Section 3700. Definitions

As used in this article:
    1.  Physician's  assistant.  The  term "physician's assistant" means a
  person who is registered as a physician's assistant pursuant to  section
  sixty-five hundred thirty-one of the education law.
    2.  Specialist's  assistant. The term "specialist's assistant" means a
  person  who  is  registered  pursuant  to  section  sixty-five   hundred
  thirty-one  of  the  education  law  as  a  specialist's assistant for a
  particular medical specialty as defined by  regulations  promulgated  by
  the  commissioner  pursuant  to section thirty-seven hundred one of this
  article.
    3. Physician. The term "physician" means a  practitioner  of  medicine
  licensed to practice medicine pursuant to article one hundred thirty-one
  of the education law.
    4.  Hospital.  The  term  "hospital"  means an institution or facility
  possessing a valid operating  certificate  issued  pursuant  to  article
  twenty-eight  of  this  chapter  and  authorized  to  employ physician's
  assistants and specialist's assistants  in  accordance  with  rules  and
  regulations of the state hospital review and planning council.
    5.  Approved  program. The term "approved program" means a program for
  the education of physician's assistants or specialist's assistants which
  has been formally approved by the department of education.