Miss. Code Ann. § 41-9-3

As used in Sections 41-9-1 through 41-9-41 , the following words shall have the meaning ascribed in this section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

(a) “ Hospital ” means a place devoted primarily to the maintenance and operation of facilities for the diagnosis, treatment and care of individuals suffering from physical or mental infirmity, illness, disease, injury or deformity, or a place devoted primarily to providing obstetrical or other medical, surgical or nursing care of individuals, whether or not any such place be organized or operated for profit and whether any such place be publicly or privately owned. The term “hospital” does not include convalescent or boarding homes, children's homes, homes for the aged or other like establishments where room and board only are provided, nor does it include offices or clinics where patients are not regularly kept as bed patients. For the purposes of Section 41-9-41 , the term “ hospital ” shall mean a hospital that is privately owned to include any hospital premises under the jurisdiction established by the governing body of the hospital.

(b) “ Person ” means any individual, firm, partnership, corporation, company, association or joint-stock association, and the legal successor thereof.

(c) “ Governmental unit ” means the state, or any county, municipality or other political subdivision or any department, division, board or other agency of any of the foregoing, excluding all federal establishments.

(d) “ Licensing agency ” means the State Department of Health.