Write Medicine

Practical prompts, frameworks, and behind-the-scenes notes on writing high-quality CME — straight to you, no fluff.

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Not sure what to work on next in your CME writing? Take the free WriteCME Readiness Index — two minutes to find your stage and get a curated learning path →

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Do you struggle to transform dense medical information into scripts that sound natural when read aloud in videos or podcasts?

As a medical writer or CME professional, you know the challenge of bridging the gap between technical accuracy and listener engagement. Your scripts need to convey complex scientific concepts while maintaining clarity and holding the audience's attention. This balancing act can feel like an insurmountable task, especially when you're writing for diverse audiences from patients to specialists.

In this episode of Write Medicine, voice actor Emma Clarke shares invaluable insights that will help you:

1. Master the art of writing for the spoken word in medical education

2. Learn techniques to make dense scientific content more accessible and engaging when read aloud

3. Understand the crucial elements of pacing, clarity, and pronunciation in voiceover scripts

Tune in now to unlock the secrets of crafting medical voiceover scripts that inform, engage, and inspire your audience.

📧 [email protected]

🌐 https://emmaclarke.com

📰 https://ebclarke.substack.com

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Mentioned in this episode:

Fall Back to School Sale

We're running a back-to-school sale September 2 through 12. Standalone CME writing toolkits, business kits, and quarterly WriteCME Pro membership — all at the best pricing we've offered this year. Everything's at www.alexhowson.com. Link's in the show notes.

Practical prompts, frameworks, and behind-the-scenes notes on writing high-quality CME — straight to you, no fluff.

→ Subscribe: Become a Write Medicine Insider

Not sure what to work on next in your CME writing? Take the free WriteCME Readiness Index — two minutes to find your stage and get a curated learning path →

Get your CME readiness score

Are you a freelance medical writer struggling to streamline your workflow and grow your business? Do you find yourself overwhelmed by client management, marketing, and the constant need to prove your value?

If you're looking to transform your freelance medical writing career from chaotic to confident, especially in the field of Continuing Medical Education, this episode is for you.

Today Alejandra Viviescas PhD joins me to explore practical strategies that can transform your approach to client relationships, help you overcome self-doubt, and build a thriving business.

By listening to this episode, you will:

• Learn how to implement a client acquisition flywheel that turns each project into a marketing opportunity
• Discover how to use checklists and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to streamline your workflow and reduce anxiety in client interactions
• Gain insights on how to use your multilingual skills to stand out in the medical writing field.

Press play now to unlock your competitive edge in freelance CME writing and get ready to create systems that work for you, not against you.

Jim Collins. The Flywheel Effect.

Nathan Barry. Authority: Become an Expert, Build a Following, and Gain Financial Independence. 2014. Aloha Publishing.

Josh Spector. How To Create Powerful Content (Without Spending More Time On It). I Want To Know podcast.

Alexjandra Viviescas PhD. Flywheel.

Ready, Steady, CME!

Mentioned in this episode:

Fall Back to School Sale

We're running a back-to-school sale September 2 through 12. Standalone CME writing toolkits, business kits, and quarterly WriteCME Pro membership — all at the best pricing we've offered this year. Everything's at www.alexhowson.com. Link's in the show notes.

Practical prompts, frameworks, and behind-the-scenes notes on writing high-quality CME — straight to you, no fluff.

→ Subscribe: Become a Write Medicine Insider

Not sure what to work on next in your CME writing? Take the free WriteCME Readiness Index — two minutes to find your stage and get a curated learning path →

Get your CME readiness score

Are you a new medical writer feeling overwhelmed by the costs of starting your career? Do you hesitate to invest in expensive resources, wondering if there's a smarter way to begin? You're not alone. Many aspiring medical writers struggle to balance their passion for the field with the financial realities of getting started.

But what if I told you that you don't need to break the bank to launch your medical writing career? In this episode, we're diving into 12 money-saving hacks that can help you access vital resources, improve your skills, and network effectively - all while keeping your budget intact.

Whether you're looking to find free alternatives to pricey databases, discover cost-effective ways to enhance your skills or learn how to leverage existing resources you might have overlooked, this episode is your guide to smart, budget-friendly strategies for kickstarting your medical writing journey.

Sometimes expensive doesn't necessarily mean better. Stay tuned for tips that could save you hundreds if not thousands, of dollars as you embark on your exciting new career path.

1. Leverage Free Resources: From PubMed and Google Docs to public libraries and government health websites, there's a wealth of free tools and information at your fingertips. Make the most of these resources before investing in paid alternatives.

2. Invest in Learning, Not Just Tools: Focus on building your skills through free online courses, virtual conferences, and skill-swapping. Your knowledge and abilities are your most valuable assets, and many ways to enhance them don't cost a dime.

3. Start Simple and Scale Up: Begin with a basic setup and free versions of software. As your career grows and your needs evolve, you can make informed decisions about which paid tools and resources are truly worth the investment.

Write Medicine podcast. How to Streamline Your Medical Writing Literature Review Process

WriteCME Pro—a professional development program for medical writers ready to specialize in CME

QueText

Grammarly

MedTerms

Mentioned in this episode:

Fall Back to School Sale

We're running a back-to-school sale September 2 through 12. Standalone CME writing toolkits, business kits, and quarterly WriteCME Pro membership — all at the best pricing we've offered this year. Everything's at www.alexhowson.com. Link's in the show notes.

Practical prompts, frameworks, and behind-the-scenes notes on writing high-quality CME — straight to you, no fluff.

→ Subscribe: Become a Write Medicine Insider

Not sure what to work on next in your CME writing? Take the free WriteCME Readiness Index — two minutes to find your stage and get a curated learning path →

Get your CME readiness score

Is your CME content scratching the surface or truly addressing the core issues in healthcare practice?

As a CME professional, you're constantly striving to create educational interventions that make a real difference. But sometimes, despite your best efforts, the impact falls short of expectations. Root cause analysis (RCA) could be the missing piece in your needs assessment toolkit, helping you uncover the true sources of performance gaps and design more effective CME programs.

By listening to this episode, you'll discover:

1. How to apply RCA techniques to enhance your needs assessments and identify the root causes of practice gaps
2. Step-by-step guidance and practical tools for conducting RCA
3. Real-world examples of how RCA can lead to measurable improvements in healthcare outcomes

Tune in now to unlock the power of root cause analysis and revolutionize your approach to CME program development.

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). Root Cause Analysis.

Institute for Healthcare Improvement. Improving Root Cause Analyses and Actions to Prevent Harm.

Singh G et al. Root Cause Analysis and Medical Error Prevention. StatPearls.

Driesen B et al. Root Cause Analysis Using the Prevention and Recovery Information System for Monitoring and Analysis Method in Healthcare Facilities: A Systematic Literature Review. J Patient Saf. 2022;18(4):342-350

Mentioned in this episode:

Fall Back to School Sale

We're running a back-to-school sale September 2 through 12. Standalone CME writing toolkits, business kits, and quarterly WriteCME Pro membership — all at the best pricing we've offered this year. Everything's at www.alexhowson.com. Link's in the show notes.

Practical prompts, frameworks, and behind-the-scenes notes on writing high-quality CME — straight to you, no fluff.

→ Subscribe: Become a Write Medicine Insider

Not sure what to work on next in your CME writing? Take the free WriteCME Readiness Index — two minutes to find your stage and get a curated learning path →

Get your CME readiness score

Are you struggling to position your CME program as a strategic asset in your healthcare system?

As a CME professional in a hospital or health system, you're likely facing challenges in demonstrating the value of your programs beyond mere accreditation requirements. You know that CME has the potential to drive quality improvement and enhance patient care, but you may be finding it difficult to integrate your efforts with broader organizational goals.

In this episode of Write Medicine, you'll discover:

1. How to position CME as a strategic resource at the heart of your healthcare system's quality improvement initiatives
2. Practical strategies for building relationships across departments and specialties to create more impactful, coordinated education
3. Innovative approaches to measuring and demonstrating the effectiveness of your CME programs

Tune in now to unlock the secrets of making your CME program an indispensable driver of excellence in your healthcare system.

00:00 Nurse turned educator; now an RN CME specialist.

06:03 Partnering in rural Michigan for healthcare improvement.

07:51 Building relationships for proactive service line strategies.

10:32 Efforts to integrate CME as a strategic resource.

16:48 Education barriers: preconceived notions, resistance, limited human resources.

18:50 Collaborative case review meetings enhance treatment insights.

24:39 Using varied data for planning and support.

27:16 Annual symposium educates primary care providers comprehensively.

28:43 Advocating for joint accreditation in clinical education.

West K. Small Teams, Big Outcomes: Efficient CME Approaches. Alliance Almanac. August 21, 2024.

Mentioned in this episode:

Fall Back to School Sale

We're running a back-to-school sale September 2 through 12. Standalone CME writing toolkits, business kits, and quarterly WriteCME Pro membership — all at the best pricing we've offered this year. Everything's at www.alexhowson.com. Link's in the show notes.

Practical prompts, frameworks, and behind-the-scenes notes on writing high-quality CME — straight to you, no fluff.

→ Subscribe: Become a Write Medicine Insider

Not sure what to work on next in your CME writing? Take the free WriteCME Readiness Index — two minutes to find your stage and get a curated learning path →

Get your CME readiness score

Are you a CME professional struggling to create engaging, accessible content that truly resonates with healthcare providers? You know the importance of staying current with medical advancements, but you're finding it challenging to deliver information in ways that stick. You want your educational materials to not only inform but also inspire change in clinical practice. If you're looking for innovative approaches to make your CME content more impactful, patient-centered, and adaptable to diverse learner needs and environments, this episode is for you. Join us to explore cutting-edge strategies in medical education that bridge the gap between information overload and meaningful learning experiences.

You’ll gain insights into:

• Ways to engage with your partners as a crucial step in effective independent medical education
• Techniques for incorporating patient voices and perspectives into CME activities
• Approaches to using social media and digital platforms for enhanced learner engagement

1. Patient-Physician Perspective Collection
2. BMJ's What Your Patient is Thinking series
3. Tony Collier's article on living with prostate cancer
4. International Society for Medical Publication Professionals (ISMPP)
5. Bredbenner K, Simon SM. Video abstracts and plain language summaries are more effective than graphical abstracts and published abstracts. PLoS One. 2019;14(11):e0224697.
6. 7 Unexpected Strategies To Refresh Your CME Needs Assessment

00:00 Introduction to Independent Medical Education

00:16 Guest Introduction: Caroline Helford

00:30 Fresh Approaches to Medical Education

01:02 Caroline's Background in Medical Publishing

08:12 Defining Independent Medical Education

09:22 The Role of Social Media in Medical Education

10:53 Importance of Visual and Accessible Content

19:02 Engaging Patients in Medical Education

32:31 Future Trends in Medical Education

35:46 Conclusion and Key Takeaways

You've got the writing skills. You're passionate about medical education. But every prospective CME client asks for that elusive portfolio. Sound familiar?

If you're an aspiring CME writer feeling stuck in this catch-22, you're in the right place. Today, we're breaking down how to build a compelling CME portfolio from scratch - even if you've never had a single client. 

Listen in to:

Ready to turn your blank page into a showcase of your talents? Let's dive in.

Ready, Steady, CME!

Portfolio-building playbooks

WriteCME Pro

Finding the Freelance Clients You Deserve

7 Unexpected Strategies To Refresh Your CME Needs Assessment

How to Streamline Your Medical Writing Literature Review Process

Elevate Your Medical Writing: How to Choose the Right Literature Review Approach for Your Project

00:00 Alex discusses creating a CME medical writing portfolio for newbies. We explore three options for building a portfolio.

03:25 Diversify needs assessments, consider audience, interprofessional education.

08:12 Build your CME portfolio through networking, courses, and feedback.

09:54 Customize your portfolio to highlight professionalism and reliability. Subscribe for CME writing tips and resources.

Subscribe to the Write Medicine podcast for more valuable insights on continuing medical education content for health professionals. Click the Follow button and subscribe on your favorite platform.

Mentioned in this episode:

Fall Back to School Sale

We're running a back-to-school sale September 2 through 12. Standalone CME writing toolkits, business kits, and quarterly WriteCME Pro membership — all at the best pricing we've offered this year. Everything's at www.alexhowson.com. Link's in the show notes.

Have you ever faced the ethical dilemma of being asked to work on similar projects for competing clients?

As a freelance CME writer, you may encounter situations where multiple clients request your expertise for overlapping projects. This can put you in a challenging position, balancing professional ethics with business opportunities.

By listening to this episode, you will:

Tune in now to equip yourself with the knowledge and tools to make ethical decisions that protect your reputation and uphold the integrity of CME content creation.

WriteCMEpreneur Waitlist

Write Medicine Insider

Manifesting Wealth in Transitions Retreat

ACCME 2020 Standards for Integrity and Independence in Continuing Education

00:00 Introduction

02:39 WriteCME Pro question on the ethical dilemma where two clients ask you to work on the same project

03:23 Exploring ethical frameworks

06:54 Variables affecting content integrity

09:55 The issue of conflict of interest

11:22 Transparency is another ethical consideration

12:13 Answering the WriteCME Pro question

13:23 Key takeaways from today's episode

Subscribe to the Write Medicine podcast for more valuable insights on continuing medical education content for health professionals. Click the Follow button and subscribe on your favorite platform.

Mentioned in this episode:

Fall Back to School Sale

We're running a back-to-school sale September 2 through 12. Standalone CME writing toolkits, business kits, and quarterly WriteCME Pro membership — all at the best pricing we've offered this year. Everything's at www.alexhowson.com. Link's in the show notes.

Are you a physician feeling overwhelmed by the complexities of modern healthcare? Do you struggle to have your voice heard in an increasingly corporate medical landscape? Or perhaps you're a medical professional looking to step into a leadership role, but unsure how to begin? 

As CME professionals, we work with physicians on a daily basis. But how tuned into their struggles and concerts are you? And how can education support physicians and other health professionals who are ready to grow into a leadership role?

As a healthcare or CME professional, you may struggle to maintain autonomy, influence decisions, and navigate the increasingly corporate medical environment. Today's episode with Dr. Lisa Herbert MD, FAAFP, CPEC addresses these challenges head-on, offering insights and strategies to help you reclaim your voice and emerge as an effective leader in your field.

Just the Right Balance

LinkedIn

Dr. Lisa's books

00:00 Introduction

01:24 Introducing Lisa

05:20 Physicians losing their voice

07:28 The imperative for physicians to develop negotiation, communication, and conflict resolution skills

09:33 Challenges physicians are facing

13:07 Barriers to clinician autonomy from prioritizing clinical issues

15:39 The disincentives for physicians in training

16:42 A walkthrough of what Lisa teaches and offers to help physicians establish themselves as leaders

22:26 What steps to take to work with her

23:57 Lisa’s final thoughts on mindset

26:01 Key takeaways from today’s conversation with Lisa

Don’t forget to subscribe to the Write Medicine podcast for more valuable insights on continuing medical education content for health professionals. Click the Follow button and subscribe on your favorite platform.

Are you struggling to maintain a balanced online presence without feeling overwhelmed by social media?

As a freelance medical writer, you likely know the importance of social media as a marketing tool. However, its demands can be incredibly draining, impacting both your productivity and emotional wellbeing. This episode dives into practical strategies tailored to help you navigate these challenges effectively.

1. Learn why LinkedIn is the preferred platform for professional conversations among medical writers.

2. Discover step-by-step methods to create and manage your content efficiently without the usual stress.

3. Gain tips on time management and maintaining emotional wellbeing while engaging online.

**Action (A):**

Tune in now to the latest episode of Monday Mentor and take control of your social media presence today!

00:00 Introduction

01:31 Why I choose to solely focus on LinkedIn

02:50 How to manage your social media presence

04:23 Time management strategies for social media

05:01 Being selective about what you respond to

Subscribe to the Write Medicine podcast for more valuable insights on continuing medical education content for health professionals. Click the Follow button and subscribe on your favorite platform.

Mentioned in this episode:

Outcomes Architect Sprint

Want to finally master outcomes reports? Join my 4-Week Outcomes Reports Sprint and walk away with a polished, portfolio-ready sample plus templates, coaching, and lifetime tools. Spots are limited—sign up at [insert URL].

CMEpalooza

CMEpalooza Fall is a 1-day event scheduled for Wednesday, October 22, that will feature a series of sessions relevant across the CME/CE spectrum. Broadcasts will stream live on the LIVE page of this website and be available for viewing shortly after their conclusion on the Archive page. There is no charge to view or participate in any of these sessions.