Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.

     (1) "Administrator" means an individual responsible for managing the operation of an agency.

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

     (3) "Director of clinical services" means an individual responsible for nursing, therapy, nutritional, social, and related services that support the plan of care provided by in-home health and hospice agencies.

     (4) "Family" means individuals who are important to, and designated by, the patient or client and who need not be relatives.

     (5) "Home care agency" means a person administering or providing home care services directly or through a contract arrangement to individuals in places of temporary or permanent residence. A home care agency that provides delegated tasks of nursing under RCW 18.79.260(3)(e) is not considered a home health agency for the purposes of this chapter.

     (6) "Home care services" means nonmedical services and assistance provided to ill, disabled, or vulnerable individuals that enable them to remain in their residences. Home care services include, but are not limited to: Personal care such as assistance with dressing, feeding, and personal hygiene to facilitate self-care; homemaker assistance with household tasks, such as housekeeping, shopping, meal planning and preparation, and transportation; respite care assistance and support provided to the family; or other nonmedical services or delegated tasks of nursing under RCW 18.79.260(3)(e).

     (7) "Home health agency" means a person administering or providing two or more home health services directly or through a contract arrangement to individuals in places of temporary or permanent residence. A person administering or providing nursing services only may elect to be designated a home health agency for purposes of licensure.

     (8) "Home health services" means services provided to ill, disabled, or vulnerable individuals. These services include but are not limited to nursing services, home health aide services, physical therapy services, occupational therapy services, speech therapy services, respiratory therapy services, nutritional services, medical social services, and home medical supplies or equipment services.

     (9) "Home health aide services" means services provided by a home health agency or a hospice agency under the supervision of a registered nurse, physical therapist, occupational therapist, or speech therapist who is employed by or under contract to a home health or hospice agency. Such care includes ambulation and exercise, assistance with self-administered medications, reporting changes in patients' conditions and needs, completing appropriate records, and personal care or homemaker services.

     (10) "Home medical supplies" or "equipment services" means diagnostic, treatment, and monitoring equipment and supplies provided for the direct care of individuals within a plan of care.

     (11) "Hospice agency" means a person administering or providing hospice services directly or through a contract arrangement to individuals in places of temporary or permanent residence under the direction of an interdisciplinary team composed of at least a nurse, social worker, physician, spiritual counselor, and a volunteer.

     (12) "Hospice care center" means a homelike, noninstitutional facility where hospice services are provided, and that meets the requirements for operation under RCW 70.127.280.

     (13) "Hospice services" means symptom and pain management provided to a terminally ill individual, and emotional, spiritual, and bereavement support for the individual and family in a place of temporary or permanent residence, and may include the provision of home health and home care services for the terminally ill individual.

     (14) "In-home services agency" means a person licensed to administer or provide home health, home care, hospice services, or hospice care center services directly or through a contract arrangement to individuals in a place of temporary or permanent residence.

     (15) "Person" means any individual, business, firm, partnership, corporation, company, association, joint stock association, public or private agency or organization, or the legal successor thereof that employs or contracts with two or more individuals.

     (16) "Plan of care" means a written document based on assessment of individual needs that identifies services to meet these needs.

     (17) "Quality improvement" means reviewing and evaluating appropriateness and effectiveness of services provided under this chapter.

     (18) "Service area" means the geographic area in which the department has given prior approval to a licensee to provide home health, hospice, or home care services.

     (19) "Survey" means an inspection conducted by the department to evaluate and monitor an agency's compliance with this chapter.

[2003 c 140 § 7; 2000 c 175 § 1; 1999 c 190 § 1; 1993 c 42 § 1; 1991 c 3 § 373; 1988 c 245 § 2.]

NOTES:

     Effective date -- 2003 c 140: See note following RCW 18.79.040.

     Effective date -- 2000 c 175: "This act takes effect January 1, 2002." [2000 c 175 § 24.]

     Severability -- 1993 c 42: "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." [1993 c 42 § 14.]

     Effective dates -- 1993 c 42: "(1) Sections 1 through 10 and 12 of this act are necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect June 30, 1993.

     (2) Section 11 of this act shall take effect January 1, 1994." [1993 c 42 § 15.]