P.R. Laws tit. 24, § 10005
The following terms and words when used or referred to in this chapter, shall have the meaning indicated, unless it is otherwise clearly construed from the context:
(a) Direct or indirect contact with a patient. — Refers to work in a hospital institution; clinical conferences; learning sessions, and reviews of patient records, as well as any other task that is pertinent to the work of interns and residents.
(b) Department. — Means the Department of Health.
(c) Dual employment. — Refers to work activities that are external to the education program, whether within the same assigned facility or at any other.
(d) Fatigue. — Is a physical, emotional, or mental condition resulting from excess work and chronic or acute sleep deprivation, which may result in adverse effects for both the patient and the resident.
(e) Intern. — Means a person who obtains a provisional license from the Board of Medical Examiners of Puerto Rico, pursuant to the dispositions set forth in Act No. 22 of April 22, 1931, and the regulation adopted pursuant to same, who is working his freshman year in the Internship Program of a hospital institution in Puerto Rico.
(f) Hospital institution. — Means any health facility, as defined by §§ 331 et seq. of this title.
(g) Education program. — Means specialized education in which knowledge is acquired by means of a series of experiences learned in a residency program, which in turn are designed to comply with the requirements set forth therein.
(h) Resident. — Means a person who obtains a provisional license from the Board of Medical Examiners of Puerto Rico, pursuant to the dispositions set forth in Act No. 22 of April 22, 1931, and the regulation adopted pursuant to same, who is working in the residency program of a hospital institution in Puerto Rico.
(i) Secretary. — Means the Secretary of the Department of Health of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
History —Jan. 4, 2003, No. 47, § 2.