Medical Writers
Being an expert is a good thing. Being a technical writer is a good thing. But do the two have to go hand in hand?
While it’s certainly a good idea for medical writers to be experts in their field, especially when it comes to preparing documents for medical professional use, what about the everyday technical writer? And if you’re trying to hire a technical writer, do you need someone who’s an expert or do you just need a high quality writer? (more…)
Knowing the expectations of good medical writing is essential for the success of the document. The sourcebook for medical writing today is the AMA Manual of Style, which follows in the footsteps of many other style manuals available today – APA, MLA, Chicago, etc. Within this book are the basics to creating a document that is not only effective, but also well-designed, helping readers of the document understand its purpose and long-term impact.
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Last year, US News and World Report noted that technical writing was going to be one of the best careers for 2011, but what about 2012? Since we haven’t seen the new findings of news outlets (though the common lists for the year are certain to be released soon), let’s look back over the year at what technical writing has been able to provide in the changing economy.
According, again, to US News and World Report, the overall job market is going to grow in 2012, and this news offers a sigh of relief to those who haven’t been able to secure a new job, or who haven’t been able to get a job that works for their income needs.
But what about technical writing? (more…)
Whether in medical writing or general technical writing, there is a clear understanding that a document needs to be helpful and it needs to provide a certain amount of information to the user. But is there a way, after the writing is done, to determine the effectiveness of the document?
Let’s take the example of a user manual that might be used in a hospital for a certain medical device. When a person uses the content of the manual, they can expect to have a positive result, assuming the content of the manual is accurate and well designed.
In this example, is it fair to say that hospitals that use this manual and have positive results with the documented device are able to quantify the results of the technical writing? That’s where things become unclear. Though the document’s information is being used, there’s still a case for human error and device error – beyond misunderstanding its content – that can cause the outcome to be less than desirable, even though the actual document is correct.
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Not all medical writers are created alike. Though they all deal with medical topics, their training and their focus are different, albeit complementary.
Whether you’re interested in hiring a medical writer or becoming a medical writer, you need to know how to diagnose the differences between the two main categories.
Scientific Medical Writers
The scientific medical writer will have extensive experience in the science field, and will generally hold an advanced science degree. These writers will handle projects like:
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Technical writing and medical writing require information that’s thoughtful and precise, which is why many technical and medical writers are concerned that templates may restrict their writing.
If we stop to think about the way we live our lives, we’ll recognize that we tend to live 95% by habit. That is to say that most of what we do is something we do out of habit instead of out of a conscious decision. This is not a bad thing because it allows us to make the most of our time and it allows us to create the ideal circumstances in which we can do what we need to do, often without thinking about it. In some ways, templates allow us to produce without thinking.
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With all of the professional organizations out there, why would anyone want to join another? They cost money, they take up time, and, often, they present few rewards to technical writers. Until, now, that is. The American Medical Writers Association offers memberships to students and to medical writers, helping everyone stay connected and up to date on current medical writing practices.
Perhaps this is a membership with rewards.
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MIT’s OpenCourseWare is an online catalog of course materials designed to help those who may never get a chance to enroll at school of MIT’s caliber. With free access to past class materials, students (and those who wish to become students again) gain access to past class syllabi, lectures, and more.
Technical communication in the medical and public health field is in high demand today, and in the Spring of 2007, MIT offered an undergraduate course for those who wanted to learn more – Introduction to Technical Communication: Perspectives on Medicine and Public Health. The courseware from that class is available for free through the MIT OpenCourseWare program (some textbooks require a purchase).
The course description reads:
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No matter what you may be paid as a technical writer, one thing is clear: technical writing is a valuable skill for the hiring company.
When a writer is able to lay out complicated information in a user-friendly way, not only are those using the information better served, but there are financial benefits as well.
Imagine having an outline for how one might follow a complicated procedure in a medical facility. With a technical document in place, there are clear understandings about what equipment is to be used, when it is to be used, and how it is to be used. If an entire medical system follows the directions, there is a reduced chance of wasted supplies and labor.
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The pharmaceutical industry doesn’t just make medications for patients to take. In order for physicians and patients to use these medications appropriately, the instructions for the medication need to be easy to read and easy to implement. With the proper medication notes, a patient can be accurately assessed to see if they’re the right fit for a treatment plan – or not.
In Burlingame, California, the Center for Professional Advancement is offering a course in technical writing for pharmaceutical and allied industries. This weekend course will help not only those dedicated only to medical technical writing, but also to those who are tasked with creating the medications.
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