§ 131E-146. Definitions. - North Carolina Statutes

§ 131E‑146.  Definitions.

As used in this Part, unless otherwise specified:

(1)        "Ambulatory surgical facility" means a facilitydesigned for the provision of a specialty ambulatory surgical program or amultispecialty ambulatory surgical program. An ambulatory surgical facilityserves patients who require local, regional or general anesthesia and a periodof post‑operative observation. An ambulatory surgical facility may onlyadmit patients for a period of less than 24 hours and must provide at least onedesignated operating room as defined in subdivision (1c) of this section or atleast one gastrointestinal endoscopy room as defined in subdivision (1b) ofthis section and at least one designated recovery room, have available thenecessary equipment and trained personnel to handle emergencies, provideadequate quality assurance and assessment by an evaluation and reviewcommittee, and maintain adequate medical records for each patient. Anambulatory surgical facility may be operated as a part of a physician ordentist's office, provided the facility is licensed under G.S. Chapter 131E,Article 6, Part 4, but the performance of incidental, limited ambulatorysurgical procedures which do not constitute an ambulatory surgical program asdefined in subdivision (1a) and which are performed in a physician or dentist'soffice does not make that office an ambulatory surgical facility.

(1a)      "Ambulatory surgical program" means a formalprogram for providing on a same‑day basis those surgical procedures whichrequire local, regional or general anesthesia and a period of post‑operativeobservation to patients whose admission for more than 24 hours is determined,prior to surgery or gastrointestinal endoscopy, to be medically unnecessary.

(1b)      "Gastrointestinal endoscopy room" means a room usedfor the performance of procedures that require the insertion of a flexibleendoscope into a gastrointestinal orifice to visualize the gastrointestinallining and adjacent organs for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes.

(1c)      "Operating room" means a room used for theperformance of surgical procedures requiring one or more incisions and that isrequired to comply with all applicable licensure codes and standards for anoperating room.

(2)        "Commission" means the North Carolina Medical CareCommission. (1977, 2nd Sess., c. 1214,s. 1; 1983, c. 775, s. 1; 1983 (Reg. Sess., 1984), c. 1064, s. 1; 1997‑456,s. 49(a); 2001‑242, s. 1; 2005‑346, s. 4.)