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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>359138</law_id><section_number>32.1-162.15:2</section_number><catch_line>Definitions</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2026/" slug="2026" current="TRUE" last_updated="2026-08-02">2026</edition><referred_to_by><reference>23.1-807.1</reference><reference>54.1-2910.5</reference><reference>54.1-3018.2</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="75" identifier="32.1">Health</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="5" identifier="5">Regulation of Medical Care Facilities and Services</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="9" identifier="8">Services for Survivors of Sexual Assault</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>As used in this article, unless the context requires a different meaning:</p><p>&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Anonymous physical evidence recovery kit</span>&#x201D; has the same meaning as in &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/19.2-11.5/">19.2-11.5</a>.</p><p>&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Approved pediatric health care facility</span>&#x201D; means a <span class="dictionary">pediatric health care facility</span> for which a plan for the delivery of services to <span class="dictionary">pediatric sexual assault patients</span> has been approved pursuant to &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Services for pediatric sexual assault patients; plan required" href="/32.1-162.15_6/">32.1-162.15:6</a>.</p><p>&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Board</span>&#x201D; means the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> of Health.</p><p>&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Department</span>&#x201D; means the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> of Health.</p><p>&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Emergency contraception</span>&#x201D; means medication approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that can significantly reduce the risk of pregnancy if taken within 72 hours after sexual assault.</p><p>&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Follow-up health care</span>&#x201D; means any physical examination, laboratory tests to determine the presence of sexually transmitted infection, or appropriate medications, including HIV-prophylaxis, provided to a sexual assault patient by a health care provider within 90 days after the date on which treatment or transfer services pursuant to this article are first provided.</p><p>&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Health care facility</span>&#x201D; means an outpatient surgical <span class="dictionary">hospital</span> or other facility that is licensed by the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> pursuant to this chapter that provides health care services and does not meet the definition of <span class="dictionary">hospital</span> or <span class="dictionary">pediatric health care facility</span> in this section.</p><p>&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Hospital</span>&#x201D; means any inpatient <span class="dictionary">hospital</span> licensed by the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> pursuant to this chapter or an inpatient <span class="dictionary">hospital</span> owned or operated by an agency of the Commonwealth that is not a long term care <span class="dictionary">hospital</span>, rehabilitation <span class="dictionary">hospital</span>, or psychiatric <span class="dictionary">hospital</span>.</p><p>&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Medical forensic examination</span>&#x201D; means an examination of a sexual assault patient by a health care provider. A &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">medical forensic examination</span>&#x201D; may include gathering information from the patient for such patient&#x2019;s medical forensic history; conducting an examination; coordinating treatment of injuries, documenting biological and physical <span class="dictionary">findings</span>, and collecting evidence from the patient in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 1.2 (&#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/19.2-11.5/">19.2-11.5</a> et seq.) of Title 19.2; and providing information, treatment, and referrals to community-based services.</p><p>&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Pediatric health care facility</span>&#x201D; means an inpatient <span class="dictionary">hospital</span> licensed by the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> pursuant to this chapter that provides health care services to pediatric patients.</p><p>&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Pediatric sexual assault patient</span>&#x201D; means a sexual assault patient who is under 18 years of age.</p><p>&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Physical evidence recovery kit</span>&#x201D; has the same meaning as in &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/19.2-11.5/">19.2-11.5</a>.</p><p>&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Sexual assault forensic examiner</span>&#x201D; means a sexual assault nurse examiner, a physician, a physician assistant, an advanced practice registered nurse, or a registered nurse who has completed training that meets or is substantially similar to the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Education Guidelines established by the International Association of Forensic Nurses.</p><p>&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Sexual assault patient transfer and stabilization services</span>&#x201D; means an appropriate medical screening and such stabilizing treatment in accordance with the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act, 42 U.S.C. &#xA7;&#xA0;1395dd, as may be necessary prior to the transfer of a sexual assault patient from a <span class="dictionary">transfer hospital</span> to a <span class="dictionary">treatment hospital</span>.</p><p>&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Sexual assault patient treatment services</span>&#x201D; means health care services provided to a sexual assault patient by a hospital in accordance with &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Treatment services" href="/32.1-162.15_4/">32.1-162.15:4</a> or <span class="dictionary">pediatric health care facility</span> in accordance with &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Services for pediatric sexual assault patients; plan required" href="/32.1-162.15_6/">32.1-162.15:6</a>.</p><p>&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Transfer hospital</span>&#x201D; means a hospital with a sexual assault patient transfer plan approved by the <span class="dictionary">Department</span>.</p><p>&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Transportation service</span>&#x201D; means transportation provided to a sexual assault patient who is transferred from a <span class="dictionary">transfer hospital</span>, <span class="dictionary">treatment hospital</span>, or <span class="dictionary">approved pediatric health care facility</span> to a <span class="dictionary">treatment hospital</span> or approved pediatric care facility pursuant to a transfer plan approved in accordance with this article.</p><p>&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Treatment hospital</span>&#x201D; means a hospital with a sexual assault patient treatment plan approved by the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> to provide <span class="dictionary">sexual assault patient treatment services</span> to all sexual assault patients who present with a complaint of sexual assault within the previous seven days or who have disclosed past sexual assault by a specific individual and were in the care of that individual within the previous seven days.</p></section></text><history>2020, c. 725; 2023, c. 183; 2025, cc. 480, 491.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
