383.130. Definitions.

MISSOURI STATUTES AND CODES

Definitions.

383.130. As used in sections 383.130 and 383.133, the following termsshall mean:

(1) "Disciplinary action", any final action taken by the board oftrustees or similarly empowered officials of a hospital or ambulatorysurgical center, or owner or operator of a temporary nursing staffingagency, to reprimand, discipline or restrict the practice of a health careprofessional. Only such reprimands, discipline, or restrictions inresponse to activities which are also grounds for disciplinary actionsaccording to the professional licensing law for that health careprofessional shall be considered disciplinary actions for the purposes ofthis definition;

(2) "Health care professional", a physician or surgeon licensed underthe provisions of chapter 334, RSMo, a dentist licensed under theprovisions of chapter 332, RSMo, or a podiatrist licensed under theprovisions of chapter 330, RSMo, or a pharmacist licensed under theprovisions of chapter 338, RSMo, a psychologist licensed under theprovisions of chapter 337, RSMo, or a nurse licensed under the provisionsof chapter 335, RSMo, while acting within their scope of practice;

(3) "Hospital", a place devoted primarily to the maintenance andoperation of facilities for the diagnosis, treatment or care for not lessthan twenty-four hours in any week of three or more nonrelated individualssuffering from illness, disease, injury, deformity or other abnormalphysical conditions; or a place devoted primarily to provide for not lessthan twenty-four hours in any week medical or nursing care for three ormore nonrelated individuals. The term "hospital" does not includeconvalescent, nursing, shelter or boarding homes as defined in chapter 198,RSMo;

(4) "Licensing authority", the appropriate board or authority whichis responsible for the licensing or regulation of the health careprofessional;

(5) "Temporary nursing staffing agency", any person, firm,partnership, or corporation doing business within the state that supplies,on a temporary basis, registered nurses, licensed practical nurses to ahospital, nursing home, or other facility requiring the services of thosepersons.