Medical Writing 101: A Primer for Health Professionals

This book provides a global introduction to Medical Writing for health professions students and for practicing health professionals who are just starting to do some writing. At the same time, it is sufficiently sophisticated to offer valuable tips to experienced writer. Besides scientific articles, students and residents need help for their practical needs: writing histories, progress notes and case summaries. And later, they will need the ability to write letters and prepare reports - topics included in this book. So often, the need for such training in the other health professions is ignored - dentistry, nursing, podiatry, optometry, pharmacy, physician assistant, public health, occupational therapy and physical therapy, as examples. Therefore, Medical Writing 101 is a practical help for all healthy professionals. This comprehensive book can serve several purposes: a textbook for an actual course, or a self-study manual, or a refresher for the occasional writer - or all three. Included are important items - usually unknown o the novice and rarely offered I print - as where to find material for writing articles, formats to use, deciding where to submit an article, and knowing what happens when the manuscript or book goes to the editor or publisher. Medical Writing 101 includes material on other writings: letters, charts, reports and records - all so essential to the health professional's career and for which he or she is rarely given guidance. This is a "how-to" book, written in a lucid and informal and interesting style - actually a conversational tone. Replete with strongly illustrative and practical examples, it emphasizes what a tutor might offer in person. To add to the enjoyment of the book, the author uses humor from time to time - sometimes subtle and sly, sometimes overt - to help emphasize important points.