10A NCAC 13B .3001. DEFINITIONS

The following definitions shall apply throughout this Section, unless the context clearly indicates to the contrary:

(1)           "Appropriate" means suitable or fitting, or conforming to standards of care as established by professional organizations.

(2)           "Authority having jurisdiction" means the Division of Health Service Regulation.

(3)           "Certified Dietary Manager" or "CDM" means an individual who is certified by the Certifying Board of the Dietary Managers and meets the standards and qualification as referenced in the "Dietary Manager Training Program Requirements."  These standards include any subsequent amendments and editions of the referenced manual.  Copies of the "Dietary Manager Training Program Requirements" may be purchased for fifteen dollars ($15.00) from the Dietary Managers Association, 406 Surry Woods Dr., St. Charles, IL 60174.

(4)           "Competence" means the state or quality of being able to perform specific functions well; skill; ability.

(5)           "Comprehensive" means covering completely, inclusive; large in scope or content.

(6)           "Continuous" means ongoing or uninterrupted, 24 hours per day.

(7)           "CRNA" means a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist as credentialed by the Council on Certification of Nurse Anesthetists and recognized by the Board of Nursing in 21 NCAC 36 .0226.

(8)           "Credentialed" means that the individual having a given title or position has been credited with the right to exercise official responsibilities to provide specific patient care and treatment services, within defined limits, based primarily upon the individual's license, education, training, experience, competence, and judgment.

(9)           "Department" means the Department of Health and Human Services.

(10)         "Dietetics" means the integration and application of principles derived from the science of nutrition, biochemistry, physiology, food and management and from behavioral and social sciences to achieve and maintain optimal nutritional status.

(11)         "Dietitian" means an individual who is licensed according to G.S. 90, Article 25, or is registered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) of the American Dietetic Association (ADA) according to the standards and qualifications as referenced in the second edition of the "Accreditation/Approval Manual for Dietetic Education Programs", "The Registration Eligibility Application for Dietitians" and the "Continuing Professional Education" and subsequent amendments or editions of the reference material.  Copies of the "Accreditation/Approval Manual for Dietetic Education Programs" may be purchased for twenty-one dollars and ninety-five cents ($21.95) plus three dollars ($3.00) minimum shipping and handling from ADA 216 W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago, IL 60606-9-6995.

(12)         "Dietetic Technician Registered" or "DTR" means an individual who is registered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) of the American Dietetic Association (ADA) according to the standards and qualifications as referenced in the second edition of the "Accreditation/Approval Manual for Dietetic Education Programs" which is incorporated by reference including any subsequent amendments and editions.  Copies of the "Accreditation/Approval Manual for Dietetic Education Programs" may be purchased for twenty-one dollars and ninety-five cents ($21.95) plus three dollars ($3.00) minimum for shipping and handling from the ADA 216 W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago, IL 60606-9-6995.

(13)         "Direct Supervision" means the state of being under the immediate control of a supervisor, manager, or other person of authority.

(14)         "Division" means the Division of Health Service Regulation.

(15)         "Facility" means a hospital as defined in G.S. 131E-76.

(16)         "Free standing facility" means a facility that is physically separated from the primary hospital building or separated by a three hour fire containment wall.

(17)         "Full-time equivalent" means a unit of measure of employee work time that is equal to the number of hours that one full-time employee would work during one calendar year if the employee worked eight hours a day, five days a week, and 52 weeks a year; i.e. 2,080 hours per year.

(18)         "Governing body" means the authority as defined in G.S. 131E-76.

(19)         "Imaging" means a reproduction or representation of a body or body part for diagnostic purposes by radiologic intervention that may include conventional fluoroscopic exam, magnetic resonance, nuclear or radio-isotope scan.

(20)         "Invasive procedure" means a procedure involving puncture or incision of the skin, insertion of an instrument or foreign material into the body (excluding venipuncture and intravenous therapy).

(21)         "LDRP" (labor, delivery, recovery, post-partum) means a specific single occupancy obstetrical use room counted as a licensed bed.

(22)         "License" means formal permission to provide services as granted by the State.

(23)         "Medical staff" means the formal organization that is comprised of all of those individuals who have sought and obtained clinical privileges in a facility.  Those members of the medical staff who regularly and routinely admit patients to a facility constitute the active medical staff.

(24)         "Mission statement" means a written statement of the philosophy and beliefs of the organization or hospital as approved by the governing body.

(25)         "Neonate" means the newborn from birth to one month.

(26)         "NP" means a Nurse Practitioner as defined in G.S. 90-6; 90-18(14) and 90-18.2.

(27)         "Nurse executive" means a registered nurse who is the director of nursing services or a representative of decentralized nursing management staff.

(28)         "Nurse midwife" means a Certified Nurse Midwife as defined in G.S. 90, Article 10.

(29)         "Nursing facility" means that portion of a hospital that is approved to provide skilled nursing care.

(30)         "Nursing staff" means the registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, nurse aides, and others under nurse supervision, who provide direct patient care.  The term also includes clerical personnel who work in clinical areas under nurse supervision.

(31)         "Nutrition therapy" ranges from intervention and counseling on diet modification to administration of specialized nutrition therapies as determined necessary to manage a condition or treat illness or injury.  Specialized nutrition therapies include supplementation with medical foods, enteral and parenteral nutrition.  Nutrition therapy integrates information from the nutrition assessment with information on food and other sources of nutrients and meal preparation consistent with cultural background and socioeconomic status.

(32)         "Observation bed" means a bed used for no more than 24-hours, to evaluate and determine the condition and disposition of a patient and is not considered a part of the hospital's licensed bed capacity.

(33)         "Patient" means any person receiving diagnostic or medical services at a hospital.

(34)         "Pharmacist" means a person licensed according to G.S. 90, Article 4A, by the N.C. Board of Pharmacy to practice pharmacy.

(35)         "Physical Rehabilitation Services" means any combination of physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy or vocational rehabilitation.

(36)         "Physician" means a person licensed according to G.S. 90, Article 1, by the N.C. Board of Medical Examiners to practice medicine.

(37)         "Provisional license" means a hospital license recognizing significantly less than full compliance with the licensure rules.

(38)         "Qualified" means having complied with the specific conditions for employment or the performance of a function.

(39)         "Reference" means to use in consultation to obtain information.

(40)         "Special Care Unit" means a designated unit or area of a hospital with a concentration of qualified professional staff and support services that provide intensive or extra ordinary care on a 24-hour basis to critically ill patients; these units may include but are not limited to Cardiac Care, Medical or Surgical Intensive Care Unit, Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit, Burn Intensive Care Unit, Neurologic Intensive Care Unit or Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.

(41)         "Unit" means a designated area of the hospital for the delivery of patient care services.

 

History Note:        Authority G.S. 131E-79;

RRC Objection due to lack of Statutory Authority Eff. July 13, 1995;

Eff. January 1, 1996.