Don't use jargon or specialized language that your reader might not understand. 

If you have to use a specialized term, explain briefly what it means, in parentheses. For example: "Patients have the right to make decisions about their bodily integrity (autonomy) and to have access to unbiased and accurate information about relevant medical issues and treatments."

The above quote is from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia's Professional Standards and Guidelines: Medical Assistance in Dying, a good example of a document for a professional audience that is written in plain language.

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Telehealth technology will help doctors build capacity to provide . . .

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Telecommunications technology will help doctors provide . . .  

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Flush your central venous catheter twice a week with saline or heparin to keep it patent.

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Flush your central venous catheter twice a week with saline or heparin to keep it clear of obstructions.

We would like to ensure that we are prepared to implement the necessary steps required to control an outbreak of an infectious disease that represents a risk to patients, employees and others associated with our clinics.

Acronyms

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Appointments can be made at locations across the province.

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You can make an appointment at any location across the province.

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Routine screening mammograms are recommended every year. Patients will be recalled every year. A health care provider’s referral is not required.

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The Ministry of Health recommends that women get a routine screening mammogram every year. Once a woman is registered, the Screening Mammography Program will recall her for a mammogram every year. Women do not need a referral from a health-care provider to get a mammogram.

As a general rule, recast a list of three or more items in a sentence as a list. Don’t number the items unless the list is a sequence. 

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The video is available in English, 繁體中文 (Mandarin, traditional characters), 简体中文 (Mandarin, simplified characters), ਪੰਜਾਬੀ (Punjabi) and tiếng Việt (Vietnamese).

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The video is available in several languages:

• English
  
• 繁體中文 (Mandarin, traditional characters)
  
• 简体中文 (Mandarin, simplified characters)
  
• ਪੰਜਾਬੀ (Punjabi)
  
• tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)
  

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Our current strategic directions: 1) to become better able to transform laboratory data to useful health information, 2) to strengthen our network to support public health initiatives and 3) to establish collaborate and productive relationships with other laboratories across the province

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Our current strategic directions: 

• to become better able to transform laboratory data to useful health information
  
• to strengthen our network to support public health initiatives
  
• to establish collaborate and productive relationships with other laboratories across the province
  

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The program has a Punjabi phone line at 604-877-6163 on which you can leave a voicemail message for someone to return your call (calls are only returned on Fridays between 10:00 AM and 12:00 PM). In addition, Chinese-speaking booking clerks are often available at 1-800-663-9203. If one is unavailable to take your call, you will be asked if someone can translate on your behalf, or to call back when translation assistance is available. You can also ask a family member or friend to help you with the call. 

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The program has a Punjabi phone line at 604-877-6163 on which you can leave a voicemail message for someone to return your call (calls are only returned on Fridays between 10:00 AM and 12:00 PM). 

In addition, Chinese-speaking booking clerks are often available at 1-800-663-9203. If one is unavailable to take your call, you will be asked if someone can translate on your behalf, or to call back when translation assistance is available. 

You can also ask a family member or friend to help you with the call. 

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We are watching the development of these tools, and although they will require scientific validation before they can be used, they could provide women with an accurate measure of breast density in the future, at which time we would look to implement a system provincially.

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We are watching the development of these tools. Although they will require scientific validation before they can be used, if they are validated they could provide women with an accurate measure of breast density in the future.  At that time, we would look to implement a system provincially.

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The Environmental Microbiology Program provides an integrated service that provides expert consultation and testing.

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The Environmental Microbiology Program is an integrated service that provides expert consultation and testing.

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Decision tool

Our Decision Tool is now available to support women in making an informed decision to screen for breast cancer using mammography. Complete this short online form to get a personalized report.

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Don’t know if you should get a mammogram?

Our short online form can help you decide. 

Be specific and concrete rather than vague and abstract, and avoid empty words and phrases

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We have a number of handouts and materials in several languages including Chinese and Punjabi.

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We have clinic brochures and patient handouts on childhood diseases. These are available in English, French, Mandarin (Traditional and Simplified), Punjabi and Farsi.

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Key policy recommendations include:

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The main policy recommendations are:

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Screening mammograms are considered the international gold standard for detecting breast cancer early.

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Screening mammograms have been proven to detect breast cancer early.

Don’t use strings of nouns as adjectives, or use several adjectives in a row.

Readers have trouble picking out the important word in a phrase when a string of nouns or several adjectives in a row comes before it. 

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You need a health-care provider’s referral . . .

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You need a referral from a health care provider . . .

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Our province-wide collaborative laboratory network provides services . . . 

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Our laboratory network provides services collaboratively across the province . . .

Making constructions parallel means being consistent in your grammatical approach. 

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• Unit clerk
  
• Patient and family counselling services
  
• Volunteers
  

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• Unit clerks
  
• Patient and family counsellors
  
• Volunteers
  

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Volunteers enhance the quality of care for patients and complementing the role of the staff . . .

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Volunteers enhance the quality of care for patients and complement the role of the staff . . . 

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Unit clerk

The unit clerk supports the operation of . . .

They efficiently and accurately transcribe physician orders . . .

Unit clerk: Liasing with other departments and programs . . .  

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Unit clerks

Unit clerks support the operation of . . .

They efficiently and accurately transcribe physician orders . . .

Unit clerks liaise with other departments and programs . . .  

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Respiratory therapists 

Respiratory therapists are responsible for administering diagnostic lung function tests and of procedures to restore optimal use of your lungs.

Volunteers

Volunteers at BC Cancer are here to help support the experience of patients and family members during their cancer journey.

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Respiratory therapists 

Respiratory therapists administer diagnostic lung function tests and conduct procedures to restore optimal use of your lungs.

Volunteers

Volunteers at BC Cancer support the experience of patients and family members during their cancer journey.