Section 22-B2099. DEFINITIONS

 

2099.1When used in this chapter, the following terms and phrases shall have the meanings ascribed:

 

Abuse - any knowing, reckless, or intentional act or omission by a provider that causes or is likely to cause or contribute to, or which caused or is likely to have caused or contributed to, injury, death, or financial exploitation of a patient.

 

Act - the Health -Care and Community Residence Facility, Hospice and Home Care Licensure Act of 1983, D.C. Law 5-48 (D.C. Official Code § 44-501 et seq.).

 

Administrator - the person who is responsible for day-to-day operation of the facility to include the Medical Director.

 

Anesthesiologist - a licensed physician who is certified by the American Board of Anesthesiology or who has training and experience in the field of anesthesiology, substantially equivalent to that required for certification.

 

Communicable disease - Communicable disease - any disease denominated a communicable disease, including without limitation any illness due to an infectious agent or its toxic product, which is transmitted directly or indirectly to a well person from an infected person, animal, or ectoparasite; or any illness due to an infectious agent or its toxic product which is transmitted through the agency of an intermediate host, vector, or by exposure within the immediate environment. Communicable disease also shall mean any disease occurring as an outbreak of illness or toxic conditions, regardless of etiology in an institution or other identifiable group of people.

 

Conversion - the act of limiting a license to either a restricted or provisional status.

 

District or D.C - the District of Columbia.

 

Dentist - any licensed person who is authorized to practice dentistry in accordance with the District of Columbia Health Occupations Revision Act of 1985, D.C. Law 6-99.

 

Department - the District of Columbia Department of Health.

 

Director - the Director of the Department of Health.

 

Emergency room - any area in the hospital set up for the reception and treatment of persons in need of emergency medical care.

 

Hospital - a facility that provides twenty-four 24-hour inpatient care, including diagnostic, therapeutic, elective surgery, and other health-related services, for a variety of physical or mental conditions, and may in addition provide outpatient services, particularly emergency care.

 

Hospital, general - a hospital that has the facilities and provides the services that are necessary for the general medical and surgical care of patients, including the provision of emergency care by an Emergency Department.

 

Hospital, private - a hospital not operated by an agency of the United States of the District of Columbia.

 

Hospital, special - a hospital that:

 

(a)Defines a program of specialized services, such as obstetrics, mental health, orthopedy, long term acute care, rehabilitative services or pediatric services;

 

(b)Admits only patients with medical or surgical needs within the defined program; and

 

(c)Has the facilities for and provides those specialized services.

 

Idle space - Hospital area that is not used for patient services or any activity related to patient services and is either (1) inactive, (2) under renovation or (3) inactive in anticipation of renovation..

 

Infant - a young person between the ages of thirty (30) days and one (1) year.

 

Infectious disease - a disease caused by an communicable agent.

 

Internist - a licensed physician who is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine or who has training and experience in internal medicine substantially equivalent to that required for that certification.

 

Joint Commission - an independent, not-for-profit organization that evaluates and accredits health-care facilities in the United States.

 

Laboratory - any area in the hospital set up for chemical, bacteriological, and histopathological examinations.

 

Medical record - a hospital record of a patient that provides identifying information about the patient and information about his or her medical condition, progress, and treatment.

 

Near miss - any process variation that did not affect an outcome but for which a recurrence carries a significant chance of a serious adverse outcome

 

Newborn - any newly delivered infant who is up to twenty-nine days old.

 

Nurse - a person who is licensed and currently registered to practice nursing in accordance with the District of Columbia Health Occupations Revision Act of 1985, D.C. Law 6-99.

 

Nurse, private duty - a licensed professional or practical nurse who is engaged directly by the patient or his or her representative for the purpose of rendering nursing care to that patient.

 

Nursery - a room in a newborn patient care unit used as a patient room for newborn infants.

 

Obstetrician - a licensed physician who is certified in obstetrics by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, or who has training and experience in obstetrics substantially equivalent to that required for that certification.

 

Oral surgeon - a dentist who is a diplomat of the American Board of Oral Surgery, or a member of the American Society of Oral Surgery, or who has training and experience substantially equivalent to that required to be a diplomat or member.

 

Patient - a person who has been admitted to a hospital for the diagnosis, treatment, or care of physical or mental conditions.

 

Patient room - a room set aside for the accommodation, care, and treatment of a patient or patients.

 

Pediatrician - a licensed physician who is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics, or who has training and experience in pediatrics substantially equivalent to that required for that certification.

 

Person - any individual, firm, partnership, corporation, company, or association; and including any administrators, guardians, trustees, directors, and agents.

 

Public Hospital - a hospital owned and operated by the government.

 

Physician - a person currently licensed pursuant to the Health Occupations Revision Act of 1985, effective March 25, 1986, D.C. Law 6-99, D.C. Official Code Section 3-1201.01 et seq., to practice medicine and surgery, or a person licensed in another jurisdiction whose application for a license or registration is pending in the District.

 

Provisional License- a license issued to a facility which is not in substantial compliance with all applicable laws and regulations, but which is taking ameliorative action in accordance with a mutually agreed upon timetable to achieve compliance

 

Psychiatrist - a licensed physician who is certified in psychiatry by the American Board of Neurology and Psychiatry, or who has substantial training and experience in psychiatry equivalent to that required for that certification.

 

Qualified Health Professional - a person licensed pursuant to the Health Occupations Revision Act of 1985, effective March 25, 1986, D.C. Law 6-99, D.C. Official Code Section 3-1201.01 et seq., to practice a health occupation in the District, and who is authorized under the terms of that Act to perform the activity referred to in the particular regulation.

 

Regular license- a license which is issued for one year to a facility which is in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.

 

Restricted license- a license which permits operation of a facility but prohibits the facility from accepting new residents and patients or from delivering services that it would otherwise be authorized to deliver, or both.

 

Sentinel event - an unexpected occurrence involving death or serious physical or psychological injury, or the risk thereof.

 

Substantial Compliance- meeting the majority of rules without jeopardizing health and safety.

 

Surgeon - a physician who is certified by the American Board of Surgery or who has training and experience in surgery substantially equivalent to that required for that certification.

 

source

Notice of Final Rulemaking published at 55 DCR 8813 (August 15, 2008).