Wash. Rev. Code » Title 7 · Chapter 7.70
Revised Code of Washington

Wash. Rev. Code § 7.70.020 (2026)

Definitions

✓ current as of May 2026
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As used in this chapter "health care provider" means either:
(1) A person licensed by this state to provide health care or related services including, but not limited to, an acupuncturist or acupuncture and Eastern medicine practitioner, a physician, osteopathic physician, dentist, nurse, optometrist, podiatric physician and surgeon, chiropractor, physical therapist, psychologist, pharmacist, optician, physician assistant, midwife, osteopathic physician's assistant, nurse practitioner, or physician's trained mobile intensive care paramedic, including, in the event such person is deceased, his or her estate or personal representative;
(2) An employee or agent of a person described in part (1) above, acting in the course and scope of his [or her] employment, including, in the event such employee or agent is deceased, his or her estate or personal representative; or
(3) An entity, whether or not incorporated, facility, or institution employing one or more persons described in part (1) above, including, but not limited to, a hospital, clinic, health maintenance organization, or nursing home; or an officer, director, employee, or agent thereof acting in the course and scope of his or her employment, including in the event such officer, director, employee, or agent is deceased, his or her estate or personal representative.
[ 2019 c 308 s 16; 2010 c 286 s 13; 1995 c 323 s 3; 1985 c 326 s 27; 1981 c 53 s 1; 1975-'76 2nd ex.s. c 56 s 7.]

Notes:

Findings—2019 c 308: See note following RCW 18.06.010.
Intent—2010 c 286: See RCW 18.06.005.
Effective date—1981 c 53: See note following RCW 18.50.005.
Severability—1975-'76 2nd ex.s. c 56: See note following RCW 4.16.350.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 48 cases (14 in the last 5 years), 1984–2026 · leading case: McKee v. Am. Home Prods. Corp., 782 P.2d 1045 (Wash. 1989).
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McKee v. Am. Home Prods. Corp., 782 P.2d 1045 (Wash. 1989). · cites it 6× “A pharmacist is defined as a health care provider under RCW 7.70.020. RCW 7.70.030 requires that the plaintiff prove each fact essential to an award by a preponderance of the evidence.”
Cornu-Labat v. Hosp. Dist. No. 2, 298 P.3d 741 (Wash. 2013). · cites it 6× “030(1) defines a “peer review body of health care providers” by reference to RCW 7.70.020. The referenced provision defines “ ‘health care provider’ ” to include “a hospital, clinic, health maintenance organization, or nursing home; or an officer, director, employee, or agent…”
Grove v. PeaceHealth St. Joseph Hosp., 341 P.3d 261 (Wash. 2014). · cites it 6× “The jury was further instructed, in language that tracked the text of RCW 7.70.020, that the term “health care provider” included physicians, physician’s assistants, nurses, and hospitals.”
Denise Reagan, V St. Elmo Newton, Iii, Md, 436 P.3d 411 (Wash. Ct. App. 2019). · cites it 3× “To recover damages for “injury occurring as the result of health care,” a plaintiff must establish at least one of three propositions: (1) That injury resulted from the failure of a health care provider to follow the accepted standard of care; (2) That a health care provider…”
Mohr v. Grantham, 262 P.3d 490 (Wash. 2011). · cites it 2× “" RCW 7.70.020. ¶ 22 The principal arguments against recognizing a cause of action for loss of a chance of a better outcome are broad arguments, similar to those raised when Herskovits was decided: concerns of an overwhelming number of lawsuits and their impact on the health…”
Judy v. Hanford Env't Health, 22 P.3d 810 (Wash. Ct. App. 2001). · cites it 3× “RCW 7.70.020; Eelbode, 97 Wash. App. at 469 , 984 P.”
Judy v. Hanford Env't Health Found., 106 Wash. App. 26 (Wash. Ct. App. 2001). · cites it 3× “RCW 7.70.020; Eelbode, 97 Wn. App. at 469 .”
Hill v. Sacred Heart Med. Ctr., 143 Wash. App. 438 (Wash. Ct. App. 2008). · cites it 2× “RCW 7.70.020(1). ¶34 Dr. Bauer’s affidavit refers to health care providers.”
Hill v. Sacred Heart Med. Ctr., 177 P.3d 1152 (Wash. Ct. App. 2008). · cites it 2× “RCW 7.70.020(1). *1159 ¶ 34 Dr. Bauer's affidavit refers to health care providers.”
Howell v. Spokane & Inland Empire Blood Bank, 785 P.2d 815 (Wash. 1990). · cites it 2× “While RCW 7.70.020(3) includes hospitals as health care providers, the Court of Appeals in Alexander v.”
Alexander v. Gonser, 711 P.2d 347 (Wash. Ct. App. 1985). · cites it 3× “Hospitals are included within the definition of health care providers, *238 RCW 7.70.020; 3 moreover, treatment has been defined to encompass all aspects of patient care, including the doctor's resolve to do nothing about a patient's perceived medical abnormalities.”
Douglas v. Freeman, 814 P.2d 1160 (Wash. 1991). “See RCW 7.70.020(3). Two experts testified the clinic met the standard of care.”
Show all 48 citing cases →
— Wash. Rev. Code § 7.70.020(1) — 17 cases
Denise Reagan, V St. Elmo Newton, Iii, Md, 436 P.3d 411 (Wash. Ct. App. 2019). “To recover damages for “injury occurring as the result of health care,” a plaintiff must establish at least one of three propositions: (1) That injury resulted from the failure of a health care provider to follow the accepted standard of care; (2) That a health care provider…”
Hill v. Sacred Heart Med. Ctr., 143 Wash. App. 438 (Wash. Ct. App. 2008). “RCW 7.70.020(1). ¶34 Dr. Bauer’s affidavit refers to health care providers.”
Cornu-Labat v. Hosp. Dist. No. 2, 298 P.3d 741 (Wash. 2013). “030(1) defines a “peer review body of health care providers” by reference to RCW 7.70.020. The referenced provision defines “ ‘health care provider’ ” to include “a hospital, clinic, health maintenance organization, or nursing home; or an officer, director, employee, or agent…”
Hill v. Sacred Heart Med. Ctr., 177 P.3d 1152 (Wash. Ct. App. 2008). “RCW 7.70.020(1). *1159 ¶ 34 Dr. Bauer's affidavit refers to health care providers.”
Eelbode v. Chec Med. Centers, Inc., 984 P.2d 436 (Wash. Ct. App. 1999).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 7.70.020(2) — 2 cases
Judy v. Hanford Env't Health, 22 P.3d 810 (Wash. Ct. App. 2001). “RCW 7.70.020; Eelbode, 97 Wash. App. at 469 , 984 P.”
Judy v. Hanford Env't Health Found., 106 Wash. App. 26 (Wash. Ct. App. 2001). “RCW 7.70.020; Eelbode, 97 Wn. App. at 469 .”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 7.70.020(3) — 18 cases
Grove v. PeaceHealth St. Joseph Hosp., 341 P.3d 261 (Wash. 2014). “The jury was further instructed, in language that tracked the text of RCW 7.70.020, that the term “health care provider” included physicians, physician’s assistants, nurses, and hospitals.”
Douglas v. Freeman, 814 P.2d 1160 (Wash. 1991). “See RCW 7.70.020(3). Two experts testified the clinic met the standard of care.”
Cornu-Labat v. Hosp. Dist. No. 2, 298 P.3d 741 (Wash. 2013). “030(1) defines a “peer review body of health care providers” by reference to RCW 7.70.020. The referenced provision defines “ ‘health care provider’ ” to include “a hospital, clinic, health maintenance organization, or nursing home; or an officer, director, employee, or agent…”
Howell v. Spokane & Inland Empire Blood Bank, 785 P.2d 815 (Wash. 1990). “While RCW 7.70.020(3) includes hospitals as health care providers, the Court of Appeals in Alexander v.”
Judy v. Hanford Env't Health, 22 P.3d 810 (Wash. Ct. App. 2001). “RCW 7.70.020; Eelbode, 97 Wash. App. at 469 , 984 P.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 7.70.020(l) — 1 case
Howell v. Spokane & Inland Empire Blood Bank, 785 P.2d 815 (Wash. 1990). “While RCW 7.70.020(3) includes hospitals as health care providers, the Court of Appeals in Alexander v.”
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