R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-17.28-2: Definitions.

When used in this chapter:

(1) “Director” means the director of the Rhode Island department of health.

(2) “Hospital” means any institutional health service provider, facility, or institution, place, building, agency, or portion thereof, whether a partnership or corporation, whether public or private, whether organized for profit or not, used, operated, or engaged in providing healthcare services.

(3) “Workplace violence” means any act of violence or threat of violence that occurs at a hospital, except for a lawful act of self-defense or defense of another. The term includes, without limitation, the use or threatened use of physical force against an employee or other provider of care, regardless of whether the employee or other provider of care is physically or psychologically injured.