Definitions

Checkout our iOS App for a better way to browser and research.

  • As used in this chapter:
    • (1) “Director” means the Director of the Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency.

    • (2) “Disaster relief organization” means an entity that provides emergency or disaster relief services that include health or veterinary services provided by volunteer health practitioners:

      • (A) is designated or recognized as a provider of those services pursuant to a disaster response and recovery plan adopted by an agency of the federal government or the Virgin Islands; or

      • (B) regularly plans and conducts its activities in coordination with an agency of the federal government or VITEMA.

    • (3) “Emergency” means an event or condition that is an emergency or major disaster as defined in section 1004, subsections (a), paragraphs (1) & (2) of chapter 10 of this title.

    • (4) “Emergency declaration” means a declaration of emergency issued by proclamation of the Governor pursuant to section 1005(d) of chapter 10 of this title.

    • (5) “Emergency Management Assistance Compact” means the interstate compact approved by Congress by Public Law No. 104-321, 110 Stat. 3877 and established in chapter 10, subchapter III of this title.

    • (6) “Entity” means a person other than an individual.

    • (7) “Health facility” means an entity licensed under the laws of the Virgin Islands or the laws of another state to provide health or veterinary services.

    • (8) “Health practitioner” means an individual licensed under the laws of the Virgin Islands or another state to provide health or veterinary services.

    • (9) “Health services” means the provision of treatment, care, advice or guidance, or other services or supplies, related to the health or death of individuals or human populations, to the extent necessary to respond to an emergency, including:

      • (A) the following, concerning the physical or mental condition or functional status of an individual or affecting the structure or function of the body:

        • (i) preventive, diagnostic, therapeutic, rehabilitative, maintenance, or palliative care; and

        • (ii) counseling, assessment, procedures, or other services;

      • (B) sale or dispensing of a drug, a device, equipment, or another item to an individual in accordance with a prescription; and

      • (C) funeral, cremation, cemetery, or other mortuary services.

    • (10) “Host entity” means an entity operating in the Virgin Islands which uses volunteer health practitioners to respond to an emergency.

    • (11) “License” means authorization by a state to engage in health or veterinary services that are unlawful without the authorization. The term includes authorization under the laws of the Virgin Islands to an individual to provide health or veterinary services based upon a national certification issued by a public or private entity.

    • (12) “Other law” means law other than the provisions in this chapter.

    • (13) “Person” means an individual, corporation, business trust, trust, partnership, limited liability company, association, joint venture, public corporation, government or governmental subdivision, agency, or instrumentality, or any other legal or commercial entity.

    • (14) “Scope of practice” means the extent of the authorization to provide health or veterinary services granted to a health practitioner by a license issued to the practitioner in the state in which the principal part of the practitioner's services are rendered, including any conditions imposed by the licensing authority.

    • (15) “State” means a state of the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, or any territory or insular possession subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.

    • (16) “Territory” means the Virgin Islands.

    • (17) “Veterinary services” means the provision of treatment, care, advice or guidance, or other services, or supplies, related to the health or death of an animal or to animal populations, to the extent necessary to respond to an emergency, including:

      • (A) diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of an animal disease, injury, or other physical or mental condition by the prescription, administration, or dispensing of vaccine, medicine, surgery, or therapy;

      • (B) use of a procedure for reproductive management; and

      • (C) monitoring and treatment of animal populations for diseases that have spread or demonstrate the potential to spread to humans.

    • (18) “VITEMA” means the Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency established under title 3, section 23 of this Code.

    • (19) “Volunteer health practitioner” means a health practitioner who provides health or veterinary services, whether or not the practitioner receives compensation for those services. The term does not include a practitioner who receives compensation pursuant to a preexisting employment relationship with a host entity or affiliate which requires the practitioner to provide health services in the Virgin Islands, unless the practitioner is not a resident of the Virgin Islands and is employed by a disaster relief organization providing services in the Virgin Islands while an emergency declaration is in effect.


Download our app to see the most-to-date content.