Glossary
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Absorption
Movement of the drug from the site of administration to the bloodstream or site of action. Absorption Movement of the drug from the site of administration to the bloodstream or site of action. Absorption is affected by how the medication is taken (e.g., orally, topically, injected, inhaled). is affected by how the medication is taken (e.g., orally, topically, injected, inhaled).
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Accreditation
Ongoing process of assessing and granting recognition to institutions that maintain standards of excellence. Allows organizations to understand how to use their resources, enhance quality and safety and reduce risk.
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Acute Pain
Pain that is sudden in onset and lasts for a short duration. Caused by tissue damage or injury.
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Adherence
The act of taking medications as prescribed based on timing, dosage, and frequency of medication use.
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After-visit summary
Document given to a patient after a medical encounter to summarize their visit and health. Usually contains information like diagnoses, treatment plan, medications, and follow-up instructions.
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Alternative Treatments
Healthcare practices used with or instead of medical treatments. For example, these treatments may include therapies such as acupuncture, chiropractic care, and herbal medicine.
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Antibiotics
Class of medications used to treat bacterial infections by killing or inhibiting bacterial growth.
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Antidepressants
Class of medication used to treat depression and other mood disorders.
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Antimicrobial Resistance
Occurs when microbes (e.g., bacteria, fungi, viruses) develop the ability to resist the effects of antimicrobial medications making infections difficult or impossible to treat.
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Autonomic Dysreflexia
Health condition that affects individuals with a spinal cord injury at or above the T6 level. This syndrome involves an overreaction of the nervous system and can cause high blood pressure resulting in a headache, sweating, blotchy skin, and bladder and bowel problems.
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Benzodiazepines
Class of drugs that slow down activity in the brain and nervous system. Can be used to treat anxiety, depression, seizures or sleep disorders.
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Blister Packs
Type of medication packaging that contains pre-formed pockets or cavities that holds pills, tablets, or capsules.
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Brand Name Medications
Drug sold by drug company under a specific name or trademark.
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Care Coordinator
Work with health care providers, patients, and caregivers to coordinate care services, organize patient care, and manage the patient’s treatment plan.
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Chronic Pain
Pain that lasts longer than 3 months and continues after an injury or illness.
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Clinical Trial
A research study that tests the safety and effectiveness of medical treatments, drugs, or devices on humans.
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Cognitive Behaviour Training
A form of psychological treatment where one works with a mental health counsellor in a structured way to treat mental health disorders.
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Community Health Centers
Not-for-profit community owned organizations that provide health promotion, education and illness prevention services.
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Dehydration
Condition that occurs when your body loses more fluid than it takes in.
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Dependence
Is a condition in which you develop a physical and/or psychological reliance on a medication. Your body becomes so used to having a drug regularly that you require that drug to function.
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Dexterity
The ability to use one’s hands or body with skill and ease.
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Dispensing Fees
Amount of money paid to a pharmacy or pharmacist for preparing and dispensing medications.
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Distribution
Refers to how the medication moves through the body’s bloodstream and tissues.
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Efficacy
The ability of a treatment, medication, or intervention to produce a desired result in ideal or controlled conditions such as in a clinical trial A research study that tests the safety and effectiveness of medical treatments, drugs, or devices on humans. .
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Emergency Medications
Medications that are given in life-threatening situations to provide rapid relief or stabilize the patient to prevent harm (e.g., naloxone A medication that can quickly reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. ).
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Excretion
How a medication is removed from the body.
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Expiration Date
Previously determined date after which something should no longer be used.
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Generic Medications
Medication with the same active ingredient as a brand name drug, is taken the same way and offers the same effect. Can be produced once the patent Is a type of intellectual property given by the government that gives an inventor the exclusive right to their product preventing others from making, using, selling or importing a product based on the same invention. on the brand name drug has expired.
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Government-Issued Photo Identification
A piece of identification (usually a wallet sized card) that includes your photograph and personal information like name and date of birth.
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Laxatives
A class of medications taken to loosen stool to produce a bowel movement and relieve constipation.
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Mail-order Pharmacies
Pharmacies that dispense and deliver medications to the patient’s home.
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Medication Administration
Refers to how a medication is taken. Some examples include oral, injection, inhalation, topical
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Medication Effectiveness
How well a medicine treats a health problem or improves symptoms in real-world conditions.
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Medication Interactions
A reaction between two or more drugs, or between a drug and food, drink or supplement. A medication interaction can delay, decrease or increase the action that can prevent the drug from performing as expected.
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Medication Reconciliation
The process of comparing a patient’s medication history to their current set of medications.
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Medication Refill
When you are able to get a supply of your medication when you are low or out of medication without having to through your prescriber.
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Medication Renewal
When you need your medications prescribed again by your doctor to you can keep taking your medications as needed.
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Medication Self-management
An individual’s ability to manage the symptoms, side effects Unwanted or unexpected reactions to a medication or treatment. , treatment, and physical and social consequences of taking medications.
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Medication Tolerance
A condition that occurs when the body has a diminished response to a drug due to the drug being used repeatedly and the body adapting to the use of the drug. An individual may require a higher dose of the same medication or a different medication to get a therapeutic effect.
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MedsCheck at Home
A service in which a pharmacist comes to your home to review your medications with you, provide advice on how to use medicines safely and effectively, and check for any issues or concerns.
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Metabolism
Metabolism Metabolism refers to the breaking down of a medication to be removed from the body. refers to the breaking down of a medication to be removed from the body.
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Minor Ailments
Health conditions that can be managed with minimal treatment and/or self-care strategies for which you may not need to see your doctor.
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Muscle Relaxants
Class of medications used to help loosen tight muscles in the body. They can be used to treat muscle spasms or certain types of muscle pain.
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Naloxone
A medication that can quickly reverse the effects of an opioid overdose When you take too much of an opioid medication it make cause serious symptoms like difficulty breathing, loss of consciousness and even death. .
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Natural Health Products
Naturally occurring substances that can be used in products to maintain or restore health. Common natural health products Naturally occurring substances that can be used in products to maintain or restore health. Common natural health products include vitamins, minerals, and substances that come from a natural source (e.g., omega-3 fatty acids). include vitamins, minerals, and substances that come from a natural source (e.g., omega-3 fatty acids).
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Neuropathic Pain
A type of pain caused by nerve damage or dysfunction. It can feel like burning, tingling, or shooting sensations and is often chronic (long-lasting).
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Nociceptive Pain
A type of pain that is caused by tissue damage or injury like pain from a paper cut or a broken bone.
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Non-prescription Medications
Medications that you can get without a prescription. May include over-the-counter A medication that can be bought without a prescription (doctor’s orders). For example, acetaminophen. medications and natural health products Naturally occurring substances that can be used in products to maintain or restore health. Common natural health products include vitamins, minerals, and substances that come from a natural source (e.g., omega-3 fatty acids). .
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Off-label use of Medication
Prescribing a medicine to treat a condition or symptom that has not been approved for that use by regulatory authorities.
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Opioid Overdose
When you take too much of an opioid medication it make cause serious symptoms like difficulty breathing, loss of consciousness and even death.
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Opioids
Class of pain-relieving medication that work by blocking pain signals in the brain. Examples include drugs like morphine, oxycodone, and fentanyl.
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Orthostatic Hypotension
A condition where a person’s blood pressure drops quickly and significantly when standing after sitting or lying down. The rapid decrease in blood pressure can cause dizziness, light-headedness and fainting.
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Osteomyelitis
Bone infection caused by bacteria or fungi that causes swelling of the tissue inside the bone.
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Over-the-counter
A medication that can be bought without a prescription (doctor’s orders). For example, acetaminophen.
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Overdose
Taking a drug (or a mixture of drugs) in quantities that are much greater than are recommended. Symptoms of an overdose Taking a drug (or a mixture of drugs) in quantities that are much greater than are recommended. Symptoms of an overdose can be fatal or life threatening. can be fatal or life threatening.
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Patent
Is a type of intellectual property given by the government that gives an inventor the exclusive right to their product preventing others from making, using, selling or importing a product based on the same invention.
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Patient Advocate
A person who helps guide patients and caregivers through the healthcare system.
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Peer-Reviewed
Research that has been evaluated by people who are experts in the same field.
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Pharmacokinetics
The study of how drugs move into, through and out of the body.
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Pneumonia
Infection of one or both of the lungs caused by bacteria, viruses or fungi that causes the lungs to fill with pus and fluid.
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Prescription Medications
A medication that is only available with written instructions from a healthcare provider (e.g., doctor, dentist, pharmacist).
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Private Home Care
Is not covered by provincial health plans, and generally requires out-of-pocket payments. Costs of private home care Is not covered by provincial health plans, and generally requires out-of-pocket payments. Costs of private home care can vary drastically depending on the types of services required. can vary drastically depending on the types of services required.
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Public Home Care
Covered by provincial health plans if you qualify for government-funded services.
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Regulatory Body
An organization that makes sure all people working in that industry or profession meet the educational requirements and standards of practice for a profession, occupation or trade.
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Rehabilitation
Process of assessment, treatment and management to help a person who has suffered an illness or injury restore lost skills and improve.
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Respiratory Depression
A slow, shallow breathing rate preventing carbon dioxide and oxygen exchange in the body. Can be caused by taking toxic amounts of certain medication or combinations of medications.
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Respiratory Function
How well a person’s lungs and breathing system works.
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SCI/D
Spinal cord injury or dysfunction.
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Secondary Conditions
A mental or physical health condition that occurs because of a primary health condition.
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Self-advocacy
The ability to speak up for yourself and the things that are important to you.
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Self-assessment
Evaluating or judging your own abilities, skills or performance.
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Serotonin Syndrome
Potentially fatal condition caused by too much serotonin in the body because of a medication or combination of medications. The symptoms of serotonin syndrome Potentially fatal condition caused by too much serotonin in the body because of a medication or combination of medications. The symptoms of serotonin syndrome include confusion, headache, changes in blood pressure, vomiting, rapid heart rate and/or diarrhea. include confusion, headache, changes in blood pressure, vomiting, rapid heart rate and/or diarrhea.
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Side Effects
Unwanted or unexpected reactions to a medication or treatment.
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Spasticity
Condition in which muscles become stiff, tight, and difficult to control.
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Standard use of Medication
Using the medication according to the instructions provided by the healthcare provider and manufacturer.
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Substance Use Disorder
Condition in which an individual has difficulty controlling their use of a certain substance (e.g., opioids Class of pain-relieving medication that work by blocking pain signals in the brain. Examples include drugs like morphine, oxycodone, and fentanyl. , alcohol) despite harmful consequences. This disorder can lead to addiction and other health problems.
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Telehealth services
Medical services provided remotely through video calls or phone calls which allow a patient to consult with a healthcare provider without having to. Visit a clinic or hospital in person.
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Toolkit
A collection of adaptable documents to inform change and increase the use of evidence-based interventions.
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Trillium Drug Program
A government program in Ontario, Canada that helps people pay for their medications.
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Urinary Tract Infection
An infection in any part of the urinary system (including the bladder, kidneys, ureters, urethra). Symptoms include pain or burning during urination, frequent urination, and cloudy or bloody urine.
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Visceral Pain
Pain coming from the internal organs (e.g., stomach or intestines). Described as a deep, dull ache.
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Withdrawal
A set of symptoms that occurs when someone stops using a drug or medication that they’ve become dependent on. Physical symptoms include sweating, nausea and shaking. Emotional symptoms include anxiety and irritability.
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Working Group
An interdisciplinary group of people who cooperatively investigate solutions to a problem and suggest ways to achieve specific goals.