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

     (1) "Secretary" means the secretary of health.

     (2) "Health care assistant" means an unlicensed person who assists a licensed health care practitioner in providing health care to patients pursuant to this chapter. However, persons trained by a federally approved end-stage renal disease facility who perform end-stage renal dialysis in the home setting are exempt from certification under this chapter.

     (3) "Health care practitioner" means:

     (a) A physician licensed under chapter 18.71 RCW;

     (b) An osteopathic physician or surgeon licensed under chapter 18.57 RCW; or

     (c) Acting within the scope of their respective licensure, a podiatric physician and surgeon licensed under chapter 18.22 RCW, a registered nurse or advanced registered nurse practitioner licensed under chapter 18.79 RCW, a naturopath licensed under chapter 18.36A RCW, a physician assistant licensed under chapter 18.71A RCW, or an osteopathic physician assistant licensed under chapter 18.57A RCW.

     (4) "Supervision" means supervision of procedures permitted pursuant to this chapter by a health care practitioner who is physically present and is immediately available in the facility during the administration of injections or vaccines, as defined in this chapter, but need not be present during procedures to withdraw blood.

     (5) "Health care facility" means any hospital, hospice care center, licensed or certified health care facility, health maintenance organization regulated under chapter 48.46 RCW, federally qualified health maintenance organization, renal dialysis center or facility federally approved under 42 C.F.R. 405.2100, blood bank federally licensed under 21 C.F.R. 607, or clinical laboratory certified under 20 C.F.R. 405.1301.16.

     (6) "Delegation" means direct authorization granted by a licensed health care practitioner to a health care assistant to perform the functions authorized in this chapter which fall within the scope of practice of the delegator and which are not within the scope of practice of the delegatee.

[2008 c 58 § 2; 2001 c 22 § 2; 1997 c 133 § 1. Prior: 1994 sp.s. c 9 § 719; 1994 c 76 § 1; 1991 c 3 § 272; 1986 c 115 § 2; 1984 c 281 § 2.]

NOTES:

     Effective date -- 2001 c 22 § 2: "Section 2 of this act takes effect March 1, 2002." [2001 c 22 § 5.]

     Finding -- 2001 c 22: See note following RCW 18.135.062.

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