The following words and terms, when used in these sections, shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

1. (1) Act--The Texas Cancer Incidence Reporting Act, Texas Health and Safety Code, Chapter 82.
2. (2) Ambulatory surgical center--A facility licensed under the Texas Health and Safety Code, Chapter 243.
3. (3) Board--Texas Board of Health.
4. (4) Cancer--Includes a large group of diseases characterized by uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells; any condition of tumors having the properties of anaplasia, invasion, and metastasis; a cellular tumor the natural course of which is fatal; and malignant neoplasm.
5. (5) Cancer reporting handbook--The division's manual for cancer reporters which documents reporting procedures and format.
6. (6) Cancer treatment center--A special health facility devoted to the study, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of neoplastic and allied diseases.
7. (7) Clinical laboratory--An accredited facility in which tests are performed identifying findings of anatomical changes; and specimens are interpreted and pathological diagnoses are made.
8. (8) Department--Texas Department of Health.
9. (9) Division--Cancer Registry Division.
10. (10) Health care provider--A physician, hospital, outpatient clinic, nursing home and all other facilities, individuals, or agencies providing diagnostic or treatment services to patients with cancer.
11. (11) Health professional--An individual whose vocation or profession is directly or indirectly related to the maintenance of the health of another individual and duties that require a specified amount of formal education and may require a special examination, certification, or license or membership in a regional or national association.
12. (12) Hospital--A general or special hospital licensed under Health and Safety Code, Chapter 241 (Texas Hospital Licensing Law); The University of Texas System Cancer Center.
13. (13) Personal data--Information that includes items which may identify an individual.
14. (14) Physician--A person licensed by the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners to practice medicine in Texas.
15. (15) Precancerous disease--Abnormality of development and organization of adult cells; a condition of early cancer, without invasion of neighboring tissue.
16. (16) Quality assurance--Operational procedures by which the accuracy, completeness, and timeliness of the information reported to the department can be determined and verified.
17. (17) Regional cancer registry--The organization authorized to receive and collect cancer data for a designated area of the state and which maintains the system by which the collected information is reported to the department.
18. (18) Regional director--The physician who is the chief administrative officer of a public health region and is designated by the department under the Local Public Health Reorganization Act, Health and Safety Code, §121.007.
19. (19) Report--Information that is to be provided to the department; the notification to the appropriate authority of the occupancy of a specific cancer or tumorous disease in a person, including all information required to be provided to the department.
20. (20) Statistical data--Aggregate presentation of individual records on cancer cases excluding patient identifying information.
21. (21) Texas Cancer Registry--The cancer incidence reporting system administered by the Cancer Registry Division.
22. (22) Tumorous disease--A new growth of tissue in which the multiplication of cells is uncontrolled and progressive, also called neoplasm; a swelling, enlargement, or abnormal mass, either benign or malignant, which performs no useful functions.

Source Note:The provisions of this §91.2 adopted to be effective August 6, 1998, 23 TexReg 7801.