For purposes of Section 1255, the following definitions apply:

(a)  “Cardiac catheterization” includes an intravascular insertion of a catheter into the heart for the primary definition and diagnosis of an anatomic cardiac lesion. For the purposes of this definition, the insertion of a Swan-Ganz thermodilution cardiac output catheter, a venous line, and a temporary pacemaking electrode catheter are excluded.

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(b)  “Cardiac surgery” means surgery on the heart or great vessels requiring a thoracotomy and extracorporeal circulation.

(c)   “Cardiovascular surgery service” means a program of a general acute care hospital which has the capability of performing cardiac catheterizations and cardiac surgery as defined in this section. Under no circumstances shall there exist in a general acute care hospital a cardiac surgery service without a cardiac catheterization laboratory service.

(d)  “Cardiac catheterization laboratory service” means a program of a general acute care hospital which has the capability of performing cardiac catheterization. Cardiac catheterization laboratory service does not include pediatric cardiac catheterization laboratory service.

(e)  “Pediatric cardiac surgery service” means a program of a general acute care hospital which has the capability of performing cardiac catheterization and cardiac surgery, as defined in this section, for the diagnosis and treatment of congenital defects in children. Cardiac catheterization for pediatric patients shall be performed only in a general acute care hospital that has the capability to perform cardiac surgery on pediatric patients.

(f)  “Intensive care newborn nursery services” means the provision of comprehensive and intensive care for all contingencies of the newborn infant, including intensive, intermediate, and continuing care. Policies, procedures, and space requirements for intensive, intermediate, and continuing care services shall be based upon the standards and recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics Guidelines for Perinatal Care, 1983.

(Amended by Stats. 1998, Ch. 775, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 1999.)