| CHANGES IN MEDICAL EDUCATION | | | | WRITING COURSE |
| ACCREDITATION | | | | Finally, the largest trend in physician education is the |
| The continuing medical education (CME) industry is | | | | move from learning in situ at meetings and |
| going through significant change under the lead of the | | | | conferences, to learning over the internet at the |
| Accreditation Council of Continuing Medical Education | | | | physician's time and convenience. This trend is |
| (ACCME). These changes are bringing about a | | | | expected to increase. |
| paradigm shift in physician learning. | | | | "Interactive education, just-in-time learning, and |
| Surprisingly, this shift has created an unexpected | | | | increased opportunities for self-directed learning are |
| opening for medical writers who are interested in | | | | among the future trends in CME", according to |
| entering the CME medical writing field specifically. | | | | Patrick Alguire, MD, director of the American College |
| Previously, writers found it very difficult to break into | | | | of Physicians department of education and career |
| this highly specialized field. CME providers creating | | | | development. (AAOS Now, March, 2010) |
| CME content chose to hire writers whom they knew | | | | "If current trends in the use of online education |
| had done such work previously, and who understood | | | | continue, 50% of continuing medical education (CME) |
| the then long-standing requirements and regulations | | | | used by physicians will be delivered via the Internet in |
| first hand. There were few opportunities for formal | | | | 2016. This would represent a dramatic increase over |
| CME medical writing training, so besides on the job | | | | the 9% of CME delivered via the Internet in 2008. |
| training at the side of another CME professional, | | | | According to a new study published in the winter, |
| writers eager to enter CME were in a circular bind. | | | | 2010 issue of the Journal of Continuing Education in |
| They needed to have experience in CME medical | | | | the Health Professions, these changes in how |
| writing, but couldn't get it because they were | | | | practicing physicians obtain ongoing training could |
| inexperienced. | | | | disrupt the multi-billion dollar CME industry in much the |
| Fortunately, as a result of the shake up in CME, even | | | | same way technological innovations have disrupted |
| experienced writers are finding they need to learn | | | | other established industries." (The Medical News, |
| new skills. The changes have been that fundamental! | | | | March 11, 2010) |
| If you are interested in entering the field, the playing | | | | The same trend to offer online medical writing |
| field itself is now as level as it will ever be. The | | | | courses via the internet is reflective of what is |
| demand for CME content is higher with the new | | | | happening in physician education, and should be |
| requirements, and all medical writers (experienced and | | | | happening so that CME medical writing training stays |
| new) have a chance not only to write CME, but to | | | | current with the latest technology. In online medical |
| stand apart from professionals who have been in the | | | | writing training, we can now offer content in multiple |
| industry for years. | | | | media (written, audio, and video), in an interactive |
| THE ECONOMY AND MEDICAL WRITING TRAINING | | | | format (allowing interaction between student and |
| The recent worldwide recession has also created an | | | | teacher), and at the convenience of the student (24 |
| unexpected boon for aspiring CME medical writers. | | | | hours/day x 7 days/week x 365 days/year.) |
| Along with many economic sectors, the recession has | | | | In the online medical writing course I offer, "CME |
| affected most freelance medical writers. I am good | | | | Training for Medical Writers," we focus on the skills |
| friends with someone who writes consumer health | | | | needed to participate in the lucrative and continually |
| and patient education articles. She recently shared | | | | changing market for continuing physician education. |
| that her business has decreased forty percent. Like a | | | | Students participate, literally, from around the world, |
| lot of us, she chose the freelance/entrepreneurial | | | | as the evolving US model is the world standard for |
| route over steady employment so that she could be | | | | CME. |
| her own boss and have more control over her time | | | | To the points I have made above, I find out why |
| and the type of work she does. Now, she's lucky to | | | | students are motivated to take the course when |
| get enough new work to cover basic expenses. She | | | | they enroll. Some have been successful writers for |
| spends her day combing the Internet, sending out | | | | regulatory or clinical trial content, who desire a |
| her CV, reaching out to contacts, and making | | | | greater sense of mission. Others are starting out and |
| cold-calls to strangers. Sound familiar? When we | | | | want to learn CME medical writing. The vast majority |
| discussed what ELSE she is doing about it, she said, | | | | however are trained medical writers with years of |
| "Until things turn around, I might as well use this time | | | | experience who want to add to their repertoire, |
| to learn statistics, so I can finally tell the difference | | | | become more marketable, and enjoy the most |
| between a risk ratio and an odds ratio instead of | | | | lucrative form of medical writing - CME medical |
| faking it." | | | | writing. |
| Using the slowdown in the market to learn another | | | | Plus, the online format draws rave reviews for its |
| skill is a great opportunity, and many writers are | | | | worldwide availability 24 x 7 x 365. Most students are |
| taking advantage of this time. For example, in 2009, | | | | busy with other business endeavors, and appreciate |
| the American Medical Writer's Association offered | | | | the convenience and relatively self-paced pace of the |
| over 100 educational sessions during their 3-day | | | | learning. |
| annual conference so members could "...gain new | | | | The combination of ACCME new standards, the |
| areas of expertise that enhance their skills in the | | | | recent worldwide economic slowdown, and the |
| many facets of medical communication." In addition, | | | | evolution of web technology in learning have |
| friends of mine who teach medical writing have blogs | | | | combined to create new opportunities in medical |
| that have gotten record numbers of hits. The | | | | writing, and there is a bright future ahead for those |
| interest and demand are there. | | | | who become proficient in the benefits of creating |
| WEB TECHNOLOGY AND THE ONLINE MEDICAL | | | | content for Continuing Medical Education. |