The accelerated rate at which medical discoveries and breakthroughs are being transferred into clinical practice necessitates the use of continuing medical education (CME) that allows healthcare professional to perpetually update their skills. Biomedical writers provide the content for innovative and informative continuing medical education activities that are aimed at professionals in the healthcare community. Biomedical writers design and develop content that promotes the exchange of up-to-date clinical information within the healthcare community, improves the overall delivery of medical treatment, and enhances patient care and treatment outcomes.

Biomedical writers write content in a multitude of media and formats. To be effective, the written content and scripts for these materials must incorporate the most up-to-date educational methods. Examples include:

• Journal articles and supplements
• Self-study guides and disease monographs
• Newsletters and meeting highlights
• Interactive web sites
• Interactive web and/or teleconferences
• CD-ROM multimedia activities
• Scripts for educational videos

Patient Education

Biomedical writers rely on their education in communication theories to help them develop content for a patient audience. Biomedical writers know how to translate technical information into easy to understand language. Materials written for patients must be written so that anyone can understand the medical content. Biomedical writers must analyze their audience before writing. For instance, a web site that describes a new wake-promoting drug to patients with narcolepsy would be much different than a web site describing the same drug to patients with sleep apnea. In this situation, a biomedical writer must learn about the 2 diseases and how the drug is used in each situation, then apply this knowledge to written materials.

Other examples of materials that a biomedical writer would compose for patients include:

• Brochures on how to take medications
• Brochures/pamphlets on disease states for patients newly diagnosed with a disease
• Patient information multimedia programs and web sites
• Scripts for patient information videos

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