Becoming a Medical Writer

In our first lesson, you'll learn what medical writing is all about. We'll discuss what medical writers do and what it takes to be a medical writer. We'll also examine the many types of writing medical writers produce, as well as the tools of the trade—the equipment that medical writers need to have. By the end of this first lesson, you'll have a solid grasp of the field and the items you should have with you as you begin your medical writing career!

Which Path to Choose: Freelancer or Employee?

Today we'll examine the two main career paths you can take as a medical writer: freelancer and employee. We'll start by examining general factors that you need to consider. Then, we'll examine the benefits and drawbacks of being a freelancer and an employee. After you complete this lesson, you'll have a good understanding of both of these routes, enabling you to determine which one will better serve your needs and objectives.

Laying a Good Foundation for Your Writing

There are a few core things you'll need to get a handle on before you start any medical writing project: knowing your audience, understanding your topic, and creating your outline. You can't expect to succeed without first tackling these elements, so we'll go into good detail in this lesson! After you complete this lesson, you'll be equipped to lay a solid foundation for your writing, regardless who you're targeting and what you're writing about.

Grammar Essentials for Medical Writers

The focus of this lesson is on grammar, which is essential for making your writing polished and coherent. We'll start by looking at key sentence-level issues, including sentence structure and use of punctuation. Then we'll move on to building easy-to-follow paragraphs and transitions, as well as a few rules specific to medical writing!

Learning Key Medical and Statistical Terms

In today's lesson, we'll focus on language you'll often come across in medical literature. We'll start by looking at abbreviations, including when and how to use them. Then we'll look at how to spot medical jargon. Finally, we'll review some key statistical terms so that you can better understand how to process the information you're writing about. After you complete this lesson, you'll have a better understanding of the language that dominates the medical arena and how to use it!

Accessorizing and Polishing Your Work

In this lesson, we'll focus on how to add visual elements to your writing and enhance its readability. We'll start by looking at the accessories you can create: figures, tables, and sidebars. We'll review what these accessories are, when to use them, and considerations to keep in mind when creating them. Then we'll turn our attention to proofreading your work, focusing on strategies you can use to catch errors and improve flow. After you complete this lesson, you'll understand how to add the finishing touches to your work that'll really help it shine!

Understanding Key Ethical Principles in Medical Writing

This lesson is all about ethics! We'll talk about the ethical issues that surround medical writing and the responsibilities that come with authorship. We'll start by looking at scientific misconduct and how it can affect your writing. Then we'll turn our attention to plagiarism and how to avoid it. And finally, we'll review ghostwriting and other situations that can cause ethical dilemmas, as well as steps you can take to secure the integrity of your work. After you complete this lesson, you'll have a good understanding of the ethical terrain that underlies medical writing.

Understanding Key Ethical Principles in Medical Writing

Today we'll examine the markets that need medical writers. We'll start by looking at the pharmaceutical industry, which directly and indirectly employs medical writers. Then, we'll examine medical communications companies, another major employer of medical writers. Finally, we'll review some of the smaller markets, like hospitals, managed care organizations, and professional medical associations. After you complete this lesson, you'll have a good understanding of these markets and where to aim in your job search!

Breaking Into the Medical Writing Freelance Arena

In today's lesson, we'll examine the medical writing freelance arena. First, we'll review how you can build a portfolio, which can be an important tool for helping you secure work. Next, we'll examine where to look for freelance work and steps you can take to increase your odds of finding work. Finally, we'll review the business side of being a freelancer, including how to develop a business plan and which business structures you can consider. After you complete this lesson, you'll have a better understanding of the freelance environment and how you can be successful in it.

Finding Permanent Employment as a Medical Writer

How can you find permanent employment as a medical writer? That's what we'll discuss today. First, we'll review how to put together an effective resume and maximize your job search. Then, we'll examine strategies that can enhance your chances of getting an interview, such as constructing a thoughtful cover letter. And finally, we'll look at some ways to really shine during your interview. By the time you finish this lesson, you'll have the knowledge you need to stand out from the crowd, from resume prescreening through the interview process!

Taking Charge of Your Career

Now it's time to think about how you can advance your medical writing career. We'll review credentials you might pursue to make you more enticing to employers or clients, and we'll look at strategies for building a good reputation. Also, every writer's career reaches a standstill at some point—even if you're not there yet, it'll help to be prepared when that happens. We'll close out this lesson by discussing some ways to get career momentum going when you find you've peaked!

The Future of Medical Writing

How is technology shaping medical writing and the way we look for and find medical information? That's what this lesson is all about. First, we'll review how writing for the Web is different from print and what you need to know to write effectively for online viewing. Then, we'll look at social media and how companies are using them to promote content and brands, and we'll discuss how you can use these platforms to promote your own work. And finally, we'll examine how technology continues to shape the writing world and some technology solutions that can make your life as a medical writer a bit easier!

 There are 11 units of study

Module 1 : Common Root and Musculoskeletal Terms

Welcome to the first lesson of medical terminology! You will begin the course by exploring root terms, which represent the main meaning of a combined medical term. A combined medical term consists of a root, a prefix, and/or a suffix. As you progress through each lesson of this course, you will proceed by "body system." Your first lesson covers root terms that are associated with the musculoskeletal system, like muscles, bones, joints, and tendons of the body.

Module 2 : Integumentary and Digestive Terms
In this lesson, you will learn a variety of terminology relating to the integumentary and digestive systems. The integumentary system includes the skin, connective tissues, and some loosely associated structures such as nails and teeth. You will also learn medical terminology relating to the digestive tract from the mouth, to the pharynx, to the esophagus, and so on, all the way out to the exterior of the body.

Module 3 : Cardiovascular and Respiratory Terms

This lesson will go over terminology related to the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. The cardiovascular system includes the heart, arteries, veins, and blood, while the respiratory system includes the lungs and assorted chest structures.

Module 4 : Urinary and Reproductive Terms

The topic areas of this lesson are the urinary and reproductive systems. When you go over the urinary system, you will learn terminology related to the kidneys, bladder, urine, and even some chemistry terms. When you go over the reproductive system, you will learn root terms that refer to both male and female anatomical structures.

Module 5 : Neurosensory Terms and Root-Term Review

This lesson concludes the introduction to root terms. You will learn root terms that are associated with the neurosensory system, including nerves, the eyes, ears, brain, and spinal cord. Then you will begin doing something a little different—this lesson includes a review session to help you remember all of the root terms that you've learned so far.

Module 6 : Prefixes and Suffixes A through H

In this lesson, you will learn about prefixes and suffixes that are common in medicine and start with the letters A through H. Starting here, you won't be going through the word associations that you did in previous lessons. By now, you will find that you can recognize many of these terms.

Module 7 : Prefixes and Suffixes I through O

This lesson continues to progress through the prefixes and suffixes commonly used in medical terminology. Your objective for this lesson is to identify the common medical prefixes and suffixes that begin with the letters I through O.

Module 8 : Prefixes and Suffixes P through Z

This lesson completes the tour through the alphabetical listings of the most common prefixes and suffixes used in medical terminology by focusing on prefixes and suffixes that begin with the letters P through Z. You will find that there are many more terms that medical professionals use less often, and you will even discover that sometimes a root that you already know is used as a prefix or suffix.

Module 9 : Color Prefixes and Suffixes and Abbreviated Titles

In previous lessons, you learned about common prefixes and suffixes. This lesson focuses on specific prefixes and suffixes that pertain to color. Color is used quite a bit in the medical field because it helps everyone to describe various signs and symptoms. You will also go over medical abbreviations that are specific to the various occupations and titles of the medical industry. Your assignment in this lesson will change a little as your research becomes a bit more challenging.

Module 10 : Common Abbreviations A through R

The medical community uses an abundance of abbreviations. Some medical facilities don't allow them, but you should still learn the meanings of the most common abbreviations so you will know them when you see them. This lesson covers abbreviations that start with the letters A through R. Your assignment for this lesson will be a bit different—you're going to find words in a medical note that you can replace with the abbreviations that you learned in the lesson.

Module 11 : Common Abbreviations S through W and Specialized Abbreviations

In this lesson, you will finish your study of medical abbreviations with letters S through Z. You will also go over specific abbreviations that refer to hospital areas, laboratory tests, chemistries, and medical symbols. This lesson’s assignment has you find the abbreviations that correctly relate to each sentence in a medical note.