Glossary of Terms

Healthcare team - Refers to all the people who help you stay well. This includes your provider, nurse, pharmacist, social worker, care coordinator, physical therapist, counselor, dentist, VA chaplains and any other person involved in your care.

Providers - Your providers are the members of your healthcare team who prescribe medications. These are your doctor, nurse practitioner, or physician's assistant. Many VA patients have providers both in the VA and in the private sector. (Pharmacists also may prescribe medications in certain situations, such as in the Coumadin clinic).

Malaise - A feeling of being unwell or out of sorts, a general feeling of discomfort or uneasiness.

Dose of a medication is how much you take of it. For example if you take Tylenol, we need to know how many pills a day and what the strength is. Tylenol 500mg 1 tablet or 2 tablets as needed evening for my shoulder pain

---

Updated May 2011
Clinical Advisory Board Sponsor: Rose Mary Pries, PhD
Clinical Subject Matter Experts: Maureen Layden, MD, MPH; Eric Spahn, PharmD
Patient Education Subject Matter Experts: Kathy Horvath, PhD