previous 2022 consent template will remain accessible for reference during the transition period but will no longer be accepted for new submissions. Previous HIPAA templates have been removed from the website; ongoing studies may continue using previously approved versions.

Need Assistance?

If you have questions or need help updating your study documents, please contact the HRPP Office at 405‑271‑2045 or email irb@ouhsc.edu.