Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.

(1) “Administrative structure” means a system of contracts or formal agreements between organizations and persons providing health services in an area that establishes the roles and responsibilities each will assume in providing the services of the rural health care facility.

(2) “Department” means the department of health.

(3) “Health care delivery system” means services and personnel involved in providing health care to a population in a geographic area.

(4) “Health care facility” means any land, structure, system, machinery, equipment, or other real or personal property or appurtenances useful for or associated with delivery of inpatient or outpatient health care service or support for such care or any combination thereof which is operated or undertaken in connection with a hospital, clinic, health maintenance organization, diagnostic or treatment center, extended care facility, or any facility providing or designed to provide therapeutic, convalescent or preventive health care services.

(5) “Health care system strategic plan” means a plan developed by the participant and includes identification of health care service needs of the participant, services and personnel necessary to meet health care service needs, identification of health status outcomes and outcome measures, identification of funding sources, and strategies to meet health care needs including measures of effectiveness.

(6) “Institutions of higher education” means educational institutions as defined in RCW 28B.10.016.

(7) “Local administrator” means an individual or organization representing the participant who may enter into legal agreements on behalf of the participant.

(8) “Participant” means communities, counties, and regions that serve as a health care catchment area where the project site is located.

(9) “Project” means the Washington rural health system project.

(10) “Project site” means a site selected to participate in the project.

(11) “Rural health care facility” means a facility, group, or other formal organization or arrangement of facilities, equipment, and personnel capable of providing or assuring availability of health services in a rural area. The services to be provided by the rural health care facility may be delivered in a single location or may be geographically dispersed in the community health service catchment area so long as they are organized under a common administrative structure or through a mechanism that provides appropriate referral, treatment, and follow-up.

(12) “Secretary” means the secretary of health.