OAELECT5 – LEGAL OFFICE PROCEDURE WITH TRANSCRIPTION

SY 2021 – 2022, FIRST SEMESTER

EFFECTIVE MEDICAL WRITING

PRETEST:

1. How can you say that a medical document is effectively written?

2. Why does a Medical Transcriptionist needs to be equipped with effective

communication?

3. Name at least three (3) medical documents.

LESSON #2.

A Good Medical Writing.

A well-written document accomplishes the writer’s purpose (objective) in

writing the document (e.g. writing a medical note that understand by the
physicians, nurse, or any other health practitioners).

A medical document is well written if the writing facilitates and formats good
idea and interpretations towards improvement of scientific and medical writing
and publishing skills.

MEDICAL WRITING
 An application of principles of clinical research in developing clinical trial
documents
 A profession dedicated to the communication of medical, scientific, and
health information, including research reports, patient’s information,
and regulatory documents

MEDICAL WRITER
 A Professional medical writer is someone who has an adequate
understanding of medical, scientific and health terms and concepts, and
the skills to translate such information into variety formats for different
audiences.

THREE (3) QUALITIES:

1) Good Medical Writing is CLEAR – Contemporary commenters (literary
elegance, erudition, sophistication of expression) on medical writing exalt clarity
and it must be sacrificed when writing a clear medical documents.
A medical reader picks up a document in order to gain information that will help
them make a decision, thus, it must facilitate good decision making.
The purpose of communication is to communicate and this can’t be done if the
reader or listener doesn’t understand the words used. Thus, when the writing is

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 OAELECT5 – LEGAL OFFICE PROCEDURE WITH TRANSCRIPTION
SY 2021 – 2022, FIRST SEMESTER

clear, the reader is expected to accurately comprehend the writer’s message and
use information for decision-making.

How to achieve clarity in medical writing?

- proper grammar and punctuation
She need to file for a petition.
Let’s eat grandpa!
- Use ordinary language not a poetic language
no complex vocabulary
I felt dramatic when one of my classmates bruited me in front of my
Teacher. (tell or spread humors)

layman’s terms
The patient received analgesic after the operation

- Simple Sentences
Laica (subject) waited (verb) for the train.

2) Good Medical Writing is CONCISE – It is often brief, but it is always efficient. A

sentence should have no unnecessary words and paragraphs, unless the reader
tends to lose interest in long text in order to grasp the writer’s meaning.
3) Good Mediacl Writing is ENGAGING – “No matter how sounds your reasoning, if
it is presented in a dull and turgid setting, your hearers or readers will turn aside.
they will stop to listen. But if it is presented in a lively and attractive setting they
will sit up and take notice.

In other words, readers will not want to keep reading a document, no matter
how clear and concise it is, if it does not engage their interest.

Use varied sentence structures and avoid repetitive words.

I wish I could see him before I go and I wish I’ll be more patient in
waiting. (I wish I could see him before I go and be more patient in
waiting)

Use of expressive vocabulary (ability to communicate our thoughts and feelings

through words, gestures, sign, and/or other symbols).

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 OAELECT5 – LEGAL OFFICE PROCEDURE WITH TRANSCRIPTION
SY 2021 – 2022, FIRST SEMESTER

LESSON #3.
A Readable Sentences.

MAKING THE SENTENCE READABLE

1. Avoid portmanteau sentences – portmanteau means a word blending the

sounds and combining the meanings of two others, for example: motel (from
‘motor’ and ‘hotel’) or brunch (from ‘breakfast’ and ‘lunch’).
Further, only one idea should be presented per sentence, or that several
sentences be used, if necessary.

2. Run-on Sentences – it is a two sentences linked by a word like “however”.

If you use conjunction (e.g. however), put semicolon before it and a coma after
it.
“....failed to comply; however, she decided….”

3. In appropriate placement of modifiers – This is a word order problem,

rather than an example of grammatical mistake. It come about the writer leaves
a phrase dangling, instead of placing it next to the word it is supposed to modify.

A modifier is a word, phrase, or a clause that provides

descriptions. “Wearing, lying” – sample of modifier

4. Elegant variation and inappropriate repetition – The use of ingenuity to

think up synonyms which may or may not mean exactly the same thing. Either
way, they introduce confusion.
I obligate myself in this event. – commit
The claimant claimed payment. – avail or receive

6. Overuse of passive voice – means that a sentence has a subject that acts
upon its verb. The subject is a recipient of a verb’s action.

ACTIVE VOICE – The subject performs the action denoted by the verb.
The dog chased the ball.
*more concise or shorter and direct

PASSIVE VOICE – Emphasizes the recipient of the action.

The ball was chased by the dog.

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 OAELECT5 – LEGAL OFFICE PROCEDURE WITH TRANSCRIPTION
SY 2021 – 2022, FIRST SEMESTER

The judgment was paid by the him las week.

He paid the judgment ls week.

7. Restrictive and nonrestrictive clauses

Restrictive clauses limit or identify such nouns and cannot be removed from a
sentence without changing the sentence’s meaning. Essential clause that
provides key and identify information. (that, who, whom, or whose)

That astronaut who first stepped on the moon was Neil Armstrong.
That astronaut was Neil Armstrong.
*not the same intent (first who stepped on the moon and an astronaut)
Children who eat vegetables are likely to be healthy.
Children are likely to be healthy.
*when remove, it limits the intention of the sentence.

Nonrestrictive clause provide additional but optional descriptions that can be

excised from a sentence without altering its meaning or structure.

Kaylee, who just graduated from high school, is an accomplished

figure skater.
Kylee is an accomplished figure skater.
*This is removable part of the sentence.

LESSON #4.
Grammar, Spelling and Punctuation

GRAMMAR – it provides information that helps reader’s comprehension

a) Agreement of all verbs (singular or plural) and tense (past, present, and
future)
Alejandra directed a play.
Lena will show me how to use a microscope.
Isaac eats a lot of steaks.

b) The subject-verb agreement as to number

The dog chases the cat.
The dogs chase the cat.

SPELLING – the art of correctly assembling words from their letters. One of the
essential components of successful writing.

Communication – good spelling facilitates communication. By following the

same rules for spelling words, we can all understand the text we read.

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 OAELECT5 – LEGAL OFFICE PROCEDURE WITH TRANSCRIPTION
SY 2021 – 2022, FIRST SEMESTER

Comprehension – good spelling avoids confusion. If you write with intent

and proper spelling, the receiver of that text will understand it.

We hir them last month.

He swimm at the river.

PUNCTUATION – helps the reader to clearly understand the message that is being
conveyed. It helps to indicate the pauses and the emphasis on certain ideas or thoughts
that are discussed in the text.

Let’s eat Bob. (Let’s eat, Bob)

He is dying now. He needs help. (He is dying now. He needs help!)
I your women then you should be more scared of snakes. (If you’re)
A man eating crocodile. (A man-eating crocodile)

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