(a)  “Clinical outcomes” means information about the results of patient care and treatment.

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(b)  “Director” means the director of the department of health or his or her duly authorized agent.

(c)  “Healthcare facility” has the same meaning as contained in the regulations promulgated by the director of health pursuant to chapter 17 of this title.

(d)  “Healthcare provider” means any physician, or other licensed practitioners with responsibility for the care, treatment, and services rendered to a patient.

(e)  “Hospital-acquired infection” means a localized or systemic condition: (1) that results from adverse reaction to the presence of an infectious agent(s) or its toxin(s); and (2) may include infections not present or exhibiting signs and symptoms at the time of admission to the hospital as determined by the department with recommendations from the health care quality steering committee with advice from the hospital acquired infections and prevention advisory committee.

(f)  “Insurer” means any entity subject to the insurance laws and regulations of this state, that contracts or offers to contract to provide, deliver, arrange for, pay for, or reimburse any of the costs of healthcare services, including, without limitation, an insurance company offering accident and sickness insurance, a health maintenance organization, as defined by § 27-41-1, a nonprofit hospital or medical service corporation, as defined by chapters 19 and 20 of title 27, or any other entity providing a plan of health insurance or health benefits.

(g)  “Patient satisfaction” means the degree to which the facility or provider meets or exceeds the patients’ expectations as perceived by the patient by focusing on those aspects of care that the patient can judge.

(h)  “Performance measure” means a quantitative tool that provides an indication of an organization’s performance in relation to a specified process or outcome.

(i)  “Quality of care” means the result or outcome of healthcare efforts.

(j)  “Reporting program” means an objective feedback mechanism regarding individual or facility performance that can be used internally to support performance improvement activities and externally to demonstrate accountability to the public and other purchasers, payers, and stakeholders.

(k)  “Risk-adjusted” means the use of statistically valid techniques to account for patient variables that may include, but need not to be limited to, age, chronic disease history, and physiologic data.

(l)  “Consumer information” means, but is not limited to, providing written recommendations to every individual before and during their hospitalization for the purpose of preventing hospital acquired infections. In emergency hospitalizations, written guidelines shall be given within a reasonable period of time.