What Does a Medical Advisor Do?

Medical advisors are healthcare professionals who provide advice and guidance to other medical professionals. They commonly work in hospitals or other clinical settings, but they may also be employed by pharmaceutical companies or other organizations that rely on medical expertise.

Medical advisors typically have a background in the field of medicine. This might include training as a physician, nurse practitioner, or other related health professional. In some cases, they may even hold an academic degree in a relevant subject area such as public health or epidemiology.

Medical Advisor Job Duties

A medical advisor typically has a wide range of responsibilities, which can include:

• Providing advice regarding treatment plans for patients including prescription medications, surgery, and other treatment options
• Counseling patients on matters such as lifestyle changes that can help manage chronic conditions or illnesses
• Conducting research or developing new treatments for diseases and conditions
• Writing reports about clinical trials for possible new treatments or drugs, based on results from study participants
• Providing health care services directly to patients by performing physical examinations, ordering lab tests, and prescribing medications
• Reviewing healthcare facilities’ policies and procedures to ensure compliance with state and federal laws
• Reviewing and interpreting diagnostic test results to determine appropriate treatment plans
• Recommending preventative care measures to reduce the risk of illness or injury
• Educating patients about their diagnosis and treatment options, and answering questions about their condition

Medical Advisor Salary & Outlook

Medical advisors’ salaries vary depending on their level of education, years of experience, and the type of company they work for.

• Median Annual Salary: $125,000 ($60.1/hour)
• Top 10% Annual Salary: $495,000 ($237.98/hour)

The employment of medical advisors is expected to grow much faster than average over the next decade.

Demand for healthcare services will increase as the large baby-boom population ages and people continue to live longer. As these individuals require more medical care, demand for medical advisors will increase.

Related: 17 Medical Advisor Interview Questions and Answers

Medical Advisor Job Requirements

A medical advisor typically needs to have the following qualifications:

Education: Medical advisors are typically required to have a bachelor’s degree in a health-related field, such as biology, pre-medicine or pre-pharmacy. Some of the coursework that these degrees offer includes anatomy, physiology, biology, chemistry and pharmacology.

Some employers may prefer or require a master’s degree in health administration, health services administration or health care administration. These programs typically take two years to complete and include coursework in health care management, health care finance, health care law and ethics.

Training & Experience: Medical advisors typically receive on-the-job training from their new employer. This training may include shadowing another medical advisor or a member of the medical team, such as a nurse or physician. The training may also include learning about the organization’s policies and procedures, computer systems and patient files.

Certifications & Licenses: After getting a medical license, you can advertise yourself as a medical advisor or a physician advisor.

Medical Advisor Skills

Medical advisors need the following skills in order to be successful:

Medical knowledge: Medical knowledge is the ability to understand medical terminology and procedures. Medical advisors need to have a strong understanding of medical practices and procedures to be able to answer questions and provide advice to patients. Medical knowledge can also help you to identify potential health risks and offer preventative care.

Communication skills: Medical advisors often communicate with patients and colleagues through email, phone calls and in-person conversations. Effective communication skills can help you convey information clearly and answer questions effectively. Medical advisors may also communicate with patients’ families and loved ones, so it’s important to be able to communicate effectively with others.

Customer service: Customer service skills can help you interact with patients and their families. Medical advisors often work with patients to help them understand their health conditions and treatment options. You can use your customer service skills to help patients feel comfortable and confident in your advice.

Problem-solving: Medical advisors often solve problems for patients, such as by recommending a treatment plan or explaining how to manage a condition. They may also solve problems for their organization, such as by finding a solution to a high patient turnover rate or a shortage of medical supplies. Problem-solving skills can help you find solutions to challenges and improve your workplace.

Business acumen: Medical advisors may use business acumen to help their employers develop strategies for their medical practices. For example, they may suggest ways to increase patient numbers or implement new procedures to increase revenue. Medical advisors with business acumen may also use this skill to help their employers find new ways to save money or improve their business’s efficiency.

Medical Advisor Work Environment

Medical advisors work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, clinics, private practices, and research laboratories. They may also travel to meet with clients or attend conferences. Most work full time, and some may work more than 40 hours per week. Medical advisors typically work regular business hours, although they may need to work evenings or weekends to meet with clients or attend conferences. They may also work overtime to complete reports or proposals. Medical advisors may experience a high level of stress because of the nature of their work. They may deal with life-and-death situations and must be able to make quick, decisions. They also may be required to work with difficult clients or patients.

Medical Advisor Trends

Here are three trends influencing how medical advisors work. Medical advisors will need to stay up-to-date on these developments to keep their skills relevant and maintain a competitive advantage in the workplace.

The Growth of Telemedicine

The growth of telemedicine is a trend that is quickly changing the medical industry. With the help of technology, patients can now see doctors and other medical professionals without having to leave their homes.

This trend is creating new opportunities for medical advisors who are able to provide services through telemedicine. By doing so, they can reach a wider range of patients and help them get the care they need.

More Focus on Preventative Care

As health care costs continue to rise, more and more emphasis is being placed on preventive care. This means that medical advisors will need to focus on helping patients stay healthy and avoid getting sick in the first place.

By developing relationships with patients and educating them about how to stay healthy, medical advisors can play an important role in helping to keep health care costs down. In addition, they can also help patients understand the importance of following up with their doctor after seeing them.

Patient Engagement Will Be Key

As patient engagement becomes more important in healthcare, medical advisors will need to adapt their strategies to meet the needs of patients.

Medical advisors will need to be able to communicate effectively with patients in order to understand what they want from their healthcare experience. They will also need to be able to provide information that is easy to understand and helps patients make informed decisions about their care.

How to Become a Medical Advisor

A medical advisor career can be very rewarding. It offers the opportunity to help people and make a difference in their lives. However, it’s important to consider all aspects of this career before embarking on it.

One of the most important things to think about is where you want to work. Do you want to work for a private practice, a hospital, or a clinic? Each setting has its own unique culture and requirements. You should also consider what type of specialty you want to focus on. There are many different specialties within medicine, such as cardiology, oncology, or radiology.

It’s also important to have a strong understanding of the latest medical developments and treatments. This can be achieved by reading journals and attending conferences.

Advancement Prospects

Medical advisors typically have a medical degree and several years of experience working as a doctor or another medical professional. Some medical advisors move into this role from a related position, such as medical writing or pharmaceutical sales. To advance in this career, medical advisors can pursue additional training and education, such as a fellowship or a master’s degree. They can also become certified by a professional organization, such as the American Board of Medical Advisors. Medical advisors with management experience may be promoted to positions such as medical director or vice president of medical affairs.

Medical Advisor Job Description Example

The Medical Advisor will be responsible for providing expert medical and scientific input to support the development, registration and commercialization of [CompanyX]’s products in assigned therapeutic area(s). The Medical Advisor will collaborate with other functions within the company to ensure that the products are developed and positioned in accordance with their therapeutic value and the needs of the target patient population. The Medical Advisor will also be responsible for developing and maintaining relationships with key opinion leaders and other external experts to ensure that [CompanyX] is kept up-to-date on the latest developments in the assigned therapeutic area(s).

Duties & Responsibilities

• Understand and keep up to date with the latest medical research in your field of expertise
• Attend medical conferences and events to network with other professionals and learn about new developments
• Advise pharmaceutical companies on the development of new drugs and treatments
• Write reports and papers on your findings and present them at conferences
• Work with marketing teams to develop educational materials for doctors and patients
• Train sales staff on the features and benefits of new products
• Give lectures and presentations to groups of doctors and other healthcare professionals
• Answer queries from doctors and patients about new drugs and treatments
• Keep abreast of changes in government policy and regulations that may affect the work of pharmaceutical companies
• Conduct clinical trials of new drugs and treatments
• Analyze data from clinical trials to assess the efficacy of new drugs and treatments
• Write scientific papers on the results of clinical trials

Required Skills and Qualifications

• Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree
• Completion of accredited residency program
• Board certified in specialty area
• Eligible for medical licensure in the state of practice
• 5+ years clinical experience in relevant specialty area
• Excellent communication, writing, and presentation skills

Preferred Skills and Qualifications

• Fellowship training in relevant specialty area
• Previous experience working as a medical advisor or similar role
• Experience with clinical research
• Teaching experience at the medical school level
• Active participation in relevant professional organizations