Documentation in the pharmaceutical – and wider healthcare – profession is vital. It has been said that in the pharmaceutical industry that if it isn’t documented, it didn’t happen.
Documentation control is not optional; it’s a legal requirement. Records and reports provide the “story” of manufactured products and devices. Those working in the pharmaceutical and other healthcare sectors need to apply good documentation practices so as to ensure the integrity and reliability of data.
The subject of this year’s World Pharmacist Day is trust. Trust is essential to healthcare, with pharmacists consistently being named among the top five most trusted professionals in UK surveys. In this blog we reveal how vital well-translated documentation is when seeking to build and sustain trust.
Why is trust important
Trust is so important, especially given the significant correlation between trust in healthcare professionals and health outcomes for patients. Across numerous clinical settings, patients reported greater satisfaction with treatment, showed more beneficial health behaviour and fewer symptoms, and experienced improved quality of life when they had higher trust in their healthcare professionals.
Why do we trust healthcare professionals?
Three elements are required for trust:
- Positive relationships
Healthcare professionals have a genuine interest in their patients. They take the time to listen to their needs, which helps to establish meaningful connections and build positive relationships. - Competency/expertise
To qualify as a pharmacist, it takes four years to complete a Master of Pharmacy degree or a doctorate in pharmacy, followed by a preregistration year/internship. Once registered, pharmacists undertake lifelong learning to maintain their specialisms. - Consistency
Pharmacists are one of the most accessible healthcare professionals – working in premises that operate for longer working hours than many other healthcare facilities. In this way, they offer a sense of caring stability to a community.
How does good documentation increase trust?
Implementation of good documentation practices for pharmaceutical products aims to facilitate compliance with good manufacturing practices and regulatory bodies. Verbal or casually written communication could prove to be ambiguous and ambiguity in medical situations – especially where dosages or reactions to medicines are concerned – can be fraught with danger. Healthcare professionals are best empowered to provide safe and effective care when the documentation is clear and concise.
Ensuring safe medicine distribution worldwide
Pharmaceutical documentation is carefully written to ensure that it clearly communicates the relevant information. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) regulates medicines, medical devices and blood components for transfusion in the UK. It provides guidance on formatting, language and headings for all documentation. Reading and applying these regulatory standards is a skill that writers and researchers develop over many years.
Translating complex documents into other languages is a very sophisticated process. It is vital to adhere to the regulatory standards in both the distribution country, as well as of the country of manufacture.
Why trust Albion Languages
At Albion Languages, we aim to ensure our health sector clients have a high level of trust in our service and support.
- Positive relationships
Our team has a genuine interest in your business. We take the time to listen to your needs, establish meaningful connections and build positive relationships. - Competency/expertise
To qualify as a language specialist, it takes – on average – 4-6 years. Once qualified, our experts ensure that they are constantly honing their skills and really take the time to become experts in your area of business. - Consistency
We will pair you with the most suitable member of our team, who will already be highly skilled in your area and will then stay on your account to ensure you receive a consistently high level of service.
We know what it takes to produce accurate, professional translations of medical documentation and records. If you want to work with specialists you can trust, then speak to the experts at Albion Languages.