Today, more and more healthcare organisations are recognizing the value of medical writing as a profession. That’s because medical writers bring unique skills to the table in a world where patients are becoming more informed about their conditions and treatments. Consequently, a medical writing career is becoming highly sought-after.
In fact, medical writers play an essential role in bridging the gap between physicians and patients. They translate complex clinical information into plain language, which makes it easier for doctors to understand patient history and diagnosis, as well as any potential risks or side effects of recommended treatment plans. As a result, patients receive better care by having all the relevant information at their fingertips.
Without properly trained medical writers, many healthcare organisations would struggle immensely with their documentation processes.
Here’s why you should consider joining this growing team of people.
In this article – Medical writing career
- Writing for the medical communications industry is challenging but rewarding
- Medical writers are in high demand valued employee than in other industries
- Tackling a constantly-evolving field
- Developing new skills is simple
- The pay is great
- Becoming a Certified Professional Medical Writer (CPMW)
- Conclusion
Writing for the medical communications industry is challenging but rewarding
While the idea of writing for the medical industry might sound like an easy, unchallenging job, nothing could be further from the truth. Just like in any other profession, the quality of your work and ability to convert information into understandable, easy-to-read language will heavily determine your success in this career choice.
As a medical writer, you’ll need to understand most of the special terms used in each medical speciality and also know how to apply them to your work. In addition, medical writing requires creativity, excellent research skills, attention to detail, and patience. Ensure you research and understand the information thoroughly before converting it into readable content.
Write it in a manner that is simple to read and comprehend for both patients and medical professionals. It is also crucial when writing medical documents to proofread them a couple of times to ensure that they are error-free.
Medical writers are in high demand
If you’ve ever explored a career in medical writing, you’ve probably noticed that the field is highly in demand among healthcare organisations. That’s because the need for properly trained medical writers continues to grow every year, as physicians and healthcare organisations produce more documentation than ever before.
It’s very common for doctors to forget important details about past patients, especially since they might see hundreds of patients every day. In this situation, the medical writer assumes the role of extra memory, quickly translating and documenting the patient’s history to ensure proper treatment is provided. That is one of the reasons healthcare organisations are willing to pay top dollar for skilled writers. They know that, with the right team, they can provide better care to their patients, which increases profits.
Be a more valued employee than in other industries
If you’re currently working in a different field but interested in a career in medical writing, you’ll need to obtain proper training. But, once you’ve converted to the field, you’ll find that it makes you a more valuable employee in other industries as well. Because medical writing doesn’t just apply to the healthcare field, you’ll be able to work in a wide range of industries, from biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies to government and education.
You’ll have the ability to tackle a wide variety of subjects, such as marketing, branding, product development, research, customer service, and more.
Just be ready to learn on the job, as there aren’t many educational programs that offer courses in medical writing. Here you can find one of the few medical writing courses available online.
Tackling a constantly-evolving field
As we’ve already discussed, the medical field is constantly evolving, which means that medical writing is a challenging career path. Even if you’re highly skilled, you’ll need to stay on top of new research, treatments, and technologies that are constantly being developed in the medical field.
In many industries, you can expect to see some level of change and advancement in technology, but in the medical field, that’s the only way to remain competitive. Newer medicines are being developed that are more effective than ever, and researchers are discovering new ways to treat patients with different conditions.
As a medical writer, you’ll need to understand these new advancements and how they affect patient care and treatment plans. You’ll also need to keep abreast of new medical terminology related to the latest research findings. That’s because you’ll need to translate these findings into written form accurately.
Developing new skills is simple
If you’re a new medical writer, you may feel like there are many skills you need to acquire quickly before you can start doing your job well. The good news is that it’s relatively easy to develop these skills, regardless of your background. The first step to success in this field is to research the medical industry thoroughly.
You should know everything you can about diseases, treatments, and current research findings. Also, you should learn the various terminologies of the industry as well as the proper way to apply them when you’re writing. In addition, you should regularly attend industry-related conferences, which are a great way to network with other writers and learn about the latest trends and findings in the field.
As a new medical writer, you should expect to make a few mistakes along the way, but as long as you remain diligent, those mistakes will decrease with time.
The pay is great
Most people will want to work in a field where they’re rewarded financially, and medical writing is a great field for this. The pay is very lucrative, particularly for skilled writers.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average medical writer’s salary in the US is roughly $57,000 a year. That’s significantly higher than the annual average wage of $44,895, which makes it a lucrative career path for many. The best way to increase your salary as a medical writer is to become certified, which will open up opportunities for higher-paying jobs.
Keep in mind that many organisations offer certifications for medical writers. If you’re interested in pursuing this kind of career, you’ll need to decide which organisation is right for you. Most organisations have a few certification levels, with the highest level being the Certified Professional Medical Writer (CPMW).
Becoming a Certified Professional Medical Writer (CPMW)
To become one of the most sought-after medical writers in the industry, you’ll need to earn the title of Certified Professional Medical Writer (CPMW). This is the highest level of certification offered by the Medical Communications Association (MCAssociation).
To earn a CPMW title, you must pass a written exam that tests your knowledge of medical writing. You’ll also need to submit two examples of your past work, with feedback from industry experts. In addition, you’ll need to prove that you’ve completed 16 hours of continuing education credits each year. Holding this level of certification is a great way to boost your confidence as a writer and open up higher-paying job opportunities in the industry.
Medical writing is a great choice for anyone with interests in pursuing a challenging and rewarding career path. It’s an industry that demands creativity and attention to detail, and it’s also a field that’s constantly evolving. With new research and developments in the healthcare sector occurring all the time, the work of a medical writer is never dull.
Conclusion
If you’re looking to make a difference in the world, a career in medical writing is a great choice. With the increasing digitisation of medical information, there will be more demand than ever for people who can write engaging and readable content. Learn more here.
