As used in this article: (1) 'Department' means the Department of Health and Environmental Control. (2) 'Hospital' means a facility organized and administered to provide overnight medical or surgical care or nursing care of illness, injury, or infirmity and may provide obstetrical care, and in which all diagnoses, treatment, or care is administered by or under the direction of persons currently licensed to practice medicine, surgery, or osteopathy and is licensed by the department as a hospital. 'Hospital' may include residential treatment facilities for children and adolescents in need of mental health treatment which are physically a part of a licensed psychiatric hospital. This definition does not include facilities that are licensed by the Department of Social Services. (3) 'Hospital acquired infection' means a localized or systemic condition that: (a) results from adverse reaction to the presence of an infectious agent or agents or its toxin or toxins; and (b) was not present or incubating at the time of admission to the hospital. HISTORY: 2006 Act No. 293, Section 1, eff May 31, 2006.
South Carolina Legal Code