197.250. Definitions.

Definitions.

197.250. As used in sections 197.250 to 197.280, the following termsmean:

(1) "Abuse", any physical, emotional, or sexual maltreatment;

(2) "Branch office", a location or site from which a hospice providesservices within a portion of the total geographic area served by the parentagency where the area served is contiguous to or part of the area served bythe whole agency;

(3) "Council", the state hospice advisory council created in section197.272;

(4) "Department", the department of health and senior services;

(5) "Hospice", a coordinated program of palliative and supportiveservices provided in both home and inpatient settings which provides forphysical, psychological, social and spiritual care for dying persons and theirfamilies where services are provided by a medically directed interdisciplinaryteam of professionals and volunteers and bereavement care is available to thefamily following the death of the person;

(6) "Neglect", the failure to provide, or arrange for the provisions of,the services which are reasonable and necessary to maintain the physical andmental health of a client when such failure presents either an imminent dangerto the health, safety or welfare of the client or a substantial probabilitythat death or serious physical harm would result. Such failure shall notconstitute neglect if the failure results from circumstances which:

(a) Are beyond the control of the person or entity failing to providesuch services; and

(b) Render it impossible for the person or entity to provide suchservices and to arrange for the provision of such services;

(7) "Parent agency", the agency that develops and maintainsadministrative control of subunits and branch offices, and also maintainssupervisory control of branch offices;

(8) "Physician", a person licensed by the state board of registrationfor the healing arts under the provisions of chapter 334, RSMo, to practice inthis state as a physician and surgeon;

(9) "Residence", the client's actual dwelling place, includinginstitutional dwelling places.

(L. 1992 H.B. 899 § 1)