§ 43-34-171 - Definitions - Georgia Statutes

O.C.G.A. 43-34-171 (2010)
43-34-171. Definitions

As used in this article, the term:

(1) "Advisory committee" means the committee appointed pursuant to Code Section 43-34-180.

(2) "Board" means the Georgia Composite Medical Board.

(3) "Extracorporeal circulation" means the diversion of a patient's blood through a heart-lung machine or a similar device that assumes the function of the patient's heart, lungs, kidneys, liver, or other organ.

(4) "License" means a license to practice as a licensed clinical perfusionist or provisional licensed clinical perfusionist.

(5) "Licensed clinical perfusionist" means a person licensed as such pursuant to this article.

(6) "Perfusion" means the functions necessary for the support, treatment, measurement, or supplementation of the cardiovascular, circulatory, or respiratory system or other organ, or a combination of such activities, and to ensure the safe management of physiologic functions by monitoring and analyzing the parameters of the systems under the order and supervision of a physician, including, but not limited to:

(A) The use of extracorporeal circulation; long-term cardiopulmonary support techniques, including extracorporeal carbon dioxide removal and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation; and associated therapeutic and diagnostic technologies;

(B) Counterpulsation, ventricular assistance, autotransfusion, blood conservation techniques, myocardial and organ preservation, extracorporeal life support, and isolated limb perfusion;

(C) The use of techniques involving blood management, advanced life support, and other related functions;

(D) In the performance of the acts described in subparagraphs (A) through (C) of this paragraph:

(i) The administration of:

(I) Pharmacological and therapeutic agents; or

(II) Blood products or anesthetic agents through the extracorporeal circuit or through an intravenous line as ordered by a physician; or

(ii) The performance and use of:

(I) Coagulation monitoring and analysis;

(II) Physiologic monitoring and analysis;

(III) Blood gas and chemistry monitoring and analysis;

(IV) Hematological monitoring and analysis;

(V) Hypothermia and hyperthermia;

(VI) Hemoconcentration and hemodilution; and

(VII) Hemodialysis; and

(E) The observation of signs and symptoms related to perfusion services, the determination of whether the signs and symptoms exhibit abnormal characteristics, and the implementation of appropriate reporting, clinical perfusion protocols, or changes in, or the initiation of, emergency procedures.

(7) "Perfusion protocols" means perfusion related policies and protocols developed or approved by a licensed health care facility or a physician through collaboration with administrators, licensed clinical perfusionists, and other health care professionals.

(8) "Physician" means a person licensed to practice medicine under Article 2 of this chapter.

(9) "Provisional licensed clinical perfusionist" means a person provisionally licensed pursuant to this article.