Guest Blog: Rhona Fraser BSc BVMS

Improving your CME (continuing medical education) writing chops can help you work faster, bring in more clients, and, most importantly, give you more opportunities to win projects you enjoy. Honing in on some core competencies for medical writers is a great place to start.

But first, let’s talk about what competencies are — though the terms “skills” and “competencies” are sometimes used interchangeably, they are not the same thing. Competencies are a combination of knowledge, behaviors, attitudes, and skills that allow you to be successful in a task. Skills on the other hand refer only to specific learned abilities required to complete a task. 

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Core Knowledge and Skills for Medical Writers

Some attributes, such as flawless syntax, proper grammar and spelling, good time management, and the ability to convey complex medical information clearly, are universal to all medical writing. Writers should strive for clear explanations and avoid jargon. Creating clear, concise content while maintaining accuracy creates confidence in your reader. Deliberate and continued practice is the only way to make progress in your writing skills. Brevity 500 offers a fun way to practice writing concisely.

Medical writers specifically must be familiar with medical concepts and terminology, as well as basic knowledge of statistics to help interpret clinical trials and research studies.  Possessing a qualification in life sciences or pharmacy or having a Ph.D. is ideal, but not necessary. Many medical writers come from non-medical backgrounds such as academia or journalism. If this is the case for you, consider taking terminology courses offered by the American Medical Writers Association or buy a copy of Nude Mice and Other Medical Writing Terms You Need to Know by Cynthia L. Kryder. Understanding Medical Research: Your Facebook Friend Is Wrong is also excellent if you wish to refresh or upskill.

An ability to efficiently research the literature is non-negotiable. Literature reviews help provide an overall summary of a specific topic, so refining your search strategy techniques can make a real difference in discovering quality material. 

Medical Writing Skills for CME/CEHP Writers

The Alliance for Continuing Education in the Health Professions outlines the core competencies for medical writers in the CME /CEHP field in its Educating the Educator program. Broadly split into core and specialized knowledge, the fundamental competency areas for CME writers are healthcare and CPD landscape, adult learning, program planning and design, and accreditation. In addition, these areas are divided into the recommended knowledge, skills, and attitudes that healthcare CPD professionals, including CME/CEHP writers, can develop to design and deliver content successfully.

Increasing competency in the above areas aligns with the Alliance’s eight National Learning Competencies outlined below. These core competencies for medical writers form the foundation for excellence and facilitate the development of proficiencies for CME writers. 

Understanding your market, in this instance, healthcare and the CME/CEHP landscape, is vital to creating quality content for your audience. Healthcare professionals are under massive pressure daily, not least due to the exponential growth of information in the field. The Joint Commission found that 80% of medical errors are communication-based. CME writers have the power to improve patient safety and outcomes by creating clear and concise materials that align with the daily realities of busy medical professionals.

Recognizing how adults prefer to learn is another critical competency for the CME/CEHP medical writer. Adults desire autonomy in their learning, are selective, and must see a benefit to the learning exercise. Therefore, a CME/CEHP activity should solve a problem they currently face instead of a theoretical scenario down the road. 

Program planning and design also involve specific skills. Writers must identify practice gaps and learner needs to articulate learning objectives (LOs). LOs describe the knowledge, skills, or attitudes that learners gain from the CME/CEHP activity. It is helpful to begin with the end in mind here. The LO must be measurable and lead to improved competency at a minimum. 

CME writers should be familiar with Bloom's taxonomy of measurable verbs, designed to classify observable knowledge, skills, and behaviors. 

CME/CEHP writers must also be able to define and measure expected outcomes. Moore’s conceptual framework illustrates increasing levels of outcomes.

CME/CEHP professionals are generally confident in achieving levels one to four.  The upper levels require more practice-based data to generate the desired outcomes evaluation.

Accredited education requires content that is fair and balanced, and free from commercial influence. To achieve this, CME/CEHP writers must be familiar with all accreditation and regulatory requirements, such as the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) Standards and Criteria, other accrediting bodies’ criteria like the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), the Pharma Code, medical associations, and licensing organizations. 

Attitudes for Every Type of Medical Writing and Editing

I am a Scottish ex-pat living in New Zealand and have long admired the Kiwi’s “can do” attitude. Combined with curiosity, a proactive, flexible, and pleasant approach is an excellent place to start in any medical writing niche. 

Commitment to life-long learning and a growth mindset helps you navigate the fast-paced field of CME /CEHP. In addition, deliberate practice and an openness to feedback are vital strengths in learning and improving as a CME /CEHP writer. 

Developing emotional intelligence improves your ability to collaborate with stakeholders across all spectrums of the CME /CEHP world. 

Finally, all medical writers should adhere to ethical practices to promote the trust and integrity of providers and learners. The American Medical Writers Association has developed a Code of Ethics for all medical communicators. 

Start Your Journey to Become a Medical Communicator with WriteCME Pro

WriteCME Pro is designed for CME writers by a CME writer who transitioned from academia and clinical care to building a sustainable CME writing business. Learn more about the core competencies medical writers need to grow their careers and other practical, hands-on skills that will help you accelerate business growth when you join the supportive community at WriteCME Pro. Discover how WriteCME Pro can help your medical writing journey. Unsure? Schedule a time to talk with Alex, our founder, about what’s next for your career.

Access to the best medical writing resources online and start your career as a CME/CE medical writer today!

→ Join WriteCME Pro, a CME-specific, skills-based membership for CME writers who are ready to create CME content with confidence. 

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