4731-25-01 Definition of terms.


As used in this chapter of the Administrative Code:

(A) "Anesthesia services" means administration of any drug or combination of drugs with the purpose of creating deep sedation/analgesia, regional anesthesia or general anesthesia. Anesthesia services shall not include the administration of topical or local anesthesia or moderate sedation/analgesia;

(B) "Certified copy of a patient record" means a copy of the patient record with a separate statement, signed by the person making the copy and notarized, attesting that the copy is a "true and accurate copy of the complete patient record";

(C) "Deep sedation/analgesia" means a drug-induced depression of consciousness during which patients cannot be easily aroused but respond purposefully following repeated or painful stimulation. The ability to independently maintain ventilatory function may be impaired. Patients may require assistance in maintaining a patent airway and spontaneous ventilation may be inadequate. Cardiovascular function is usually maintained;

(D) "General anesthesia" means a drug-induced loss of consciousness during which patients are not arousable, even by painful stimulation. The ability to independently maintain ventilatory function is often impaired. Patients often require assistance in maintaining a patent airway, and positive pressure ventilation may be required because of depressed spontaneous ventilation or drug-induced depression of neuromuscular function. Cardiovascular function may be impaired;

(E) "Local anesthesia" means the injection of a drug or combination of drugs to stop or prevent a painful sensation in a circumscribed area of the body where a painful procedure is to be performed. Local anesthesia includes local infiltration anesthesia, digital blocks and pudendal blocks. Local anesthesia does not involve any systemic sedation;

(F) "Minimal sedation (anxiolysis)" means a drug-induced state during which patients respond normally to verbal commands. Although cognitive function and coordination may be impaired, ventilatory and cardiovascular functions are unaffected. "Minimal sedation" shall not include sedation achieved through intravenous administration of drugs;

(G) "Minor surgery" means surgery that can safely and comfortably be performed under topical or local anesthesia without more than minimal oral or intramuscular preoperative sedation. Minor surgery includes, but is not limited to, surgery of the skin, subcutaneous tissue and other adjacent tissue, the incision and drainage of superficial abscesses, limited endoscopies such as proctoscopies, arthrocentesis and closed reduction of simple fractures or small joint dislocations;

(H) "Moderate sedation/analgesia" means a drug-induced depression of consciousness during which patients respond purposefully to verbal commands, either alone or accompanied by light tactile stimulation. Reflex withdrawal from a painful stimulus is not a purposeful response. No interventions are required to maintain a patent airway, and spontaneous ventilation is adequate. Cardiovascular function is maintained;

(I) "Office setting" means an office or portion thereof which is utilized to provide medical and/or surgical services to the physician's own patients and which is not an ambulatory surgical facility as defined in rule 3701-83-15 of the Administrative Code, a hospital registered with the department of health pursuant to section 3701.07 of the Revised Code, or an emergency department located within such a hospital;

(J) "Regional anesthesia" means the administration of a drug or combination of drugs to interrupt nerve impulses without loss of consciousness and includes epidural, caudal, spinal, axillary, stellate ganglion blocks, regional blocks (such as axillary, bier, retobulbar, peribulbar, interscalene, subarachnoid, supraclavicular, and infraclavicular), and brachial anesthesia. Regional anesthesia does not include digital or pudendal blocks;

(K) "Special procedure" means a diagnostic or therapeutic procedure which is not surgery which requires entering the body with instruments in a potentially painful manner, or which requires the patient to be immobile, and which requires the provision of anesthesia services. Special procedures include, but are not limited to, diagnostic or therapeutic endoscopy that explores existing channels and involves no transverse of a body wall; invasive radiologic procedures; pediatric magnetic resonance imaging; manipulation under anesthesia; or endoscopic examination with the use of general anesthesia;

(L) "Surgery" means the excision or resection, partial or complete, destruction, incision or other structural alteration of human tissue by any means, including through the use of lasers, performed upon the body of a living human being for the purposes of preserving health, diagnosing or curing disease, repairing injury, correcting deformity or defects, prolonging life, relieving suffering, or for aesthetic, reconstructive or cosmetic purposes, to include, but not be limited to: incision or curettage of tissue or an organ; suture or other repair of tissue or organ, including a closed or an open reduction of a fracture; extraction of tissue, including premature extraction of the products of conception from the uterus; and, insertion of natural or artificial implants. Surgery shall not include the suturing of minor lacerations;

(M) "Topical anesthesia" means the application of a drug or combination of drugs directly or by spray to the skin or mucous membranes which is intended to produce a transient and reversible loss of sensation to a circumscribed area.

(N) "Tumescent local anesthesia" means subcutaneous infiltration of high volumes of crystalloid fluid containing low concentrations of lidocaine and epinephrine. For purposes of this chapter of the Administrative Code, "tumescent local anesthesia" shall be considered "local anesthesia" as that term is defined in paragraph (E) of this rule.

Effective:  January 1, 2004