In today’s ever-evolving work environment, shaped by the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, the once-standard 9-to-5 office routine is rapidly becoming obsolete. This shift is ushering in the era of remote work, with various professions embracing change seamlessly. Among them, medical writing stands out as particularly well suited to adapting to this new way of working.

In the forthcoming sections, we delve into the world of remote medical writing, examining its distinct advantages, the challenges it poses, and the inventive strategies adopted by the Synterex Medical Writing team to effectively navigate the intricacies of remote work.

Remote Regs: How Writing in Pajamas Became the New Norm in Regulatory Medical Writing

Regulatory medical writers are adept at pivoting and adapting, making them apt to transition seamlessly to remote work. Given their involvement in projects reliant on clinical activities, statistical analyses, and the dynamic pharmaceutical landscape, these writers often find themselves revising timelines and reprioritizing tasks. Their ability to accommodate change stems from their experience in adjusting messaging across various document types, whether it’s conducting a deep dive into single studies or crafting integrated summaries of safety and efficacy for clinical programs.

Regulatory medical writers are exceptionally flexible, which helps them to be productive even in the face of unforeseen changes and potential diversions from remote work. Furthermore, because of their natural adaptability, they facilitate collaboration in remote settings where different work hours can easily meet hectic schedules and time zone disparities. This flexibility improves workflow and project outcomes in a virtual setting and promotes effective teamwork.

Remote work seamlessly accommodates both the soft and technical skills required in regulatory medical writing. Efficient communication across the globe is easily achieved through various digital platforms like voice and video chat, email, and messaging. Access to necessary sources for regulatory documents such as guidelines are readily available electronically. Moreover, modern technology like SharePoint, Veeva, Egnyte, and PleaseReview enables collaborative authoring, review, and editing, facilitating effective teamwork regardless of physical location.

Challenges – Compliance vs. Chaos: The Remote Regulatory Writer’s Rollercoaster

Collaboration is key to the success of regulatory medical writing, since the process involves soliciting feedback from a range of stakeholders, including project managers, subject matter experts, and regulatory agencies. Although working remotely is ideal for us, there are drawbacks as well, such as lower employee engagement and a feeling of social isolation. At the start, new hires like regulatory fellows and interns generally do not have the opportunity to form personal bonds with coworkers and may find this solitude difficult to navigate. It might be challenging to engage in casual conversation and face-to-face interaction at home, even for experienced writers.

 

While these challenges may not manifest in an immediate decline in document quality, they do pose a threat to long-term best practices. The isolation of remote work can lead to inconsistent quality and a depletion of collective knowledge. While this isn’t a novel issue, it becomes more pronounced when physical distance separates us from our colleagues. Hence, it’s imperative to devise methods to stay connected and implement strategies for maintaining effective medical writing standards.

Prescription for Progress: Synterex Guide to Remote Medical Writing Triumphs

• Lunch and Learn: Synterex’s Lunch & Learn program features presentations by clinical experts or seasoned medical writers on key topics related to our services, fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing across the company. It’s a valuable opportunity to tap into colleagues’ expertise and connect collaborators with the services they need.

• Green Team Initiatives: At Synterex, team engagement cultivates strong professional bonds and fosters collaboration. Operating entirely remotely, we prioritize minimizing our digital carbon footprint. Through employee energy assessments, we fine-tune digital habits to decrease energy-intensive data storage and processing. Demonstrating our commitment to sustainability, a diverse Green Team, formed in January 2022, represents all departments. Meeting biweekly, they devise strategies to enhance sustainability and ensure transparent progress tracking. Synterex proudly boasts a gold certification level with Green Business Benchmark and a bronze medal on EcoVadis, a testament to our unwavering dedication to sustainability.
• Team Sync: Medical Writing Office Hours: Synterex Office Hours provide our medical writers with a unique opportunity to connect with colleagues on a personal level. It’s a designated time where we can come together, share experiences, and strengthen our bonds beyond professional collaboration.

Remote Bliss: Synterex Writing

Ready to elevate your medical content? Look no further! Synterex offers a suite of expert medical writing services tailored to your needs. Reach out today to unlock the power of collaboration and craft compelling, impactful content together!