West Virginia Code Chapter 16. Public Health § 16-5C-2. Definitions

As used in this article, unless a different meaning appears from the context:

“Deficiency” means a nursing home's failure to meet the requirements specified in § 16-5C-1 et seq. of this code and rules promulgated thereunder.

“Department” means the Department of Health and Human Resources.

“Director” means the director of the office of Health Facility Licensure and Certification.

“Distance learning technologies” means computer-centered technologies delivered over the internet, broadcasts, recordings, instructional videos, or videoconferencing.

“Household” means a private home or residence which is separate from or unattached to a nursing home.

“Immediate jeopardy” means a situation in which the nursing home's noncompliance with one or more of the provisions of this article or rules promulgated thereunder has caused or is likely to cause serious harm, impairment or death to a resident.

“Nursing home” or “facility” means any institution, residence or place, or any part or unit thereof, however named, in this state which is advertised, offered, maintained or operated by the ownership or management, whether for a consideration or not, for the express or implied purpose of providing accommodations and care, for a period of more than 24 hours, for four or more persons who are ill or otherwise incapacitated and in need of extensive, ongoing nursing care due to physical or mental impairment or which provides services for the rehabilitation of persons who are convalescing from illness or incapacitation.

The care or treatment in a household, whether for compensation or not, of any person related by blood or marriage, within the degree of consanguinity of second cousin to the head of the household, or his or her spouse, may not be deemed to constitute a nursing home within the meaning of this article. Nothing contained in this article applies to nursing homes operated by the federal government; or extended care facilities operated in conjunction with a hospital; or institutions operated for the treatment and care of alcoholic patients; or offices of physicians; or hotels, boarding homes or other similar places that furnish to their guests only room and board; or to homes or asylums operated by fraternal orders pursuant to § 35-3-1 et seq. of this code.

“Nursing care” means those procedures commonly employed in providing for the physical, emotional and rehabilitation needs of the ill or otherwise incapacitated which require technical skills and knowledge beyond that which the untrained person possesses, including, but not limited to, such procedures as: Irrigations, catheterization, special procedure contributing to rehabilitation, and administration of medication by any method which involves a level of complexity and skill in administration not possessed by the untrained person.

“Person” means an individual and every form of organization, whether incorporated or unincorporated, including any partnership, corporation, trust, association, or political subdivision of the state.

“Resident” means an individual living in a nursing home.

“Review organization” means any committee or organization engaging in peer review or quality assurance, including, but not limited to, a medical audit committee, a health insurance review committee, a professional health service plan review committee or organization, a dental review committee, a physician's advisory committee, a podiatry advisory committee, a nursing advisory committee, any committee or organization established pursuant to a medical assistance program, any committee or organization established or required under state or federal statutes, rules or regulations, and any committee established by one or more state or local professional societies or institutes, to gather and review information relating to the care and treatment of residents for the purposes of:

Evaluating and improving the quality of health care rendered; reducing morbidity or mortality; or establishing and enforcing guidelines designed to keep within reasonable bounds the cost of health care.

“Secretary” means the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Resources or his or her designee.

“Sponsor” means the person or agency legally responsible for the welfare and support of a resident.

“Substantial compliance” means a level of compliance with the rules such that no deficiencies exist or such that identified deficiencies pose no greater risk to resident health or safety than the potential for causing minimal harm.

The secretary may define in the rules any term used herein which is not expressly defined.