Terms Used In Tennessee Code 68-11-260

  • Home health service: means a service provided an outpatient by an appropriately licensed health care professional or an appropriately qualified staff member of a licensed home care organization in accordance with orders recorded by a physician, advanced practice registered nurse, or physician assistant, that includes one (1) or more of the following:
    (A) Skilled nursing care, including part-time or intermittent supervision. See Tennessee Code 68-11-201
  • Patient: includes , but is not limited to, any person who is suffering from an acute or chronic illness or injury or who is crippled, convalescent or infirm, or who is in need of obstetrical, surgical, medical, nursing or supervisory care. See Tennessee Code 68-11-201
  • physician: includes a podiatrist licensed under title 63, chapter 3. See Tennessee Code 68-11-201
  • signed: includes a mark, the name being written near the mark and witnessed, or any other symbol or methodology executed or adopted by a party with intention to authenticate a writing or record, regardless of being witnessed. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • written: includes printing, typewriting, engraving, lithography, and any other mode of representing words and letters. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105

A licensed home care organization is authorized to receive and appropriately act on a written order for a plan of care for a patient concerning a home health service signed by a physician, advanced practice registered nurse, or physician assistant that is transmitted to the licensed home care organization by electronically signed electronic mail. The order that is transmitted by electronic mail shall be deemed to meet any requirement for written documentation imposed by rule pursuant to this part.