63 Pa. Stat. § 271.2
The following words and phrases when used in this act shall have, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the meanings given to them in this section:
"ABGC." The American Board of Genetic Counseling.
"ABMG." The American Board of Medical Genetics.
"Active candidate status." The designation awarded to applicants who have received approval from the American Board of Genetic Counseling or the American Board of Medical Genetics to sit for their respective certification examinations.
"Affiliate." A member of a group of two or more fully accredited health care institutions under an agreement of affiliation approved by the board to enhance the potential of all participants in the provision of health care and osteopathic or medical education.
"Approved hospital." A hospital which has been approved by the board for providing supervised graduate osteopathic medical training.
"Athletic training services."
"Board." The State Board of Osteopathic Medicine in the Department of State. Any reference in any statute or rule to the State Board of Osteopathic Examiners shall, on and after the effective date of this act, be construed to be a reference to the State Board of Osteopathic Medicine.
"Board-regulated practitioner." An osteopathic physician, physician assistant, respiratory therapist or licensed athletic trainer or an applicant for a license or certificate issued by the board.
"Certification." The approval of programs by the board for the training and education of physician assistants.
"Clinical clerk." An undergraduate student in an osteopathic medical college assigned to make patient histories, physical examinations and to perform certain procedures and laboratory tests for the purpose of instruction and experience. His notes shall become official only when edited and countersigned by a member of the hospital staff licensed pursuant to this act. Nothing contained in this act shall be construed to entitle a clinical clerk to practice medicine or surgery or to prescribe drugs.
"Direction." Supervision over the actions of a licensed athletic trainer via referral by prescription to treat conditions for a physically active person from a licensed physician, dentist or podiatrist or written protocol approved by a supervising physician, dentist or podiatrist, except that the physical presence of the supervising physician, dentist or podiatrist is not required if the supervising physician, dentist or podiatrist is readily available for consultation by direct communication, radio, telephone, facsimile, telecommunications or via other electronic means.
"Extracorporeal circulation." The diversion of a patient's blood through a heart-lung machine or similar device that assumes the functions of the patient's heart, lungs, kidneys, liver or other organs.
"Genetic counseling." The provision of services to individuals, couples, families and organizations by one or more appropriately trained individuals to address the physical and psychological issues associated with the occurrence or risk of occurrence of a genetic disorder, birth defect or genetically influenced condition or disease in an individual or a family.
"Genetic counselor." An individual who is licensed to practice genetic counseling by the State Board of Medicine or the State Board of Osteopathic Medicine.
"Healing art." The science and skill of diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the human body.
"Health care facility." A general, tuberculosis, mental, chronic disease or other type of hospital, an ambulatory clinic or center, a health maintenance organization, institution and corporation medical departments and centers, student health centers, a physical rehabilitation facility, a skilled or intermediate care nursing facility, a radiology laboratory, a renal dialysis center, a diagnostic center, a home health care agency, or a clinical laboratory, regardless of whether such medical care facility is for profit, nonprofit or governmental; or a program affiliated with a medical care facility which renders treatment or care for drug or alcohol abuse or dependence; or other settings where medical care and services are rendered.
"Hospital." An institution accredited by the American Osteopathic Association, the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospitals or regulated by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to render health care.
"Intern." A physician receiving supervised graduate osteopathic medical training at an approved hospital or its affiliate.
"Licensed athletic trainer." A person who is licensed to perform athletic training services by the State Board of Medicine or the State Board of Osteopathic Medicine.
"Osteopathic medical college." An institution of higher learning accredited by the American Osteopathic Association, its successors and assigns, as an agency to provide courses in the arts and sciences of medicine and related subjects and empowered to grant academic degrees in osteopathic medicine and surgery.
"Osteopathic medicine and surgery." The art and science having for its object the cure of disease and the preservation of the health of man with or without drugs, except healing by spiritual means or prayer.
"Perfusion." The functions necessary for the support, treatment, measurement or supplementation of the cardiovascular system or other organs, or a combination of those functions, and for ensuring the safe management of physiologic functions by monitoring and analyzing the parameters of the systems under the supervision of a physician licensed under this act or the act of December 20, 1985 (P.L. 457, No. 112) , known as the "Medical Practice Act of 1985."
"Perfusionist." An individual who is licensed to practice perfusion by the State Board of Osteopathic Medicine or the State Board of Medicine.
"Physically active person." An individual who participates in any of the following:
"Physician." A person who has received formal and recognized training in the art and science of osteopathic medicine qualified to seek or who has acquired a license to practice osteopathic medicine and surgery.
"Physician assistant." A person licensed by the board to assist a physician or group of physicians in the provision of medical care and services and under the supervision and direction of the physician or group of physicians.
"Primary supervising physician." An osteopathic physician who is registered with the board and designated in a written agreement with a physician assistant under section 10(g) as having primary responsibility for directing and personally supervising the physician assistant.
"Proficiency examination." An examination approved by the board for the national certification of physician assistants, including those examinations, approved for such purpose by the national commission on certification of physician assistants.
"Referral." An order from a licensed physician, dentist or podiatrist to a licensed athletic trainer for athletic training services. An order may be written or oral, except that an oral order must be reduced to writing within 72 hours of issuance.
"Resident." A physician receiving supervised graduate osteopathic medical training at an approved hospital or its affiliate.
"Respiratory care." A health care specialty employing evaluation, analysis, care and treatment of patients with cardiopulmonary disorders and related diseases.
"Respiratory therapist." An individual who is licensed to practice respiratory care by the State Board of Osteopathic Medicine.
"Short-term licensee." A physician who has received approval from the board to have a short-term license not to exceed three months, to serve as a camp physician in the Commonwealth.
"Ventricular assist device." A mechanical device used to partially or completely replace the function of a failing heart through connections to the heart and great vessels that may be located intracorporeally or extracorporeally. The term includes a device that is placed intravascularly or extravascularly and provides support through direct means or via counterpulsation.
"Written protocol." A written agreement developed in conjunction with one or more supervising physicians which identifies and is signed by the supervising physician and the licensed athletic trainer. It describes the manner and frequency in which the licensed athletic trainer regularly communicates with the supervising physician. It includes standard operating procedures developed in agreement with the supervising physician and licensed athletic trainer that the licensed athletic trainer follows when not directly supervised on site by the supervising physician.
63 P.S. § 271.2