Section 216-RICR-20-15-7.4 - DefinitionsA. Wherever used in these Regulations, the following terms shall be construed as follows: 1. "Advance practice registered nurse" or "APRN" means an individual licensed in accordance with R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-34-45.2. "Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendations", as used in these Regulations, means official Federal recommendations for the use of vaccines in the United States and as published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. ACIP recommendations represent the standard of care for immunization practice in the United States.3. "Assisted living residence" means as defined in R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-17.4 2(4).4. "Assisted living residence worker" means any person who is temporarily or permanently employed by the assisted living residence, or who serves as a volunteer in an assisted living residence, or any person who is compensated by a third (3rd) party that has an agreement with the assisted living residence to provide staffing services and has or may have direct contact with a patient in that assisted living residence. This may include, but not be limited to students and trainees, contractual staff not employed by the assisted living residence; other health care providers, including those who have privileges at, but are not employed by, the assisted living residence; and persons (e.g., clerical, dietary, housekeeping, laundry, security, maintenance, administrative, billing, and volunteers) not directly involved in patient care but potentially exposed to infectious agents that can be transmitted from person to person. This term shall not apply to a residence's family member or friend who visits or otherwise assists in the care of that patient in an assisted living residence.5. "Department" means the Rhode Island Department of Health.6. "Direct patient contact" means any routinely anticipated face-to-face interaction with patients in a health care facility.7. "Director" means the Director of the Rhode Island Department of Health or his or her designee.8. "Healthcare facility", as used herein, means a facility as defined in R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-17-2(9), as well as adult daycare programs, as defined in R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-1-52 and stations, as defined in R.I. Gen. Laws § 2316.2-2.9. "Healthcare worker" means any person who is temporarily or permanently employed by a health care facility, or who serves as a volunteer in a health care facility, or any person who is compensated by a third (3rd) party that has an agreement with the health care facility to provide staffing services, and has or may have direct contact with a patient in that health care facility. This may include, but not be limited to, a physician, physician assistant, nurse, nursing assistant, therapist, technician, clinician, behavioral analyst, social worker, occupational, physical or speech therapist, phlebotomist, emergency medical service personnel, dental personnel, pharmacist, laboratory personnel, autopsy personnel, students and trainees, contractual staff not employed by the health-care facility; other health care providers, including those who have privileges at, but are not employed by, the health care facility; and persons (e.g., clerical, dietary, housekeeping, laundry, security, maintenance, administrative, billing, and volunteers) not directly involved in patient care but potentially exposed to infectious agents that can be transmitted from person to person. This term shall not apply to a patient's family member or friend who visits or otherwise assists in the care of that patient in a health care facility.10. "Nurse" means an individual licensed in this State to practice nursing pursuant to the provisions of R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 5-34.11. "Period in which flu is widespread" means a period that commences when the Director declares that there is an outbreak of influenza that is widespread within a facility, or within a defined geographic area in which the facility is located, or throughout Rhode Island; and that ends when the Director declares to such a health care facility or facilities that the outbreak is no longer widespread.12. "Physician" means an individual licensed under the provisions of R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 5-37.13. "Physician assistant" means an individual licensed in this State to practice as a physician assistant pursuant to the provisions of R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 5-54.14. "Practitioner" means a physician, advance practice registered nurse, registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, or a physician assistant.15. "Pre-employment health screening" means the review of health records, pertinent laboratory results, and other documentation of a health care worker performed by a licensed practitioner in order to determine that the health care worker is free of the communicable diseases cited in these Regulations, and is also appropriately immunized, tested, and counseled prior to employment.16. "Up to date" means a person has received all recommended doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, including any booster dose(s), when eligible.216 R.I. Code R. 216-RICR-20-15-7.4
Amended effective 6/15/2022