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Medical writing
Medical writing involves the production of different types of scientific documents including regulatory and research related publications, disease or drug-related educational and promotional literature as well as articles for health related journals.
Writers need a clear understanding of the medical concepts and terminology, be able to communicate scientific information to the target audience and are aware of relevant guidelines on the structure and contexts of certain documents. A medical editor’s role is to review a writer’s work; checking for content accuracy and adherence to strict editorial guidelines. Positions for medical writers and editors are generally not specific for pharmacists; individuals from other health and communication disciplines compete for these roles.
Monthly Index of Medical Specialties
(MIMS) Australia
MIMS publishes medicine information obtained
from a variety of sources including TGA, World Anti‐ Doping Agency (WADA), Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), Australian Medicines Terminology (AMT) and manufacturing companies to healthcare professionals. It provides a variety of information resources e.g. consumer medicines information (CMI) leaflets which are given by health care professionals to patients and carers.
NPS MedicineWise
NPS MedicineWise is an independent, evidence‐based and not‐for profit organisation which provides consumers and healthcare professionals with practical tools and information about medications, health conditions and medical tests to help achieve better health and economic outcomes. This organisation publishes Australian Prescriber,
NPS Radar and NPS MedicineWise News.
Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA)
PSA is a national professional pharmacy organisation representing pharmacists in Australia. It publishes the Australian Pharmaceutical Formulary and Handbook: The everyday guide to pharmacy practice (APF) which is a comprehensive pharmacy practice resource helpful to pharmacy students and pharmacists. PSA also publishes the Australian Pharmacist which is the organisation’s monthly journal. It contains pharmacy education and practice features, research papers, health and pharmacy news and information about PSA activities. PSA develops and updates Practice standards and guidelines for pharmacists and is the custodian of the National Competency Standards Framework for Pharmacists in Australia, written in collaboration with pharmacy expert groups.
Therapeutic Guidelines (TG)
TG is an independent not‐for‐profit organisation that publishes up‐to‐date therapeutic information for a range of diseases. The published information
is based on the latest evidence and is written by multidisciplinary expert groups. Its products include the electronic and print versions of the TG topics.
Medical writer
Assistant editor
Medical editor
Commissioned writer
Medical writing
Medical writing organisations
The organisations and roles covered in this chapter are not all inclusive. Other organisations, not mentioned here, may have writing and editing jobs suited to pharmacists’ knowledge and skills. The information provided here is a general overview and is subject to change.
AusPharm
AusPharm consists of a suite of publications incorporating auspharmlist.net.au and auspharmacist.net.au and the daily ezine AusPharm(e)news. It keeps pharmacists updated on all the recent news and information on pharmacy practice in Australia, including: feature articles, practise ‘pearls’, industry news and links to published media coverage of pharmacy news. The AusPharmList discussion forum – established in 1996–is Australia’s busiest pharmacy related forum.
Australian Medicines Handbook (AMH)
The AMH publishes books and electronic reference resources with the purpose of improving the quality use
of medicines. The AMH is an evidence‐based independent reference, specifically created for healthcare practitioners in Australia. All the information is researched and written by pharmacists and is peer reviewed by Australian experts and practising health professionals.
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