Idaho Administrative Code
Title IDAPA 16 - Health and Welfare, Department of
Rule 16.03.14 - HOSPITALS
Section 16.03.14.011 - DEFINITIONS AND ABBREVIATIONS - N THROUGH Z

Universal Citation: ID Admin Code 16.03.14.011

Current through September 2, 2024

For the purposes of this chapter, the following terms and definitions apply.

01. New Construction or New Hospitals. Includes the following:

a. New buildings to be used as hospitals; and

b. Additions to existing hospitals; and

c. Conversion of existing buildings or portions thereof for use as a hospital; and

d. Remodeling, alteration, addition or upgrading of a hospital or hospital building system that affects the structural integrity of the building, that changes functional operation, that affects fire safety or that adds beds, departments or services over those for which the hospital is currently licensed.

02. Nuclear Medicine Physician. A physician who:

a. Meets the requirements for certification by the American Board of Nuclear Medicine or the American Osteopathic Board of Nuclear Medicine; or

b. Meets the requirement for certification by the American Board of Radiology, the American Board of Pathology, or the American Board of Internal Medicine, and whose competence in the practice of nuclear medicine is approved by the medical staff.

03. Nursing Graduate. A new graduate practicing on a temporary license must be provided direct supervision by a licensed registered nurse and may not assume charge responsibilities according to the rules of the Idaho State Board of Nursing.

04. Nurse Practitioner. A licensed registered nurse having specialized skill, knowledge and experience authorized, by rules and regulations jointly promulgated by the Idaho State Board of Medicine and the Idaho Board of Nursing and implemented by the Idaho Board of Nursing, to perform designated acts of medical diagnosis, prescription of medical, therapeutic and corrective measures and delivery of medications.

05. Nursing Unit. A separate and distinct service area constructed, equipped, and staffed to function independently of other nursing units and having its own related service facilities.

06. Occupational Therapist. A person who is licensed by the Idaho State Board of Medicine to practice occupational therapy.

07. Occupational Therapist Assistant. A person who:

a. Is a graduate of an occupational therapy assistant educational program accredited by the American Occupational Therapy Association; or

b. Meets the requirements for certification (COTA) by the American Occupational Therapy Association under its requirements in effect on the effective date of these rules.

08. Operating Room Technician. A person who:

a. Has successfully completed a one (1) year education program for operating room technicians accredited by the Committee on Allied Health Education and Accreditation of the American Medical Association in cooperation with the Joint Review Committee on Education for the Operating Room Technician, or meets the requirements for certification (CST) by the Association of Surgical Technologists; or

b. Is licensed as a practical (vocational) nurse in the state of Idaho and meets the training requirements of the Idaho State Board of Nursing.

09. Patient. Any individual admitted to a hospital for diagnosis, treatment, and/or care.

10. Person. Any individual, firm, partnership, corporation, company, association, or joint stock association, and the legal successor thereof.

11. Pharmacist. A person who is licensed by the state of Idaho and has training or experience in the specialized functions of institutional pharmacy, such as residences in hospital pharmacy, seminars in institutional pharmacy, and other related training programs.

12. Physiatrist. A physician licensed by the Idaho State Board of Medicine and who meets the requirements for certification by the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.

13. Physical Therapist. A person who meets all requirements of Title 54, Chapter 22, Idaho Code, holds an active license, and engages in the practice of physical therapy in Idaho.

14. Physical Therapist Assistant. A person who meets the requirements of Title 54, Chapter 22, Idaho Code, holds an active license, and who performs physical therapy procedures and related tasks that have been selected and delegated only by a supervising physical therapist.

15. Physician. A person currently licensed under the Idaho Medical Practice Act to practice medicine and surgery in the state of Idaho.

16. Physician's Assistant. A person employed by a physician who:

a. Is a graduate of an approved program; and

b. Is qualified by general education, training, experience and personal character; and

c. Has been authorized by the Hospital Board to render patient services under the direction of a supervising physician who is not required to be physically present on the premises when the physician's assistant is rendering patient services, unless so required by the Hospital Board.

17. Podiatrist. A person who is licensed by the state of Idaho and is a doctor of podiatric medicine (D.P.M.) or doctor of podiatry (D.P.).

18. Provisional License. A license issued to a hospital that is in substantial compliance with the regulations but that is temporarily unable to meet all of the requirements. A provisional license can be issued for a specified period of time, not to exceed six (6) months, while corrections are being completed.

19. Psychiatric Hospital. A facility for the diagnosis and treatment of persons with mental illness.

20. Psychiatric Nurse. A licensed registered nurse, licensed by the state of Idaho and qualified by training or experience in psychiatric nursing.

21. Psychiatric Unit. A specialized unit within a general hospital for the diagnosis and treatment of the mentally ill.

22. Psychiatrist. A physician who meets the requirements for certification in psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology or the American Osteopathic Board of Neurology and Psychiatry.

23. Radiologic Service Director. A person who:

a. Is a radiologist; or

b. Is a radiotherapist; or

c. In a geographic area where the services of a radiologist or radiotherapist are not available, is a physician who meets the requirements for certification in a medical specialty in which he has become qualified by experience and training in the use of radiographs, and whose competence in the practice of radiology is approved by the medical staff.

24. Radiologic Technologist (Diagnostic). A person who meets at least one (1) of the following criteria:

a. Is a graduate of a two (2) year education program for radiologic technologists accredited by the Council on Medical Education of the American Medical Association in cooperation with the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology; or

b. Meets the requirements for registration by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists or by the American Registry of Clinical Radiography Technologists, and has one (1) year of experience as a radiologic technologist within the last three (3) years; or

c. Has successfully completed an educational program in radiologic technology in a military service, and has one (1) year of experience in radiologic technology within the last three (3) years; or

d. Has two (2) years of pertinent radiologic equipment experience within the last five (5) years, and has achieved a satisfactory grade on a proficiency examination in radiologic technology approved by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, except that such determination of proficiency will not apply with respect to persons initially licensed by a state or seeking initial qualification as a radiologic technologist after December 21, 1977.

25. Radiologist. A physician who meets the requirements for certification by the American Board of Radiology or the American Osteopathic Board of Radiology.

26. Radiotherapist. A physician who:

a. Meets the requirements for certification as a radiotherapist by the American Board of Radiology; or

b. Meets the requirements for certification as a radiologist by the American Board of Radiology or the American Osteopathic Board of Radiology, and whose competence in the practice of radiation therapy is approved by the medical staff of the hospital in which he practices.

27. Registered Nurse (R.N.). A person licensed by the Idaho State Board of Nursing to practice professional nursing, also known as a licensed registered nurse.

28. Rehabilitation Hospital. A facility operated for the primary purpose of assisting with the rehabilitation of disabled persons through an integrated program of medical, psychological, social, and vocational evaluation and services under competent professional supervision.

29. Respiratory Therapist. A person who meets the requirements for registration by the American Registry of Respiratory Technicians (ARRT).

30. Respiratory Therapy Technician. A person who meets the requirements for certification as a Certified Respiratory Therapy Technician (CRTT) by the National Board for Respiratory Therapy.

31. Restraints. A restraint is (1) any manual method, physical or mechanical device, material, or equipment that immobilizes or reduces the ability of a patient to move his or her arms, legs, body, or head freely; or (2) a drug or medication when it is used as a restriction to manage the patient's behavior or restrict the patient's freedom of movement and is not a standard treatment or dosage for the patient's condition.

a. A restraint does not include devices, such as orthopedically prescribed devices, surgical dressings or bandages, protective helmets, or other methods that involve the physical holding of a patient for the purpose of conducting routine physical examinations or tests, or to protect the patient from falling out of bed, or to permit the patient to participate in activities without the risk of physical harm.

b. Side rails: Side rails are considered a restraint when they restrict the patient's freedom to exit the bed. Side rails may not be considered a restraint when they protect the patient. Examples include raising the side rails when a patient is: on a stretcher, recovering from anesthesia, sedated, experiencing involuntary movement, or on certain types of therapeutic beds.

c. Physically escorting a patient from one area to another against the patient's will is a restraint.

d. Physically holding a patient to administer a medication against the patient's will is a restraint.

e. Placing a patient in a chair or recliner that prevents him or her from getting out of the chair safely and easily, is a restraint.

f. Age or developmentally appropriate protective safety interventions (such as stroller safety belts, swing safety belts, high chair lap belts, and raised crib rails) that a safety-conscious child care provider outside a health care setting would utilize to protect an infant, toddler, or preschool-aged child would not be considered restraint or seclusion for the purposes of this rule. The use of these safety interventions needs to be addressed in the hospital's policies or procedures.

32. Seclusion. Seclusion is the involuntary confinement of a patient in a room or area, such as an activity center, from which the patient is physically prevented from leaving. Physically prevented from leaving includes threats by staff, if the patient attempts to leave, including the threat of restraint or seclusion. Confinement on a locked unit or ward does not constitute seclusion.

33. Skilled Nursing Facility. A facility whose design and function must provide area, space and equipment to meet the health needs of two (2) or more individuals who, at a minimum, require inpatient care and services for twenty-four (24) or more consecutive hours for unstable chronic health problems requiring daily professional nursing supervision and licensed nursing care on a twenty-four (24) hour basis, restorative, rehabilitative care, and assistance in meeting daily living needs. Medical supervision is necessary on a regular, but not daily basis.

34. Social Worker. An individual who is licensed by the state of Idaho to practice social work.

35. Special Hospital. A facility that provides primarily one (1) type of care. The specialized hospital must meet the applicable regulations for general hospitals. All medical and related health services in these facilities must be prescribed by or must be under the general direction of persons licensed to practice medicine in Idaho.

36. Speech Pathologist or Audiologist. A person who:

a. Meets the current requirements for a certificate of clinical competence in the appropriate area (speech pathology or audiology) granted by the American Speech and Hearing Association; or

b. Meets the educational requirements for certification, and is in the process of accumulating the supervised clinical experience required for certification.

37. Substantial Compliance. Substantial compliance means a facility is in substantial compliance with these rules when there are no deficiencies that would endanger the health, safety or welfare of residents.

38. Supervision. Authoritative procedural guidance by a qualified person for the accomplishment of a function within his sphere of competence, with initial direction and periodic inspection of the actual act of accomplishing the function. Unless otherwise stated in the rules, the supervisor must be on the premises to perform supervisory duties.

39. Temporary License. A license issued for a period not to exceed six (6) months and issued initially upon application when the Department determines that all application information is acceptable. A temporary license allows the Department time to evaluate the Facility's on-going capability to provide services and to meet these rules.

40. Tuberculosis Hospital. A facility for the diagnosis and treatment of patients with tuberculosis or other pulmonary disease.

41. Video Monitoring. Close observation of a person for the purpose of protecting them and/or gathering information. The observation is made from a distance by means of electronic equipment, such as closed-circuit television cameras.

42. Video and/or Audio Recording. Saving video and audio information on an electronic medium that can be viewed and/or listened to at a later time.

43. Waiver or Variance. Waiver or variance means a waiver or variance to these rules and minimum standards in whole or in part that may be granted under the following conditions:

a. Good cause is shown for such waiver and the health, welfare or safety of patients/residents will not be endangered by granting such a waiver;

b. Precedent is not set by granting of such waiver. The waiver may be renewed annually if sufficient written justification is presented to the licensing agency.

Effective March 17, 2022

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Idaho may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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