---
title: O.C.G.A. § 31-33-1. Definitions.
collection: code
id: 31-33-1
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 31-33-1 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/31-33-1
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/31-33-1.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/31-33-1/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t31-(v23)-2025-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=da7ded69_0#page=959
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
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version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Session of the General Assembly of Georgia
heading_path: HEALTH / HEALTH RECORDS
---

# O.C.G.A. § 31-33-1. Definitions.

As used in this chapter, the term:

(1) “Patient” means any person who has received health care services from a provider.

(2) “Provider” means all hospitals, including public, private, osteopathic, and tuberculosis hospitals; other special care units, including podiatric facilities, skilled nursing facilities, and kidney disease treatment centers, including freestanding hemodialysis units; intermediate care facilities; ambulatory surgical or obstetrical facilities; health maintenance organizations; and home health agencies. It shall also mean any person licensed to practice under Chapter 9, 11, 26, 34, 35, or 39 of Title 43.

(3) “Record” means a patient’s health record, including, but not limited to, evaluations, diagnoses, prognoses, laboratory reports, X-rays, prescriptions, and other technical information used in assessing the patient’s condition, or the pertinent portion of the record relating to a specific condition or a summary of the record.

## History

Code 1981, § 31-32-1, enacted by Ga. L. 1984, p. 1680, § 1; Code 1981, § 31-33-1, as redesignated by Ga. L. 1985, p. 149, § 31.