Section 22-B3999. DEFINITIONS

 

3999.1For the purpose of this Chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings ascribed below:

 

Activity record - documentation of home health aide and personal care aide services as recorded by home health and personal care aides.

 

Advanced practice registered nurse - a person licensed or permitted to practice advanced registered nursing under HORA, also referred to as a "nurse practitioner".

 

Agency - a home care agency as defined in this section.

 

Caregiver - a person over the age of eighteen (18) years who has assumed responsibility for the care of the patient, voluntarily or by order of a court of competent jurisdiction.

 

Certified Nurse Aide - a person who performs nursing aide services, and who has obtained certification or credentials from the District of Columbia as being qualified to perform such services, pursuant to Chapter 32 of Title 29 of the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations.

 

Clinical record - a comprehensive compilation of medical and other data that identifies the patient and justifies and describes the diagnosis and treatment of the patient.

 

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.

 

Dietitian - a person licensed or permitted to practice dietetics in the District of Columbia pursuant to HORA.

 

Governing body - the group, agency, partnership or corporation designated to assume full legal responsibility for the policy determinations, management, operation and financial liability of the home care agency.

 

Health professional - a person licensed or permitted to practice as a health professional under HORA.

 

Home Health Aide - a person who performs home health aide services, and who is qualified to perform such services pursuant to Chapter 51 of Title 29 of the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations.

 

Home care agency - an agency, organization, or distinct part thereof, other than a hospice, that provides, either directly or through a contractual arrangement, a program of health care, habilitative or rehabilitative therapy, personal care services, household support services, chore services, or other supportive services to sick or disabled individuals living at home or in a community residence facility. The term "home care agency" shall not be construed to require the regulation and licensure of non-medical services delivered by or through a religious organization on a small-scale, volunteer basis.

 

HORA - the District of Columbia Health Occupations Revision Act of 1985, effective March 25, 1986, D.C. Law 6-99, D.C. Official Code § 3-1201.01 et seq.

 

Household support services - services provided to supplement a patient's capabilities in such areas as light housekeeping, home management, meal planning and preparation, shopping, and care of dependent children.

 

Intravenous therapy - the provision, administration and monitoring of medical and nutritional substances taken by intravenous infusion through a peripheral vein, a direct central line, or a central line through a peripheral vein, with filters, and with or without intravenous pumps or controllers.

 

Licensed practical nurse - a person licensed or permitted to practice practical nursing under HORA.

 

Monitoring services - services utilizing mechanical appliances by which certain conditions or phenomena can be observed and recorded, including, but not limited to, diagnostic x-rays, electrocardiographs, apnea monitors, and emergency response systems.

 

Nutritional services - services prescribed in accordance with a plan of care that assesses and addresses the nutritional needs of a patient.

 

Nutritionist - a person licensed or permitted to practice nutrition under HORA.

 

Occupational therapist - a person licensed or permitted to practice occupational therapy under HORA.

 

Occupational therapy - the evaluation and treatment of individuals whose ability to manage normal daily functions is threatened or impaired by developmental deficits, the aging process, poverty, cultural differences, physical injury or illness, or psychological and social disability, utilizing task-oriented activities to prevent or correct physical or emotional disabilities and to enhance developmental and functional skills.

 

Office - the primary business location within the District of Columbia of a home care agency licensed in the District of Columbia, that maintains published open business hours, a working staff, and records.

 

Personal Care Aide - a person who performs personal care aide services, and who is qualified to perform such services pursuant to Chapter 50 of Title 29 of the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations.

 

Physical therapist - a person licensed or permitted to practice physical therapy under HORA.

 

Physical therapy services - treatment of human disability, injury, or disease by supervised therapeutic procedures embracing the specific application of physical measures to secure the functional rehabilitation and maintenance of the human body, as well as patient and family education.

 

Physician - a person licensed to practice medicine under HORA.

 

Plan of care - a plan of action formulated by one or more health care professionals, based upon the nature of the patient's illness, the treatment prescribed by the physician and the assessment of the patient's needs. The plan shall include the patient's health care needs, how these needs can be met, methods and approaches recommended, and modifications necessary to ensure the best results.

 

Progress note - a dated, written notation by a member of the health care team that summarizes facts about care and the patient's response during a given period of time.

 

Psychiatric nursing - skilled nursing services provided in conjunction with the diagnosis, treatment or prevention of mental illness.

 

Registered nurse - a person licensed or permitted to practice registered nursing under HORA

 

Respiratory therapist - a person who has completed a two (2) year program in respiratory care accredited by the Joint Review Personnel Committee of Respiratory Therapy Evaluation of the American Medical Association (AMA) and who is licensed to practice respiratory therapy under HORA.

 

Respiratory therapy - the performance, in collaboration with a licensed physician, of actions responsible for the treatment, management, diagnostic testing, control and care of patients with deficiencies and abnormalities associated with the cardiopulmonary system.

 

Skilled nursing services - nursing services that are required to be delivered by licensed nurses who operate within the scope of practice as outlined in HORA and rules implemented pursuant thereto.

 

Skilled services - health care services that are required to be delivered by licensed health-care professionals or under the direction of licensed health care professionals.

 

Social worker - a person licensed or permitted to practice social work under HORA.

 

Speech language pathologist - a person who:

 

(1)Meets the education and experience requirements for a Certificate of Clinical Competence in speech language pathology granted by the American Speech and Hearing Association; or

 

(2)Meets the educational requirements for certification and is in the process of accumulating the supervised experience required for certification.

 

source

Final Rulemaking published at 51 DCR 2876 (March 19, 2004).