The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

     (1) "Board" means any of those boards specified in RCW 18.130.040.

     (2) "Clinical expertise" means the proficiency or judgment that a license holder in a particular profession acquires through clinical experience or clinical practice and that is not possessed by a lay person.

     (3) "Commission" means any of the commissions specified in RCW 18.130.040.

     (4) "Department" means the department of health.

     (5) "Disciplinary action" means sanctions identified in RCW 18.130.160.

     (6) "Disciplining authority" means the agency, board, or commission having the authority to take disciplinary action against a holder of, or applicant for, a professional or business license upon a finding of a violation of this chapter or a chapter specified under RCW 18.130.040.

     (7) "Health agency" means city and county health departments and the department of health.

     (8) "License," "licensing," and "licensure" shall be deemed equivalent to the terms "license," "licensing," "licensure," "certificate," "certification," and "registration" as those terms are defined in RCW 18.120.020.

     (9) "Practice review" means an investigative audit of records related to the complaint, without prior identification of specific patient or consumer names, or an assessment of the conditions, circumstances, and methods of the professional's practice related to the complaint, to determine whether unprofessional conduct may have been committed.

     (10) "Secretary" means the secretary of health or the secretary's designee.

     (11) "Standards of practice" means the care, skill, and learning associated with the practice of a profession.

     (12) "Unlicensed practice" means:

     (a) Practicing a profession or operating a business identified in RCW 18.130.040 without holding a valid, unexpired, unrevoked, and unsuspended license to do so; or

     (b) Representing to a consumer, through offerings, advertisements, or use of a professional title or designation, that the individual is qualified to practice a profession or operate a business identified in RCW 18.130.040, without holding a valid, unexpired, unrevoked, and unsuspended license to do so.

[2008 c 134 § 2; 1995 c 336 § 1; 1994 sp.s. c 9 § 602; 1989 1st ex.s. c 9 § 312; 1986 c 259 § 2; 1984 c 279 § 2.]

NOTES:

     Alphabetization -- 2008 c 134 § 2: "The code reviser is directed to put the defined terms in RCW 18.130.020 in alphabetical order." [2008 c 134 § 39.]

     Finding -- Intent -- 2008 c 134: "From statehood, Washington has constitutionally provided for the regulation of the practice of medicine and the sale of drugs and medicines. This constitutional recognition of the importance of regulating health care practitioners derives not from providers' financial interest in their license, but from the greater need to protect the public health and safety by assuring that the health care providers and medicines that society relies upon meet certain standards of quality.

     The legislature finds that the issuance of a license to practice as a health care provider should be a means to promote quality and not be a means to provide financial benefit for providers. Statutory and administrative requirements provide sufficient due process protections to prevent the unwarranted revocation of a health care provider's license. While those due process protections must be maintained, there is an urgent need to return to the original constitutional mandate that patients be ensured quality from their health care providers. The legislature has recognized and medical malpractice reforms have recognized the importance of quality and patient safety through such measures as a new adverse events reporting system. Reforms to the health care provider licensing system is another step toward improving quality in health care. Therefore, the legislature intends to increase the authority of those engaged in the regulation of health care providers to swiftly identify and remove health care providers who pose a risk to the public." [2008 c 134 § 1.]

     Severability -- 2008 c 134: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected." [2008 c 134 § 38.]

     Severability -- Headings and captions not law -- Effective date -- 1994 sp.s. c 9: See RCW 18.79.900 through 18.79.902.

     Effective date -- Severability -- 1989 1st ex.s. c 9: See RCW 43.70.910 and 43.70.920.

     Severability -- 1986 c 259: See note following RCW 18.130.010.