(a) In this title the following words have the meanings indicated.
(b) “Ambulatory surgical facility” means a facility:
(1) Accredited by:
(i) The American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgical Facilities;
(ii) The Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care; or
(iii) The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations; or
(2) Certified to participate in the Medicare program, as enacted by Title XVIII of the Social Security Act.
(c) “Board” means the State Board of Physicians, established under § 14–201 of this article.
(d) (1) “Collaboration” means the communication and decision–making process among health care providers who are members of a patient care team related to the treatment of a patient that includes the degree of cooperation necessary to provide treatment and care to the patient and includes:
(i) Communication of data and information about the treatment and care of a patient, including the exchange of clinical observations and assessments; and
(ii) Development of an appropriate plan of care, including:
1. Decisions regarding the health care provided;
2. Accessing and assessment of appropriate additional resources or expertise; and
3. Arrangement of appropriate referrals, testing, or studies.
(2) “Collaboration” does not require the constant, physical presence of a collaborating physician on–site in the practice setting, if the collaborating physician is accessible by electronic means.
(e) “Collaboration agreement” means a document that:
(1) Outlines the collaboration between a physician assistant and:
(i) An individual physician; or
(ii) A group of physicians; and
(2) Is developed by a physician assistant and the physician or group of physicians.
(f) “Committee” means the Physician Assistant Advisory Committee.
(g) “Controlled dangerous substances” has the meaning stated in § 5–101 of the Criminal Law Article.
(h) “Correctional facility” includes a State or local correctional facility.
(i) “Disciplinary panel” means a disciplinary panel of the Board established under § 14–401 of this article.
(j) “Dispense” or “dispensing” has the meaning stated in § 12–101 of this article.
(k) “Drug sample” means a unit of a prescription drug that is intended to promote the sale of the drug and is not intended for sale.
(l) “Hospital” means:
(1) A hospital as defined under § 19–301 of the Health – General Article;
(2) A comprehensive care facility that:
(i) Meets the requirements of a hospital–based skilled nursing facility under federal law; and
(ii) Offers acute care in the same building; and
(3) An emergency room that is physically connected to a hospital or a freestanding medical facility that is licensed under Title 19, Subtitle 3A of the Health – General Article.
(m) “License” means a license issued by the Board to a physician assistant under this title.
(n) “National certifying examination” means the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination administered by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants or its successor.
(o) “Patient care team” means a multidisciplinary team of health care providers actively functioning as a unit with the leadership of one or more patient care team physicians for the purpose of providing and delivering health care to a patient or group of patients.
(p) “Patient care team physician” means a licensed physician who regularly practices in the State and who provides leadership in the care of patients as part of a patient care team.
(q) “Physician assistant” means an individual who is licensed under this title to practice as a physician assistant.
(r) “Practice as a physician assistant” means the performance of medical acts that are:
(1) Authorized under a license issued by the Board; and
(2) Authorized under the physician assistant’s collaboration agreement.
(s) “Prescriptive authority” means the authority of a physician assistant to:
(1) Prescribe and administer controlled dangerous substances, prescription drugs, medical devices, and the oral, written, or electronic ordering of medications; and
(2) Dispense as provided under § 15–302.2(b), (c), and (d) of this title.
(t) “Public health facility” means a site where clinical public health services are rendered under the auspices of the Department, a local health department in a county, or the Baltimore City Health Department.
(u) “Starter dosage” means an amount of a drug sufficient to begin therapy:
(1) Of short duration of 72 hours or less; or
(2) Prior to obtaining a larger quantity of the drug to complete therapy.