P.R. Laws tit. 24, § 3741
For the purposes of this chapter, the following terms and phrases shall have the meaning stated below:
(a) Coordinator.— Means the “State Health Information Technology Coordinator”, which office is created under this chapter.
(b) Network.— Means the “Puerto Rico Health Information Network” or PRHIN, a nonprofit corporation created under this chapter.
(c) Affiliated entities.— Means participating entities in the health sector that are legally distinct but which share a common administration of organizationally similar, albeit differentiable, activities (e.g., hospital chains). These entities may share a common owner or control so as to designate themselves or their healthcare components as one single covered entity. Common control exists when an entity has the direct or indirect power to significantly influence or direct the actions or policies of another entity. Common owners exist when one or several entities own an interest in another entity. Such organizations may jointly promulgate a single notice of information practices and consent forms.
(d) Nonaffiliated entities.— Means covered entities that are legally separate.
(e) Healthcare facilities.— Means the establishments that engage in rendering medical services, including hospitals (of any kind), health centers, public health units, diagnosis and treatment centers, nursing homes, long-term care centers, psychosocial rehabilitation centers, medical facilities for persons with mental retardation, and any other medical institution authorized by the Secretary of Health to provide medical services, as well as any facility in which healthcare providers offer healthcare services.
(f) United States Government.— Means the Government of the United States of America, including its agencies and instrumentalities.
(g) Government of Puerto Rico.— Means the Government of Puerto Rico, including its agencies, corporations, instrumentalities, and municipalities.
(h) HIE (“Health Information Exchange”).— Means the management and exchange of health information or data accessible to all components of the health industry.
(i) Central technological infrastructure.— Means all communications and information technologies required to enable the exchange of health information between and among stakeholders.
(j) Board.— Means the Board of Directors of the PRHIN.
(k) NHIN (“Nationwide Health Information Network”).— Means the Nationwide Health Information Network of the United States, developed to provide the necessary infrastructure for interoperable nationwide health information systems that will connect providers, consumers, and other stakeholders in healthcare.
(l) ONC (“Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology”).— Means the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, attached to the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), entrusted with the task of establishing the NHIN.
(m) Stakeholder.— Means any person that meets the stakeholder requirements set forth by the Network, has been provided with digital credentials, and has executed a stakeholder agreement with the Network.
(n) Person.— Means any natural or juridical person.
(o) Strategic and Operational Plan.— Means the strategic and operational plans for the PRHIN approved by the ONC of the United States Department of Health.
(p) Healthcare service provider.— Means any person or entity authorized under the laws of Puerto Rico to render or provide medical-hospital healthcare services in Puerto Rico.
History —Feb. 2, 2012, No. 40, § 2.