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

     (1) "Ambulatory surgical facility" means any distinct entity that operates for the primary purpose of providing specialty or multispecialty outpatient surgical services in which patients are admitted to and discharged from the facility within twenty-four hours and do not require inpatient hospitalization, whether or not the facility is certified under Title XVIII of the federal social security act.

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

     (3) "General anesthesia" means a state of unconsciousness intentionally produced by anesthetic agents, with absence of pain sensation over the entire body, in which the patient is without protective reflexes and is unable to maintain an airway.

     (4) "Person" means an individual, firm, partnership, corporation, company, association, joint stock association, and the legal successor thereof.

     (5) "Practitioner" means any physician or surgeon licensed under chapter 18.71 RCW, an osteopathic physician or surgeon licensed under chapter 18.57 RCW, or a podiatric physician or surgeon licensed under chapter 18.22 RCW.

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

     (7) "Surgical services" means invasive medical procedures that:

     (a) Utilize a knife, laser, cautery, cryogenics, or chemicals; and

     (b) Remove, correct, or facilitate the diagnosis or cure of a disease, process, or injury through that branch of medicine that treats diseases, injuries, and deformities by manual or operative methods by a practitioner.

[2007 c 273 § 1.]