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Frequently Asked Questions
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8 Questions to Ask
Every Medical Writer
When looking to work with a medical communicator
(writer, editor, or developer),
it is important
to have a checklist of questions for each provider. Below are 8
basic
questions to ask so that you can be confident you are comparing apples
to apples.
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Education and Certification
Field of Specialization
Language Fluency
Software and Computer Skills
Writing Guidelines and Requirements
Project Timeline
Ethics
Cost |
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- What education and certification does the writer
have? There are several professional organizations that offer
certificates or certifications related to medical writing, scientific
editing, and publishing. These programs provide evidence that the
person meets (inter)nationally recognized
standards for professional practice. You may also
want to ask what degrees (in what fields) the person has, if this is
relevant to your needs.
AIM's response:
I hold a PhD in biomedical
engineering from Northwestern University and an Essential Skills
Certificate from the American Medical Writers Association. In 2014, I
am taking the exam to become a Certified Medical Publication
Professional.
- What experience does
the writer have working on
projects similar to yours? Medical communication spans many
different fields, such as marketing, education, publications, and
regulatory documents. Some writers are experienced in multiple fields,
others prefer to specialize in one area. The most important thing is
that the writer has experience working on your type of document. Due to
confidentiality agreements, it is
not always possible for a writer/editor to share samples of prior work.
AIM's response: I have
worked extensively on the
documents listed in Services and
am happy to provide samples. If I feel that I don't have the expertise
to work on your project, I will gladly refer you
to a trusted colleague who does.
- Is the writer a fluent speaker of the language?
You want to hire a person who can speak and write fluently in the
language in which the document is written. Publishers, companies, and
regulatory agencies want documents to have a native voice and will
likely return or reject something that doesn't. It will be apparent
from a phone conversation or an email exchange if the writer is
a fluent speaker.
AIM's response:
I am a native of Connecticut and have been educated at US-based
research universities. Through ongoing education, I maintain my
proficiency of written English.
- What software does the writer use frequently? To
perform the tasks efficiently, writers should be intimately
familiar with Microsoft Word. Depending on your needs, you may want to
look for somebody who is skilled with software for reference
management, data analysis, image processing, or presentations, to name
a few.
AIM's response: To
achieve my clients' goals, I
rely on a suite of software programs including Microsoft Office
products, EndNote, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Acrobat Pro, GoToMeeting,
LaTeX, IgorPro, and iMovie.
- Is the writer familiar with technical guidelines
and formatting styles relevant to your project? Many professional
organizations have crafted guidelines to maintain consistency and
transparency for medical writing documents. A medical writer should be
familiar with guidelines that are relevant for your document. Failing
to adhere to these guidelines could cause delays or rejections.
AIM's response: When
preparing clients'
documents, I consult data reporting guidelines (eg, EQUATOR)
and publication guidelines (eg, COPE, GPP2, ICMJE,
PhRMA) to ensure accurate and complete
information. I work with style guides from the American Medical
Association and the Council of Science Editors.
- How long does the writer expect your project
to
take? Does their estimate seem reasonable for this type of
document? Beware of someone who tells you they can finish the project
much sooner than your estimate or that of any other medical writer.
What you gain in time you may loose in quality.
AIM's response: I always
deliver my clients'
documents within the deadline. In the final step of a project, I review
the document to confirm that the results meets my high standards for
quality. Projects have a turn-around time from 24
hours (for editing) to several weeks
(to create complex manuscripts or lengthy educational materials).
- Does the writer uphold ethical guidelines
for
the profession?
Medical writers have a responsibility to accurately and objectively
convey scientific information. They should respect the confidentiality
of any
material provided to them, unless otherwise stated. The communicator
should be familiar with professional ethical statements, such as the
American Medical Writers Association (AMWA) Code of
Ethics.
Professional medical communicators are distinguished from ghostwriters
by ensuring that the authors control the content and the communicator's
contribution is acknowledged (Wooley, 2006).
AIM's response: As a member
of AMWA, I use the
Code of Ethics to guide my professional conduct, from the type of
projects on which I work to how I prepare my client's documents. I
understand how important it is to present accurate and objective
information to the scientific community.
- How much will the project cost? Medical
writers may give you a quote for work in time (per hour, per diem), in
quantity of material (per page, per word, per slide), or one quote for
the whole project. Note whether revisions are included in the
quote. If you have a particularly short deadline, you may be charged a
rush fee. Paying bottom dollar may leave you with troubling results.
As a benchmark, the American Medical Writers Association salary
survey
indicated that the average hourly rates charged by full-time freelance
writers and editors were $105 (n = 136) and $79 (n = 91), respectively
(in 2011 dollars).
AIM's response: Because every project and author
are unique, I do not have a set rate
per hour or per project.
The level of writing and, therefore, the time needed to complete
a project varies. I can tailor my level of work to
your needs and we can work within a budget that you have determined. If
you have
a particular project for which you would like a
quote, I would be happy to provide that to you.
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