§ 18-46-102 — Definitions

As used in this chapter: (1) "Ambulance service provider" means a provider that renders services as defined in § 14-266-103(1) and (2) ; (2) "Claim" means the claim of a patient: (A) For damages from a tortfeasor; or (B) For benefits from an insurer; (3) "Hospital" means a person that maintains an establishment in which sick and injured persons are given medical and surgical care; (4) "Injury" means impairment of bodily, nervous, or mental integrity or health; (5) "Insurer" means a person that by a contract of insurance has undertaken to indemnify a patient against loss through injury resulting from accident or accidental means; (6) "Patient" means a person injured through the fault or neglect of another person, for the relief or cure of whose injury a practitioner, nurse, or hospital renders service; (7) "Person" means a natural person, a partnership, an association, or a corporation; (8) "Practitioner" means a person licensed to: (A) Treat human ailments under the provisions of § 17-95-202 et seq.; (B) Practice dentistry as defined in § 17-82-102 ; (C) Practice chiropractic under the provisions of the Arkansas Chiropractic Practices Act, § 17-81-101 et seq.; (D) Practice massage therapy under the Massage Therapy Act, § 17-86-101 et seq.; and (E) Practice physical therapy under the Arkansas Physical Therapy Act, § 17-93-101 et seq.; (9) "Service" means personal service, food, lodging, ambulance service, medical supplies and appliances, and whatever else is reasonably necessary for the care, treatment, and maintenance of a patient; and (10) "Tortfeasor" means a person through whose fault or neglect a person is injured.

Legislative History

Acts 1933, No. 130, § 1; Pope's Dig., §§ 7989, 10818; Acts 1971, No. 194, § 1; A.S.A. 1947, § 51-801; Acts 1991, No. 1156, § 1; 1993, No. 271, § 2; 2001, No. 363, § 1; 2005, No. 1671, § 1.