Code of Maine Rules › 02 - DEPARTMENT OF PROFESSIONAL AND FINANCIAL REGULATION › 373 - BOARD OF LICENSURE IN MEDICINE › Chapter 11 - JOINT RULE REGARDING TELEHEALTH STANDARDS OF PRACTICE › Section 373-11-2 - DEFINITIONS

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
1. "Asynchronous encounter" means an
				interaction between an individual and a licensee through a system that has the
				ability to store digital information, including but not limited to still
				images, video files, audio files, text files and other relevant data, and to
				transmit such information without requiring the simultaneous presence of the
				individual and licensee.
2. "Board"
				means the Maine Board of Licensure in Medicine, the Board of Osteopathic
				Licensure or the State Board of Nursing.
3. "Health care services" means services
				provided by a licensed or registered physician, physician assistant, or nurse
				according to the applicable scope of practice and standard of care.
4. "In-person encounter" means that the
				licensee and the patient are in the physical presence of each other and are in
				the same physical location during the clinician-patient encounter.
5. "Licensee" means a physician, physician
				assistant, licensed practical nurse, registered professional nurse, or advanced
				practice registered nurse licensed or registered by the Board.
6. "Licensee-patient relationship" means the
				relationship established between a licensee and a patient according to this
				rule and the laws, rules, and standards of practice applicable to a
				licensee.
7. "Nurse compact state"
				means a state that has enacted the Nurse Licensure Compact as revised by the
				National Council of State Boards of Nursing.
8. "Nursing assessment" means a pertinent
				assessment of a patient conducted by a registered professional nurse in
				accordance with the laws and rules of the Board and nursing standards of care
				for the purpose of the patient visit.
9. "Physical examination" means a pertinent
				physical examination of a patient conducted by a licensed physician, physician
				assistant, or advanced practice registered nurse in accordance with the
				standard of care for the purpose of the patient visit.
10. "Store and forward transfer" means the
				transmission of an individual's records through a secure electronic system to a
				licensee.
11. "Synchronous
				encounter" means a real-time interaction conducted with an interactive audio or
				video connection between an individual and a licensee or between a licensee and
				another health care provider.
12.
				"Telehealth" means the provision of health care services using electronic
				audio-visual communications and information technologies or other means,
				including interactive audio with asynchronous store-and-forward transmission,
				between a licensee in one location and a patient in another location with or
				without an intervening health care provider. Telehealth includes asynchronous
				store-and-forward technologies, telemonitoring, and real-time interactive
				services, including teleradiology and telepathology. When necessary and
				appropriate under the circumstances and if in compliance with the applicable
				standard of care, telehealth includes the use of audio-only technology.
				Telehealth shall not include the provision of health care services only through
				e-mail, instant messaging, facsimile transmission, or U.S. mail or other parcel
				service, or any combination thereof between a licensee in one location and a
				patient in another location with or without an intervening health care
				provider.
13. "Telehealth
				technologies" means technologies and devices enabling secure electronic
				communications and information exchanges between a licensee in one location and
				a patient in another location with or without an intervening health care
				provider.
14. "Telemonitoring"
				means the use of information technology to remotely monitor a patient's health
				status via electronic means, allowing the licensee to track the patient's
				health data over time Telemonitoring may be synchronous or
				asynchronous.