§ 3700. Definitions. As used in this article:

1. Physician assistant. The term "physician assistant" means a person who is licensed as a physician assistant pursuant to section sixty-five hundred forty-one of the education law.

2. Physician. The term "physician" means a practitioner of medicine licensed to practice medicine pursuant to article one hundred thirty-one of the education law.

3. Hospital. The term "hospital" means an institution or facility possessing a valid operating certificate issued pursuant to article twenty-eight of this chapter and authorized to employ physician assistants in accordance with rules and regulations of the public health and health planning council.

4. Approved program. The term "approved program" means a program for the education of physician assistants which has been formally approved by the education department.