Why writing a report is based on your reader

Whenever you sit down to prepare a report, think about your audience. Who is going to read this report? What are his or her needs, level of understanding of medicine, and objectives? Writing a report is based on the needs of your reader – address each of these points.

Ask yourself, “What do I want my reader to do, think or believe as a result of reading my report?” Do you want your reader to

• understand how the medical literature supports or refutes the attorney’s theory of the case? A summary of the medical literature, accompanied by highlighted articles would be effective.
• get a fast overview of the facts of the case? A timeline will serve this purpose. Writing a report in Word, TimeMap, Adobe Illustrator or other programs is effective.
• be able to compare one set of facts to another, such as what various witnesses testified about? A table with parallel columns may work well. Use Word to create this, and consider a column that identifies the medical record page number.
• understand your opinion and analysis of liability, causation or damages? An opinion and analysis report would be best. This could be an expert witness report or a screening report.
• be able to see the details of care? A medical summary would convey symptoms and treatment.
• understand the plaintiff’s medical treatment? A chronology would provide the details of care. Writign a report in Word or CaseMap is helpful.
• identify the care providers? A cast of characters

listing would assist the attorney in keeping the who’s who straight

• detail the plaintiff’s pain and suffering? A Federal Rule of Evidence 1006 report provides a detailed description of what the plaintiff went through.