Sec. 98.001. DEFINITIONS  


Latest version.
  • In this chapter:

    (1) "Advisory panel" means the Advisory Panel on Health Care-Associated Infections and Preventable Adverse Events.

    (2) "Ambulatory surgical center" means a facility licensed under Chapter 243.

    (3) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of state health services.

    (4) "Department" means the Department of State Health Services.

    (5) "Executive commissioner" means the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission.

    (6) "General hospital" means a general hospital licensed under Chapter 241 or a hospital that provides surgical or obstetrical services and that is maintained or operated by this state. The term does not include a comprehensive medical rehabilitation hospital.

    (7) "Health care-associated infection" means a localized or symptomatic condition resulting from an adverse reaction to an infectious agent or its toxins to which a patient is exposed in the course of the delivery of health care to the patient.

    (8) "Health care facility" means a general hospital or an ambulatory surgical center.

    (8-a) "Health care professional" means an individual licensed, certified, or otherwise authorized to administer health care, for profit or otherwise, in the ordinary course of business or professional practice. The term does not include a health care facility.

    (9) "Infection rate" means the number of health care-associated infections of a particular type at a health care facility divided by a numerical measure over time of the population at risk for contracting the infection, unless the term is modified by rule of the executive commissioner to accomplish the purposes of this chapter.

    (10) "Pediatric and adolescent hospital" has the meaning assigned by Section 241.003.

    (10-a) "Potentially preventable complication" and "potentially preventable readmission" have the meanings assigned by Section 1002.001, Health and Safety Code.

    (11) "Reporting system" means the Texas Health Care-Associated Infection and Preventable Adverse Events Reporting System.

    (12) "Special care setting" means a unit or service of a general hospital that provides treatment to inpatients who require extraordinary care on a concentrated and continuous basis. The term includes an adult intensive care unit, a burn intensive care unit, and a critical care unit.

Added by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 359 , Sec. 1, eff. June 15, 2007. Amended by: Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 724 , Sec. 2(b), eff. September 1, 2009. Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., 1st C.S., Ch. 7 , Sec. 6.01, eff. September 28, 2011.