64I-5.001. Definitions

The following definitions shall apply:

(1) “Acute inpatient care provider” means a hospital licensed under Chapter 395, Part I, F.S., as defined in Section 395.002(12), Florida Statutes.

(2) “Department” means the Department of Health.

(3) “Emergency Medical Care” means medical care as defined in Section 395.002(9), F.S.

(4) “Health Care Service Delivery Plan” means a written plan adopted by the network board of directors that:

(a) Identifies core health care service providers and the services that are to be provided by network members;

(b) Describes unmet health care needs in the network’s service area and proposes solutions;

(c) Establishes procedures for patient referral to tertiary inpatient care and to other services not available in the network’s service area, including payment arrangements; and

(d) Establishes minimum requirements to be included in network health care provider agreements.

(5) “Network Provider Membership Application” means an application for membership in the network adopted by the board of directors of the network which contains a statement that the provider member agrees to render care to all patients referred to them from other network members and includes at a minimum the following information:

(a) Provider name;

(b) Address of the provider;

(c) Provider telephone number;

(d) Provider type; and

(e) Provider category.

(6) “Public health” for the purpose of membership in a rural health network pursuant to Section 381.0406(3), F.S, means a county public health unit as defined in Section 154.01, F.S.

(7) “Quality Assurance Program” means a plan and a procedures manual, adopted by the board of directors of the network, for the rural health network to implement its responsibility to develop risk management and quality assurance programs for the network providers. The quality assurance program shall evaluate the extent to which network administration, staff and health services are monitoring compliance of the health care providers in providing access to care and compliance with pre-established network standards set by the board of directors.

(8) “Risk Management Program” means a program, adopted by the board of directors of the network, for monitoring the functioning of the network for the purpose of minimizing the risk of injuries and adverse incidents to patients. The program must include a risk prevention education and training component, and the procedures for monitoring the individual providers’ risk management systems for minimizing risk.

(9) “Rural Health Information System” means the management information system utilized by the network to measure its success in accomplishing the outcomes set forth in Section 381.0406(1), F.S.

(10) “Rural Health Network Service Area” means the rural geographical area to be served by the network, as defined by the network.

(11) “Rural Hospital” means a hospital as defined in Section 395.602(2)(e), F.S., or a hospital that is located in an area defined as rural in Section 381.0406(2)(a), F.S.

Specific Authority 381.0406(17) FS. Law Implemented 381.0406(2), (3), (4), (11)(c) FS. History–New 12-29-93, Amended 1-29-95, 8-18-96, Formerly 59F-1.002.