2005 Arizona Revised Statutes - Revised Statutes §36-2401  Definitions

In this article, unless the context otherwise requires:

1. "Health care entity" means any of the following:

(a) A licensed health care provider.

(b) An entity that provides or contracts to provide health care services other than a hospital or outpatient surgical center.

(c) A professional organization of licensed health care providers.

(d) A utilization or quality control peer review organization.

(e) A state health care provider.

(f) A component of the statewide trauma system.

(g) A qualifying community health center as defined in section 36-2907.06.

2. "Licensed health care provider" means a person or institution licensed or certified, or a corporation, all of whose members or shareholders are licensed or certified, by this state to provide health care, medical services, nursing services or other health-related services other than a licensed hospital and outpatient surgical center as defined in section 36-401.

3. "Malice" means evil intent and outrageous, oppressive or intolerable conduct that creates a substantial risk of tremendous harm to others.

4. "Quality assurance process" means a process that is adopted by a health care entity and that follows written standards and criteria. The process includes the activities of a health care entity or any of its committees which investigate the quality of health care through the review of professional practices, training and experience, patient cases or conduct of licensed health care providers, or encourage proper utilization of health care services and facilities.

5. "State health care provider" means a department, agency, board or commission of the state and its officers, agents and employees that is a health care provider to clients, wards, patients or other persons in the control or custody of a department, agency, board or commission of the state and a health care provider rendering health care services on behalf of the state that is covered by insurance or self-insurance pursuant to section 41-621, 41-622 or 41-623.