This section provides definitions for key terms used in Pennsylvania's Chapter 5200, which governs psychiatric outpatient clinics. Operators must understand defined terms such as 'psychiatric outpatient clinic,' 'mental health professional,' 'advanced practice professional,' and 'tele-behavioral health' to ensure compliance with staffing, treatment, and service delivery requirements throughout the chapter. The definitions establish the scope of personnel qualifications and service modalities applicable to nonresidential outpatient psychiatric settings.
View official source55 Pa. Code § 5200.3 - Definitions State Regulations Compare The following words and terms, when used in this chapter, have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise: Advanced practice professional -A person who holds a current Pennsylvania license as a certified registered nurse practitioner or a physician assistant and: (1) Holds a mental health certification, or (2) Obtains a mental health certification within 2 years of being hired by the psychiatric outpatient clinic or by July 30, 2020, whichever is later. Assessment -A face-to-face interview that includes an evaluation of the behavioral health, medical, psychological, social, vocational and educational factors important to the individual. Child psychiatrist -A physician who has completed a residency in psychiatry and who has a specialty in child psychiatry and is licensed to practice in this Commonwealth. Department -The Department of Human Services. FTE-Full-time equivalent -Thirty-seven and one half hours per week. Facility -A mental health establishment, hospital, clinic, institution, center or other organizational unit or part thereof, the primary function of which is the diagnosis, treatment, care and rehabilitation of individuals with mental illness or emotional disturbance. Interactive audio and video -Real-time two-way or multiple-way communication. LPHA-Licensed Practitioner of the Healing Arts -A person who is licensed by the Commonwealth to practice the healing arts. The term is limited to a physician, physician assistant, certified registered nurse practitioner, licensed clinical social worker, licensed marriage and family therapist, licensed professional counselor or psychologist. MMHT-Mobile Mental Health Treatment -One or more of the following services provided in an individual's residence or approved community site: (i) Assessment. (ii) Individual, group or family therapy. (iii) Medication visits. Mental health professional -A person who meets one of the following: (i) Has a graduate degree from a college or university that is accredited by an agency recognized by the United States Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) in a generally recognized clinical discipline in which the degree program includes a clinical practicum. (ii) Has an equivalent degree from a foreign college or university that has been evaluated by the Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. (AICE) or the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES). The Department will accept a general equivalency report from the listed evaluator agencies to verify a foreign degree or its equivalency. (iii) Is licensed in a generally recognized clinical discipline that includes mental health clinical experience. Mental health worker -A person acting under the supervision of a mental health professional to provide services who meets one of the following: (i) Has a bachelor's degree from a college or university that is accredited by an agency recognized by the United States Department of Education or the CHEA in a recognized clinical discipline including social work, psychology, nursing, rehabilitation or activity therapies. (ii) Has a graduate degree in a clinical discipline with 12 graduate-level credits in mental health or counseling from a program that is accredited by an agency recognized by the United States Department of Education or the CHEA. (iii) Has an equivalent degree from a foreign college or university that has been evaluated by the AICE or the NACES. The Department will accept a general equivalency report from the listed evaluator agencies to verify a foreign degree or its equivalency. Mental illness or emotional disturbance -A mental disorder that meets the diagnostic criteria within the current version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders or the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) . Psychiatric outpatient clinic -A nonresidential treatment setting in which psychiatric, psychological, social, educational and other related services are provided under medical supervision. It is designed for the evaluation and treatment of individuals with mental illness or emotional disturbance. Psychiatric outpatient services are provided on a planned and regularly scheduled basis. Psychiatrist -A physician who has completed at least 3 years of a residency in psychiatry and is licensed to practice in this Commonwealth. Psychologist -A person licensed to practice psychology in this Commonwealth. Quality assurance program -A formal process to assure quality care and maximize program benefits to individuals receiving services. Tele-behavioral health- (i) The use of interactive audio and video communication to provide clinical services at a distance using technology that conforms to the industry-wide standards and is in compliance with State and Federal privacy and security laws. (ii) Tele-behavioral health does not include telephone conversation, electronic mail message or facsimile transmission between a psychiatrist or an advanced practice professional and an individual receiving services, or a consultation between two health care practitioners, although these activities may support the delivery of tele-behavioral health. Notes 55 Pa. Code § 5200.3 The provisions of this § 5200.3 amended October 11, 2019, effective 10/12/2019 , 49 Pa.B. 5943. The provisions of this § 5200.3 amended under section 1021 of the Human Services Code ( 62 P.S. § 1021 ); sections 105 and 112 of the Mental Health Procedures Act ( 50 P.S. §§ 7105 and 7112 ); section 201(2) of the Mental Health and Intellectual Disability Act of 1966 ( 50 P.S. § 4201(2) ); and section 4 of the Outpatient Psychiatric Oversight Act (Act of May 31, 2018) (P.L. 123, No. 25). State regulations are updated quarterly; we currently have two versions available. Below is a comparison between our most recent version and the prior quarterly release. More comparison features will be added as we have more versions to compare. No prior version found. State Regulations Toolbox