1. (1) "Authentication" means verification that an entry in the client medical record is genuine.
2. (2) "Authority" means the Oregon Health Authority.
3. (3) "Birthing center licensing laws" means ORS 441.015 through 441.990, as applicable, and rules adopted thereunder.
4. (4) "Certified nurse midwife" means a registered nurse licensed under ORS chapter 678 as a nurse practitioner specializing in nurse midwifery.
5. (5) "Client" means the person seeking services at the birthing center.
6. (6) "Client audit" means review of the medical record or client observation including the care provided to a client from admission to discharge.
7. (7) "Clinical provider" means any individual among clinical staff who is ultimately responsible for the clinical care of a client.
8. (8) "Clinical staff" means any individual among all staff who perform tasks or have responsibilities in clinical care.

9. (9) "Discharge" means, following admission:

   1. (a) The release of a client or newborn, who was a client of a birthing center, to home;
   2. (b) The transfer of a client or newborn to hospital-based care; or
   3. (c) A client or newborn who has died.
10. (10) "Financial interest" means a five percent or greater direct or indirect ownership interest.
11. (11) "Freestanding birthing center" ("birthing center") means a facility licensed for the primary purpose of performing low risk deliveries that is not a hospital, or located inside a hospital, and where births are planned to occur away from the client's usual residence following normal, uncomplicated pregnancy.
12. (12) "Governmental unit" has the same meaning given that term in ORS 442.015.
13. (13) "Health care facility" has the same meaning given that term in ORS 442.015.
14. (14) "Hospital" has the meaning given that term in ORS 442.015.
15. (15) "Indirect ownership interest" means any ownership interest in an entity that has an ownership interest in the disclosing entity. The term includes an ownership interest in any entity that has an indirect ownership interest in the disclosing entity.
16. (16) "Licensed direct entry midwife" means an individual licensed under ORS 687.405 to 687.495.
17. (17) "Person" has the meaning given that term in ORS 442.015.

18. (18) "Physician" means:

    1. (a) An individual licensed as a doctor of medicine or osteopathy under ORS chapter 677;
    2. (b) An individual licensed as a naturopathic physician under ORS chapter 685, and who has obtained a certificate of special competency in natural childbirth in accordance with OAR chapter 850, division 35; or
    3. (c) An individual licensed as a chiropractic physician as that term is defined in ORS 684.010, and who has obtained a certificate of special competency in natural childbirth in accordance with OAR chapter 811, division 15.
19. (19) "Plan of correction" means a document executed by a birthing center in response to a statement of deficiencies issued by the Authority that describes with specificity how and when deficiencies of birthing center licensing laws shall be corrected.
20. (20) "Statement of deficiencies" means a document issued by the Authority that describes a birthing center’s deficiencies in complying with birthing center licensing laws.
21. (21) "Survey" means an inspection of a birthing center to determine the extent to which a birthing center is in compliance with birthing center licensing laws.
22. (22) "These rules" means OAR 333-077-0000 through OAR 333-077-0260.

Statutory/Other Authority

ORS 441.025

Statutes/Other Implemented

ORS 442.015 & ORS 441.015 - 441.098

History

PH 23-2025, amend filed 11/03/2025, effective 11/03/2025
PH 121-2024, renumbered from 333-076-0450, filed 12/24/2024, effective 12/24/2024
PH 15-2006, f. & cert. ef. 6-27-06
HD 2-1990, f. 1-8-90, cert. ef. 1-15-90, Renumbered from 333-076-0400
HD 26-1985, f. & ef. 10-28-85