"Health care facility", an individual, partnership, association, corporation or trust or any person or group of persons that employs health care providers, including any hospital, clinic, convalescent or nursing home, charitable home for the aged, community health agency, pharmacy or other provider of health care services licensed, or subject to licensing by, or operated by, the department of public health; any facility as defined in section 3 of chapter 11B; any private, county or municipal facility, department or unit which is licensed or subject to licensing by the department of mental health pursuant to section 19 of chapter 19, or by the department of developmental services pursuant to section 15 of chapter 19B; any facility as defined in section 1 of chapter 123; a state-operated veterans' home; or any facility as set forth in section 1 of chapter 19 or section 1 of chapter 19B.
"Health care provider", an individual who is a licensed health care provider under the provisions of chapter 112 including, but not limited to, registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, physicians, physician assistants, chiropractors, dentists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, optometrists, pharmacists, podiatrists, psychologists and social workers or any other health care provider who performs or has performed health care related services for and under the control of a health care facility for care-related services.
"Manager", an individual to whom a health care facility has given the authority to direct and control the work performance of the affected health care provider, who has authority to take corrective action regarding a violation of a law, rule, regulation, activity or policy or violation of professional standards of practice of which the health care provider complains or who has been designated by the health care facility on the notice required under subsection (h).
"Public body", the United States Congress, any state legislature, including the general court, or popularly elected local government body or member or health care provider thereof; any federal, state or local regulatory, administrative or public agency or authority or instrumentality thereof; any federal, state or local law enforcement agency, prosecution office or police or peace officer; or any division, board, bureau, office, committee or commission of any of the public bodies described herein.
"Retaliatory action", the discharge, suspension, demotion, harassment, denial of a promotion or layoff or other adverse action taken against a health care provider affecting the terms and conditions of employment.
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 149, § 187