A medical information specialist (MIS) is a medical affairs professional employed within a pharmaceutical company to actively bridge the knowledge gap surrounding their product by providing answers to inquiries from both the medical community and the general public.
In order to reactively respond to external product questions, many pharmaceutical companies have informational call centers staffed with MISs. They serve as the experts on the product to both healthcare professionals (HCPs) and consumers who may have questions. These requests may include questions on dosing, drug interactions, and use in specific patient populations, and are answered with concise, accurate, and non-promotional data so that the HCP can decide whether the product can be used safely and effectively for their specific patient. This requires that MISs be able to understand and translate complex scientific information into digestible content that can be utilized by the user. While answering questions for HCPs may require a comprehensive literature search for the appropriate information, answering questions for consumers may only be through using data from the product’s prescribing information and referring the consumer to their HCP for further information.
Most communication can be done through live telephone calls, but there are other avenues where communication takes place, such as emails, letters, or video chats. As such, MISs must possess strong oral and written communication skills that consider phone etiquette and active listening. Once a call has been responded to, proper documentation that complies with regulatory and legal demands is necessary. The electronic data management system that is used to document these calls can provide metrics on the types of requests and requestors so that a standard response letter can be drafted to be used in future similar requests.
In addition to answering requests, MISs also act to gather adverse event information and product quality complaints. They routinely attend medical congresses and scientific meetings to disseminate product information at the face-to-face level. Depending on the company, they may also assist with publication planning, product dossier development, and promotional review committees. Because MISs interact with the literature surrounding their product at a comprehensive level, they are able to provide training sessions to other company employees, such as medical science liaisons (MSLs) and sales representatives to ensure their interaction with HCPs are informative and insightful.
MISs are crucial in the communication of product information to the prescribers who have the power to give it to the individuals that need it. By engaging in multiple data dissemination efforts by the pharmaceutical company, they are able to ensure that the medical community and consumers are equipped with accurate information to drive decisions.
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