Section 598.10  Definitions

"Act" means the Allied Health Care Professional Assistance Law (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1991, ch. 144, par. 1481 et seq.)[110 ILCS 905].

"Department" means the Illinois Department of Public Health.

"Designated Shortage Area" means an area designated by the Director of Public Health as a physician shortage area, a medically underserved area, or a critical health manpower shortage area as defined by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, or as further defined by the Department to enable it to effectively fulfill the purpose stated in Section 2002 of the Act.  Such areas may include the following:

an urban or rural area which is a rational area for the delivery of health services;

a population group; or

a public or nonprofit private medical facility. (Section 2003 of the Act)

"Director" means the Director of the Illinois Department of Public Health.

"Eligible allied health care professional" means a person who meets all of the following qualifications:

he or she is studying an allied health care field in a medical or other school located in Illinois and accredited in its field or otherwise approved by the Department and agrees to obtain a license to practice in his or her field in this State;

he or she exhibits financial need as determined by the Department; and

he or she agrees to practice full-time in a designated shortage area as an allied health care professional one year for each year he or she is a scholarship recipient. (Section 2003 of the Act)

"Fees" means those mandatory charges, in addition to tuition, that all enrolled students must pay, including required course or lab fees.

"Full-time academic work" means enrollment for the number of hours required per term by a school for its full-time students.

"Full-time employment" means being available at the practice location for patient visits a minimum of 32 hours per week.

"Full-time student" means a student who is enrolled for at least the number of hours required per term by a school for its full-time students.

"Part-time academic work" means enrollment for at least one-third of the number of hours required per term by a school for its full-time students.

"Part-time student" means a student who is enrolled for at least one-third of the number of hours required per term by a school for its full-time students.

"Tuition" means the established charges of an institution of higher learning for instruction at the institution.