Compilation of Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia › Department 111 - RULES OF DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY HEALTH › Chapter 111-8 - HEALTHCARE FACILITY REGULATION › Subject 111-8-4 - AMBULATORY SURGICAL TREATMENT CENTERS › Rule 111-8-4-.01 - Definitions

Current through Rules and Regulations filed through June 27, 2024
Unless a different meaning is required by the context, the
				  following terms as used in these rules and regulations shall have the meaning
				  hereinafter respectively ascribed to them:
(a) "Ambulatory Surgical Treatment Centers"
				means any institution, building, or facility, or part thereof, devoted
				primarily to the provision of surgical treatment to patients not requiring
				hospitalization, as provided under provisions of O.C.G.A. §
									31-7-1(4)(c).
				Such facilities do not admit patients for treatment which normally requires
				overnight stay, nor provide accommodations for treatment of patients for period
				of twenty-four (24) hours or longer;
(b) "Governing Body" and/or "Management"
				means the Board of Directors and/or Trustees, the partnership, the corporation,
				the association, or the person or group of persons who maintain and control the
				operation of the ambulatory surgical treatment center and who are legally
				responsible for its operation;
(c)
				"Center" means an ambulatory surgical treatment center as defined in these
				rules and regulations;
(d) "Board,"
				unless otherwise indicated, shall mean the Georgia Board of Community
				Health;
(e) "Commissioner" means
				the Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Community Health or his
				designee;
(f) "Department" means
				the Georgia Department of Community Health;
(g) "General Anesthesia" means any drug,
				element or other material administered to eliminate all sensation and which,
				when administered, is accompanied by a state of unconsciousness;
(h) "Licensee" means the person or body to
				whom the license or permit is issued and who is held responsible for compliance
				with all required rules, regulations, and minimum standards;
(i) "Permit" or "license" means an
				authorization granted by the Department to an applicant to operate an
				ambulatory surgical treatment center providing one or more types or
				classifications of services;
(j)
				"Provisional Permit" means an authorization granted by the Department to an
				applicant to operate an ambulatory surgical treatment center on a conditional
				basis to allow a newly established center a reasonable but limited period of
				time to demonstrate that operational procedures are in satisfactory compliance
				with these rules and regulations, or to allow an established and operating
				center a specified length of time to comply with these rules and regulations,
				provided said center shall first present a plan of improvement which is
				acceptable to the Department;
(k)
				"Plan of Improvement" means a written plan submitted to the Department by the
				person or persons responsible for the center, and acceptable to the Department.
				The plan shall identify the existing areas of noncompliance of the facility,
				together with the proposed procedures, methods and period of time to correct
				the areas of noncompliance;
(l)
				"Professional Staff" means the group of persons or body appointed by the
				Governing Body to provide patient services, and who require special licensure
				or registration. Normally, the professional staff will be restricted to
				currently licensed medical, dental, and podiatrist practitioners. Other
				personnel, for example, registered nurses, may be appointed to the professional
				staff to assist the practitioners in the development, interpretation, and
				enforcement of patient care policies;
(m) "Practitioner" means a physician,
				dentist, or podiatrist;
(n)
				"Physician" means an individual who is currently licensed to practice medicine,
				surgery or osteopathy in the State of Georgia, under the Georgia Medical
				Practice Act, O.C.G.A. §
									43-34-20
et
				seq.
;
(o) "Dentist" means
				any person who is currently licensed to practice dentistry in the State of
				Georgia, under provisions of the Georgia Dentist and Dental Hygienists Act,
				O.C.G.A. §
									43-11-1
et
				seq.
;
(p) "Podiatrist"
				(Chiropodist) means any person who is currently licensed to practice podiatry
				(chiropody) in the State of Georgia, under provisions of the Georgia Podiatry
				Act, O.C.G.A. §
									43-35-1
et
				seq.
;
(q) "Registered
				Nurse," "Registered Professional Nurse," or "R.N." means a person who is
				currently licensed to practice as a licensed registered nurse under provisions
				of O.C.G.A. §
									43-26-1
et seq.
;
(r) "Licensed Practical Nurse" or
				"L.P.N." means a person currently licensed to practice as a licensed practical
				nurse under provisions of O.C.G.A.§
									43-26-30
et
				seq.
;
(s) "Private
				Office(s)," "Office(s)," and/or "Treatment Rooms" means any area or place
				established and maintained by a currently licensed individual practitioner,
				professional association, or group practice of such practitioners, in
				his/her/their private individual or private group practice, in which
				he/she/they primarily see(s), consult(s) with, examine(s), and/or treats
				private patients on a regular and on-going basis, and in the operation of which
				such currently licensed practitioners have full control of all financial,
				administrative, and professional arrangements with said patients;
(t) "Hospital" means any facility which meets
				the requirements of and is currently licensed as a hospital under Georgia Laws
				and rules and regulations pertaining thereto;
(u) "Procedure Room" means any room or area
				of the ambulatory surgical treatment center in which surgical procedures are
				performed;
(v) "Patient" means any
				individual who receives medical/surgical treatment in facilities governed by
				these regulations;
(w) "Qualified
				Counselor" means a person who assists the professional staff by talking with
				and informing patients regarding expectations and probable outcomes associated
				with services in an ambulatory surgical treatment center, and who possesses the
				following minimum qualifications: at least a bachelor's degree from an
				accredited college or university in nursing, psychology or social work, or in
				some related field, or who has special training in counseling which is deemed
				acceptable by the Department; provided, however, that any such counselor shall
				function only under the direct supervision of the responsible
				practitioner.
O.C.G.A. §§
										31-2-4
et seq.
,
				  and 31-7-1
et seq.