§ 601.6. Definitions.
The following words and terms, when used in this chapter, have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
Act—The Health Care Facilities Act (35 P. S. § § 448.101—448.904).
Administrator—A person who performs the functions as outlined in § 601.21(d) (relating to organization, services and administration) and is one of the following:(i) A licensed physician.
(ii) A registered nurse.
(iii) Has training and experience in health service administration and at least 1 year of supervisory or administrative experience in home health care or related health programs.
Agency—An administrative unit that is responsible financially and legally.
Bylaws—A set of rules adopted by a home health care agency for governing the agency’s operation.
Branch office—A location or site from which a home health care agency provides services within a portion of the total geographic area served by the parent agency. The term includes an office that is part of the home health care agency and is sufficiently accessible to share administration, supervision and services in a manner that renders it unnecessary for the branch independently to meet the requirements of this subpart as a home health care agency.
Clinical note—A dated written notation by a member of the health team, of a single contact with a patient, containing a description of signs and symptoms, treatment or drug given, the patient’s reaction and changes in physical or emotional condition.
Department—The Department of Health of the Commonwealth.
Health team—Persons associated with the agency and assigned to a particular patient to provide services.
Home health aide—A nonprofessional person who has completed a minimum of 60 hours of classroom instruction prior to or during the first 3 months of employment. The term includes aides who are carefully trained in methods of assisting patients to achieve maximum self-reliance, principles of nutrition and meal preparation, the aging process and emotional problems of illness, changes in patient’s condition that should be reported, work of the agency and the health team, ethics, confidentiality and record keeping.
Home health care agency—An organization or part thereof staffed and equipped to provide skilled nursing and at least one therapeutic service—physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech pathology, medical social services or home health aides—to disabled, aged, injured or sick persons on a part-time or intermittent basis in their place of residence. The term includes an agency that also provides other health-related services to protect and maintain persons in their own homes.
Licensed practical nurse—A practical nurse who holds a current and valid license to practice in this Commonwealth under the Practical Nurse Law (63 P. S. § § 651—667).
Occupational therapist—A person who is currently licensed as an occupational therapist in this Commonwealth under the Occupational Therapy Act (63 P. S. § § 1501—1519).
Occupational therapy assistant—A person who is currently licensed as an occupational therapy assistant in this Commonwealth under the Occupational Therapy Practice Act (63 P. S. § § 1501—1519).
Parent home health care agency—The agency that develops and maintains administrative control of subunits or branch offices. The term includes a subdivision which has subunits or branches.
Part-time intermittent service—Services which are provided for less than 8 hours a day or less than 40 hours a week.
Pharmacist—A person who is currently licensed as a pharmacist in this Commonwealth under the Pharmacy Act (63 P. S. § § 390-1—390-13).
Physical therapist—A person who is currently licensed as a physical therapist in this Commonwealth under the Physical Therapy Practice Act (63 P. S. § § 1301—1312).
Physical therapist assistant—A person who is currently registered as a physical therapist assistant in this Commonwealth under the Physical Therapy Practice Act (63 P. S. § § 1301—1312).
Physician—A Doctor of Medicine or Doctor of Osteopathy who holds a current and valid license to practice in this Commonwealth.
Primary home health care agency—The agency that is responsible for the service rendered to patients and for implementation of the plan of treatment.
Progress note—A dated, written notation by a member of the health team summarizing facts about care and the patient’s response during a given period of time.
Registered nurse—A person licensed to practice professional nursing under The Professional Nursing Law (63 P. S. § § 211—225).
Secretary—The Secretary of the Department.
Skilled nursing service—High intensity comprehensive, planned service provided with maximum efficiency by a registered professional nurse in instances where judgment is required, or by a licensed practical nurse under the supervision of a registered nurse.
Social work assistant—A person who has a baccalaureate degree in social work, psychology, sociology or other field related to social work, or 2 years of social work experience in a health care setting.
Social worker—A person who has a master’s degree from a school of social work accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, and has 1 year of social work experience in a health care setting.
Speech pathologist/audiologist—A person who meets one of the following:(i) The education and experience requirements for a Certificate of Clinical Competence in the appropriate area—speech pathology or audiology—granted by the American Speech and Hearing Association.
(ii) The educational requirements for certification and is in the process of accumulating the supervised experience required for certification.
Subdivision—A component of a multi-function health agency, such as the home care department of a hospital or the nursing division of a health department, which independently meets the requirements of this subpart for home health care agencies.
Subunit—A semi-autonomous organization, which serves patients in a geographic area different from that of the parent agency.
Summary report—A compilation of the pertinent factors from the clinical notes and progress notes regarding a patient, which is submitted as to the patient’s physician.
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