| Definitions

| Definitions For the purpose of Part 2635, Chapter 5 only, the following terms have the meanings indicated: A. “Provider” means any physician or physician assistant who holds an unrestricted license to practice medicine in the state of Mississippi. B. “Telemedicine” is the practice of medicine by a licensed healthcare provider using HIPAA-compliant telecommunication systems, including information, electronic, and communication technologies, remote monitoring technologies and store-and-forward transfer technology. These technologies may be used to facilitate, but are not limited to, provider to patient or provider to provider interactions. The technology must be capable of replicating the interaction of a traditional in-person encounter between a provider and a patient. This definition does not include the practice of medicine through postal or courier services. C. “Emergency Telemedicine” is a unique combination of telemedicine used in a consultative interaction between a physician board certified, or board eligible, in emergency medicine, and an appropriate skilled health professional (nurse practitioner or physician assistant). D. “Primary Center” is any facility providing telemedicine services to Satellite Centers, as defined in definition ‘G’. E. “Remote Monitoring” is defined as the use of technology to remotely track health care data for a patient released to his or her home or a care facility, usually for the intended purpose of reducing readmission rates. F. “Real-Time Telemedicine” is defined as real-time communication using interactive audio and visual equipment, such as a video conference with a specialist, also known as ‘synchronous communication.’ G. “Satellite Center” is any facility receiving telemedicine services from a Primary Center, as defined in definition ‘D’. H. “Store-and-Forward Transfer Technology” is defined as technology which facilitates the gathering of data from the patient, via secure email or messaging service, which is then used for formulation of a diagnosis and treatment plan, also known as ‘asynchronous communication.’