Definitions

For the purposes of this Part, the following terms shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise: (1) "Adverse action" includes reducing, restricting, suspending, revoking, denying, terminating, or failing to renew any of the following: (a) Clinical privileges or membership in a health care entity. (b) Employment or a contractual relationship with a health care entity. (c) Enrollment or participation in a health care training program. (2) "Clinical privileges" includes privileges, membership on the medical staff, and such other circumstances pertaining to the furnishing of medical care under which a physician or other licensed health care professional is permitted to furnish such care or to engage in training in a health care training program. (3) "Department" means the Louisiana Department of Health. (4) "Health care entity" includes a hospital, as defined in R.S. 40:2102, any institution or clinic licensed by the department, any entity that provides health care services and that follows a formal peer review process for the purpose of furthering quality health care, any hospitalization or care facilities maintained by a university or medical school, or any health care training program in which trainees are required to hold a license, permit, or other authority from a professional licensing board in order to participate in training. (5) "Health care professional" means: (a) A person who possesses a current license, certificate, registration, or other authority from a professional licensing board to provide health care services in this state. (b) Any person who is licensed or otherwise authorized by a professional licensing board to participate in a health care training program in this state. (6) "Health care training program" means any university, hospital, institution, or other entity that sponsors post-graduate health care training in which participants must possess a license, permit, or other authority from a professional licensing board to participate in training. (7) "Impaired" or "impairment" means dependency on, or the excessive use or abuse of alcohol or drugs that affect the central nervous system and which are capable of inducing physiological or psychological dependence. (8) "Professional licensing board" means the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners, the Louisiana State Board of Nursing, the Louisiana State Board of Dentistry, or the Louisiana State Board of Examiners of Psychologists.