The following words and phrases when used in this act shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

“Health care facility.” A health care facility as defined under section 802.1¹ of the act of July 19, 1979 (P.L. 130, No. 48), known as the Health Care Facilities Act, or an entity licensed as a hospital under the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L. 31, No. 21),² known as the Public Welfare Code.

“Health care provider.” A health care facility or a person, including a corporation, university or other educational institution, licensed or approved by the Commonwealth to provide health care or professional medical services. The term shall include, but not be limited to, a physician, a certified nurse midwife, a podiatrist, a certified registered nurse practitioner, a physician assistant, a chiropractor, a hospital, an ambulatory surgery center, a nursing home or a birth center.

“Health payor.” An individual or entity paying for health services for himself or itself or on behalf of another.

“Medical assistance.” The Commonwealth's medical assistance program established under the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L. 31, No. 21), known as the Public Welfare Code.

“National Quality Forum.” A not-for-profit membership organization created to develop and implement a national strategy for health care quality measurement and reporting.

“Preventable serious adverse event.” An event that occurs in a health care facility that is within the health care provider's control to avoid, but that occurs because of an error or other system failure and results in a patient's death, loss of body part, disfigurement, disability or loss of bodily function lasting more than seven days or still present at the time of discharge from a health care facility. The events shall be included on the list of reportable serious adverse events adopted by the national quality forum or in a bulletin as provided under this act.

“Principal.” A principal shall mean a nursing facility or trade association representing nursing facilities.