37-3-102. Definitions. Unless the context requires otherwise, in this chapter, the following definitions apply:

(1) "ACGME" means the accreditation council for graduate medical education.

(2) "AOA" means the American osteopathic association.

(3) "Approved internship" means an internship training program of at least 1 year in a program that either is approved for intern training by the AOA or conforms to the standards for intern training established by the ACGME or successors. However, the board may, upon investigation, approve any other internship.

(4) "Approved medical school" means a school that either is accredited by the AOA or conforms to the education standards established by the LCME or the world health organization or successors for medical schools that meet standards established by the board by rule.

(5) "Approved residency" means a residency training program conforming to the standards for residency training established by the ACGME or successors or approved for residency training by the AOA.

(6) "Board" means the Montana state board of medical examiners provided for in 2-15-1731.

(7) "Community-integrated health care" means the provision of out-of-hospital medical services that an emergency care provider with an endorsement may provide as determined by board rule.

(8) "Department" means the department of labor and industry provided for in Title 2, chapter 15, part 17.

(9) "Emergency care provider" or "ECP" means a person licensed by the board, including but not limited to an emergency medical responder, an emergency medical technician, an advanced emergency medical technician, or a paramedic. An emergency care provider with an endorsement may provide community-integrated health care.

(10) "LCME" means the liaison committee on medical education.

(11) "Medical assistant" means an unlicensed allied health care worker who functions under the supervision of a physician, physician assistant, or podiatrist in a physician's or podiatrist's office and who performs administrative and clinical tasks.

(12) "Physician" means a person who holds a degree as a doctor of medicine or doctor of osteopathy and who has a valid license to practice medicine or osteopathic medicine in this state.

(13) "Practice of medicine" means the diagnosis, treatment, or correction of or the attempt to or the holding of oneself out as being able to diagnose, treat, or correct human conditions, ailments, diseases, injuries, or infirmities, whether physical or mental, by any means, methods, devices, or instrumentalities, including electronic and technological means such as telemedicine. If a person who does not possess a license to practice medicine in this state under this chapter and who is not exempt from the licensing requirements of this chapter performs acts constituting the practice of medicine, the person is practicing medicine in violation of this chapter.

(14) "Store-and-forward technology" means electronic information, imaging, and communication that is transferred, recorded, or otherwise stored in order to be reviewed at a later date by a health care provider or health care facility at a distant site without the patient present in real time. The term includes interactive audio, video, and data communication.

(15) (a) "Telemedicine" means the practice of medicine using interactive electronic communications, information technology, audio-only conversations, or other means between a licensee in one location and a patient in another location with or without an intervening health care provider. Telemedicine includes the application of secure videoconferencing or store-and-forward technology.

(b) The term does not mean an e-mail or instant messaging conversation or a message sent by facsimile transmission.

(c) For physicians providing written certification of a debilitating medical condition pursuant to 16-12-509, the term does not include audio-only communication unless the physician has previously established a physician-patient relationship through an in-person encounter.