RCW 70.15.010
Definitions.
The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
(1) "Department" means the department of health.
(2) "Disaster relief organization" means an entity that provides emergency or disaster relief services that include health or veterinary services provided by volunteer health practitioners and that:
(a) Is designated or recognized as a provider of those services pursuant to a disaster response and recovery plan adopted by an agency of the federal government or the department; or
(b) Regularly plans and conducts its activities in coordination with an agency of the federal government or the department.
(3) "Emergency" means an event or condition that is an emergency, disaster, or public health emergency under chapter 38.52 RCW.
(4) "Emergency declaration" means a proclamation of a state of emergency issued by the governor under RCW 43.06.010.
(5) "Emergency management assistance compact" means the interstate compact approved by congress by P.L. 104-321, 110 Stat. 3877, RCW 38.10.010.
(6) "Entity" means a person other than an individual.
(7) "Health facility" means an entity licensed under the laws of this or another state to provide health or veterinary services.
(8) "Health practitioner" means an individual licensed under the laws of this or another state to provide health or veterinary services.
(9) "Health services" means the provision of treatment, care, advice or guidance, or other services, or supplies, related to the health or death of individuals or human populations, to the extent necessary to respond to an emergency, including:
(a) The following, concerning the physical or mental condition or functional status of an individual or affecting the structure or function of the body:
(i) Preventive, diagnostic, therapeutic, rehabilitative, maintenance, or palliative care; and
(ii) Counseling, assessment, procedures, or other services;
(b) Sale or dispensing of a drug, a device, equipment, or another item to an individual in accordance with a prescription; and
(c) Funeral, cremation, alkaline hydrolysis, natural organic reduction as defined in RCW 68.04.310, cemetery, or other mortuary services.
(10) "Host entity" means an entity operating in this state which uses volunteer health practitioners to respond to an emergency.
(11) "License" means authorization by a state to engage in health or veterinary services that are unlawful without the authorization. The term includes authorization under the laws of this state to an individual to provide health or veterinary services based upon a national certification issued by a public or private entity.
(12) "Person" means an individual, corporation, business trust, trust, partnership, limited liability company, association, joint venture, public corporation, government or governmental subdivision, agency, or instrumentality, or any other legal or commercial entity.
(13) "Scope of practice" means the extent of the authorization to provide health or veterinary services granted to a health practitioner by a license issued to the practitioner in the state in which the principal part of the practitioner's services are rendered, including any conditions imposed by the licensing authority.
(14) "State" means a state of the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, or any territory or insular possession subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.
(15) "Veterinary services" means the provision of treatment, care, advice or guidance, or other services, or supplies, related to the health or death of an animal or to animal populations, to the extent necessary to respond to an emergency, including:
(a) Diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of an animal disease, injury, or other physical or mental condition by the prescription, administration, or dispensing of vaccine, medicine, surgery, or therapy;
(b) Use of a procedure for reproductive management; and
(c) Monitoring and treatment of animal populations for diseases that have spread or demonstrate the potential to spread to humans.
(16) "Volunteer health practitioner" means a health practitioner who provides health or veterinary services, whether or not the practitioner receives compensation for those services. The term does not include a practitioner who receives compensation pursuant to a preexisting employment relationship with a host entity or affiliate which requires the practitioner to provide health services in this state, unless the practitioner is not a resident of this state and is employed by a disaster relief organization providing services in this state while an emergency declaration is in effect.
[ 2019 c 432 § 29; 2018 c 184 § 2.]
NOTES:
Effective date—2019 c 432: See note following RCW 68.05.175.
Structure Revised Code of Washington
Title 70 - Public Health and Safety
Chapter 70.15 - Uniform Emergency Volunteer Health Practitioners Act.
70.15.020 - Applicability to volunteer health practitioners.
70.15.030 - Regulation of services during emergency by department—Orders—Host entity duties.
70.15.040 - Volunteer health practitioner registration systems—Requirements.
70.15.050 - Recognition of volunteer health practitioners licensed in other states.
70.15.060 - No effect on health facility credentialing and privileging standards.
70.15.090 - Rules—Consultation with state military department and other agencies.
70.15.100 - Volunteer health practitioners—Workers' compensation coverage—Rules.