What does a health and medical writer do?

Confused about what a health and medical writer actually does?

You’re not the only one.

I was at a 50^th birthday party recently and I caught up with a number of people I hadn’t seen in years.

Of course, it wasn’t long until people asked the age-old question – ‘What are you doing these days?’

So I told them that I was a health and medical writer.

But it became clear that most people didn’t know what that was. Here are some of their responses/questions:

• Do you get the doctor’s notes, type them up and present them nicely?
• Are you a journalist who writes health and medical stories?
• Which publication do you write for?
• How do you pitch your work to different magazines and newspapers?
• Do you work in a doctor’s office, like a medical secretary?

Nope to all of the above.

So what is a health and medical writer and what do I actually do?

What is a health and medical writer?

Health and medical writers are those who specialise in writing content related to health and medical conditions. Click To Tweet

Health and medical writers are those who specialise in writing content related to health and medical conditions. In Australia, some health and medical writers (like myself) may also help health organisations and practitioners comply with the AHPRA Advertising Guidelines.

Content around wellbeing (including mental wellbeing), diet, exercise, lifestyle (e.g. stress, sleep, weight loss) is often referred to as health content. It may also include content about prevention, treatment and management of disease and other health conditions. Usually, the target audience is the consumer.

Medical writing is sometimes considered to be more ‘serious’. There can also be a clinical, more scientific or academic slant to this type of writing. While medical writing does cover prevention, treatment and management of disease, it also covers things such as diagnosis, continuing medical education and regulatory writing. The target audience can be consumers, but may also be medical practitioners, scientists or government bodies.

Generally speaking, you don’t need a health background to write most health and medical information. However, there are some situations where a scientific or medical qualification is essential.

What does a health and medical writer…write?

As a qualified writer (trained journalist) and an extraordinarily good researcher, there are many types of health content that I write.

Health and medical content

Because I have highly developed research skills I can write about a range of health and medical topics, which draws upon the latest evidence-based, scientific research. You can find some samples of my work here.

Websites

As a trained SEO-copywriter, I write websites (big and small) for health practitioners, and health and medical companies. Check out my portfolio of websites I’ve worked on.

Sales and landing pages

I can help increase customer engagement and sales conversion through powerful sales and landing pages.

Generally speaking, you don’t need a health background to write most health and medical information. Click To Tweet

Patient education information

I have extensive experience writing accurate, up-to-date and easy-to-understand patient information fact sheets, brochures and booklets. Click here to read samples.

I can also audit your current suite of publications to check if they’re doing the job you want them to, and make recommendations on how you can improve them.

Promotional literature

This can be anything from handouts and brochures to proposal documents that promote various health and medical devices and services.

Email content

I can write regular email content for current subscribers, or targeted email campaigns designed to increase your client base.

Product descriptions

If you need help writing product descriptions for your health-related products, I can help.

Report writing

I also work with health organisations to develop various reports, including annual reports.

Blogs

These are SEO-optimised pieces of content designed to increase your authority and brand, and drive traffic to your website.

Health and medical writers can write a range of content including blogs, health articles, websites, email campaigns and branding strategies. Click To Tweet

AHPRA Compliance

A large part of my work is helping registered health practitioners in Australia comply with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) advertising guidelines.

These guidelines outline what health practitioners can and cannot say when they advertise their health service. Complying with these guidelines means making sure that practitioners are not misleading or deceptive when advertising, nor provide unrealistic expectations of treatment. They also need to be careful when encouraging patients to use their services. Any breach of these guidelines can land them in hot water, with fines as high as $120,000 per offence.

Quite simply, it’s a lot to get your head around. And busy health practitioners who are trying to run a successful business, treat patients and have a life outside of work just don’t have time to spend cross-checking all of their advertising with the guidelines.

But that’s where I come in. I help health practitioners navigate the tricky waters of AHPRA compliance, so they can rest easy and get on with the business of doing what they do best – treating patients.

To help health practitioners (and those who write copy for them), I developed the AHPRA Compliance Hub. It’s a place where you can find products, services and FREE resources to help with AHPRA compliance.

In the Hub, you’ll find checklists, templates and worksheets, a content review service, AHPRA-compliant web packages, and coaching and training services.

There are also FREE articles on various aspects of complying with the advertising guidelines including how to get compliant patient testimonials, what to do if you breach the guidelines, and an update on the latest cosmetic surgery overhaul.

Why not get started with my FREE Credible Compliant Copy Checklist: Your simple guide to meeting the AHPRA Advertising Guidelines.

Did you know that a good health and medical writer can also help with AHPRA Advertising compliance? Click To Tweet

What other health and medical business services do I offer?

In addition to content writing, I help clients with a range of other things related to their health and medical businesses.

Branding and tone of voice

Nailing your branding and tone of voice is critical in order for you to market effectively. During this process, I help you identify your target audience, develop your unique sales proposition, and write your tone of voice. This means every piece of marketing material you develop will speak directly and effectively to your niche market.

Health content planning and strategy

Often blogging isn’t enough to build brand awareness. Sometimes you need a complete marketing and communication strategy in order to leverage existing content and to create content that will help build trust and loyalty with your clients.

Credible health research

If you need someone to pull together facts, and figures, or even locate key research studies for a particular health topic, I’m your girl. In fact, I love research.

Proofreading and editing

Sometimes you just need an extra pair of eyes to make sure you’ve dotted all the ‘i’s and crossed the ‘t’s. Or perhaps your work needs some editing for better clarity of your message, or to ensure that all your health and medical facts are correct.

Speaking engagements and coaching calls

I’ve been doing this health and medical writing thing for more than 10 years now.

So I know a thing or two about writing patient-centred copy, that is credible and evidence-based.

I also know my way around AHPRA Advertising Guidelines.

And having been in business for almost 10 years, I know a lot about client relationships, what it takes to run a business, and why it’s important to keep investing in yourself. In fact, personal development and mindset growth are things I strongly believe in.

But I don’t think it’s fair that I keep all this knowledge to myself, so I like to share it around.

I do this through public speaking engagements such as conferences, training seminars and talking on podcasts. I also offer one-on-one coaching calls and groups training sessions on Zoom.

You can find out more about these services, and watch my speakers reel by checking out my Speaking and Coaching Call page.

Let me help you

So now you know what I can do for you, why not let me help you develop your high-quality, credible health and medical content?

Spaces in my schedule always fill up fast, so contact me today to book your project in.

Cheers
Nerissa

 P.S. If you’re keen to learn more about who I work with, my qualifications and experience, and how I became a health and medical writer, click here.