Writing in the Health Professions

Book excerpt: Practical, applied, and up-to-the-minute, Writing for the Health Professions teaches students, healthcare professionals, and professional writers the essential skills in medical and health communications. Drawing on her extensive experience as a nurse, cardio-pulmonary technician, medical writer, and writing teacher, Barbara Heifferon addresses the communications requirements of the healthcare professions and those who write in these high-tech fields. This comprehensive text covers writing situations and documents common in hospitals, clinics, HMOs, health insurance companies, public health campaigns, and other healthcare environments. Special attention is given to visual and electronic forms of communication, including Web sites and multimedia productions.