147A.21 - DEFINITIONS.
147A.21 DEFINITIONS.
As used in this subchapter, unless the context otherwise requires:
1. "Categorization" means a preliminary determination by the
department that a hospital or emergency care facility is capable of
providing trauma care in accordance with criteria adopted pursuant to
chapter 17A for level I, II, III, and IV care capabilities.
2. "Department" means the Iowa department of public health.
3. "Director" means the director of public health.
4. "Emergency care facility" means a physician's office,
clinic, or other health care center which provides emergency medical
care in conjunction with other primary care services.
5. "Hospital" means a facility licensed under chapter 135B,
or a comparable emergency care facility located and licensed in
another state.
6. "Trauma" means a single or multisystem life-threatening or
limb-threatening injury, or an injury requiring immediate medical or
surgical intervention or treatment to prevent death or permanent
disability.
7. "Trauma care facility" means a hospital or emergency care
facility which provides trauma care and has been verified by the
department as having level I, II, III, or IV care capabilities and
issued a certificate of verification pursuant to section 147A.23,
subsection 2, paragraph "c".
8. "Trauma care system" means an organized approach to
providing personnel, facilities, and equipment for effective and
coordinated trauma care.
9. "Verification" means a formal process by which the
department certifies a hospital or emergency care facility's capacity
to provide trauma care in accordance with criteria established for
level I, II, III, and IV trauma care facilities. Section History: Recent Form
95 Acts, ch 40, §2