59A-10.002. Definitions

As used in this rule chapter:

(1) “Accident prevention” means those risk management techniques that seek to reduce the frequency and/or severity of incidents.

(2) “Accredited institution of higher learning” means universities, colleges, community colleges and junior colleges which are accredited by an accrediting agency.

(3) “Accrediting agency” means those accrediting agencies belonging to the Council on Higher Education Accreditation.

(4) “Agency” means the Agency for Health Care Administration.

(5) “Ambulatory surgical center” means an ambulatory surgical center licensed under Chapters 395 and 408, F.S., and Rule Chapters 59A-5 and 35, F.A.C.

(6) “Basic risk manager”  means a person who has a degree, awarded by an accredited institution of higher learning, in risk management or insurance.

(7) “Community interrelationships” means community networks, liaisons and associations that are necessary to promote continuity of care or enhance the delivery of patient care and aid in the prevention and control of health care risks.

(8) “Departmental organization and management” means the organizational structure, goals, objectives, philosophy, policies, procedures, and job descriptions which govern organizational operations of the health care risk management program as it functions within the licensed health care facility.

(9) “General risk management administration” means the establishment, direction and evaluation of procedures, programs and other methods to reduce or minimize personal injury and financial losses. The term includes management of an incident reporting system and reporting of appropriate statistics for hospital and state maintenance.

(10) “Health care administrator” means a person who has a masters degree, awarded by an accredited institution of higher learning, in health or healthcare administration, healthcare management, or other such education which included successful completion of graduate level courses in the management and administration of various healthcare organizations, health care finance, legal and ethical issues related to healthcare, risk management, and health information management.

(11) “Health care facility” or “facility” means an ambulatory surgical center or hospital, as defined in subsections (5) and (13).

(12) “Health care professional” means a physician licensed pursuant to Chapter 458, F.S., an osteopath licensed pursuant to Chapter 459, F.S., a chiropractor licensed pursuant to Chapter 460, F.S., a podiatrist licensed pursuant to Chapter 461, F.S., a pharmacist licensed pursuant to Chapter 465, F.S., a nurse licensed pursuant to Chapter 464, F.S., a radiologic technologist certified pursuant to Chapter 468, F.S., a respiratory therapist licensed pursuant to Chapter 468, F.S., a physical therapist licensed pursuant to Chapter 486, F.S., an occupational therapist licensed pursuant to Chapter 468, F.S., and an emergency medical technician or paramedic certified pursuant to Chapter 401, F.S.

(13) “Hospital” means a hospital licensed under Chapters 395 and 408, F.S., and Rule Chapters 59A-3 and 35, F.A.C.

(14) ICD-10-CM means the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Edition, Clinical Modification and shall be abbreviated as ICD-10-CM in these rules.

(15) “Incident report” means a factual written statement about a particular incident detailing particulars as to time, location, all persons directly involved including functional titles, and the nature of event including description of injuries. The report shall contain a listing of witnesses to the event.

(16) “Incident reporting system” means a series of systematized procedures for detecting, reporting, collating, analyzing, and summarizing incidents.

(17) “Internal risk management program” means the policies and procedures of a health care facility which constitute the internal risk management program as defined in Section 395.0197 or 641.55, F.S.

(18) “Investigation” or “investigate” means the identification, analysis and evaluation of an incident by a risk manager or his designee or by a representative of the Agency.

(19) “Licensed health care risk manager” means an individual licensed under Section 395.10974, F.S.

(20) “Medical care” means that care and treatment rendered by or under the direction of licensed health care professionals.

(21) “Medical intervention” means actions of any health care facility or personnel of the facility, in the provision of health care.

(22) “Medical terminology” means terms and abbreviations most commonly found in medical usage as well as prefixes and suffixes which are employed as elements of medical words.

(23) “Patient care” means those services provided or rendered to meet the patient’s physical, emotional and spiritual needs.

(24) “Patient grievance” means any complaint by a patient relating to patient care or the quality of medical services, except for those matters pertaining to the cost of care.

(25) “Personal and social care” means those human resources and services which are available to meet the individual psychosocial needs of patients to promote well-being and continuity of care.

(26) “Personnel” for purposes of this rule means any employee or independent contractor of a facility or member of a facility’s medical staff.

(27) “Personnel directly involved” for the purposes of reporting to the Agency means personnel as described in subsection (26) who could exercise control over the event which is reportable as an adverse or untoward incident.

(28) “Risk management” means the identification, investigation, analysis, and evaluation of risks and the selection of the most advantageous method of correcting, reducing or eliminating identifiable risks.

(29) “Risk Manager designee” means any person appointed by the facility to work with the licensed health care risk manager or to act as his representative in carrying out risk management activities. This appointment must be in writing.

Rulemaking Authority 395.0197, 395.1073 FS. Law Implemented 395.0197 FS. History–New 8-28-79, Formerly 10D-75.02, Amended 3-25-86, 12-28-89, Formerly 10D-75.002, Amended 9-16-92, 8-2-16.