West Virginia Code Chapter 16. Public Health § 16-39-3. Definitions

For purposes of this article, the following words and phrases have the following meanings:

“Appropriate authority” means a federal, state, county, or municipal government body, agency or organization having jurisdiction over criminal law enforcement, regulatory violations, professional conduct or ethics, or waste or any member, officer, agent, representative, or supervisory employee thereof;

“Clergy” means an ordained clergy, such as a rabbi, priest, Islamic cleric, associate pastor, licensed minister, or lay minister serving under the direction of the congregation such as the Roman Catholic Eucharistic ministers;

“Commissioner” means the commissioner of the division of health;

“Direct patient care” means health care that provides for the physical, diagnostic, emotional, or rehabilitational needs of a patient or health care that involves examination, treatment, or preparation for diagnostic tests or procedures.

“Discrimination or retaliation” includes any threat, intimidation, discharge, or any adverse change in a health care worker's position, location, compensation, benefits, privileges, or terms or conditions of employment that occurs as a result of a health care worker engaging in any action protected by this article.

“Good faith report” means a report of conduct defined in this article as wrongdoing or waste that is made without malice or consideration of personal benefit and which the person making the report has reasonable cause to believe is true.

“Health care entity” includes a health care facility, such as a hospital, clinic, nursing facility, or other provider of health care services.

“Health care facility” means: