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💡 Why Root Cause Analysis Makes You a Smarter CME Writer

Hi Reader!

Root Cause Analysis (RCA) might sound like a systems engineering tool (and it is), but it’s also one of the most strategic approaches you can use in CME writing.

In our May WriteCME Pro coaching, we used RCA tools like the Five Whys and Fishbone diagrams to strengthen needs assessments.

What happened?

Gaps became clearer, more nuanced, and more actionable. Learning objectives practically wrote themselves. And most importantly, educational design became a precision tool—not a generic patch.

Here’s why RCA is a game-changer:

1. Descriptive ≠ Diagnostic

“Clinicians lack confidence” isn’t a root cause—it’s a red flag. RCA helps us interrogate these red flags:

• Why do clinicians lack confidence?
• Because of unclear protocols?
• Because they weren’t trained in shared decision-making?
• Because previous attempts failed with certain patient subgroups?

The Five Whys technique moves you from assumptions to insights. And that’s what makes your needs assessment credible and compelling—not just to reviewers, but to the education planning team you’re partnering with.

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2. CME Is Not a Cure-All

As you’ll read in Chapter 5 of WriteCME Roadmap, not every gap is educational. Some are environmental (time, tools, staffing), systemic (workflow breakdowns), or cultural (hierarchy, bias). RCA distinguishes what education can fix from what it cannot. That’s a powerful clarity to bring into every project.

👉 In fact, seasoned CME strategists use RCA-style thinking instinctively when they ask: “What’s the actual barrier here?” That mindset can—and should—start with writers too.

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3. Better Analysis → Better Business

As I note in Chapter 9 of WriteCME Roadmap, clients value writers who can go beyond summarizing articles.

🎯 When you can clearly link an educational need to its true root cause, you stand out to clients. That’s how you move from freelancer to trusted collaborator. And that’s exactly what we teach—and practice—inside WriteCME Pro.

🛠 Want to Try This?

Here’s a quick prompt to practice:

📘 Bonus Resource

In WriteCME Roadmap, Chapter 5 walks you through the education planning process—and how root cause analysis aligns with systems thinking and the ADDIE model. If you’re looking to strengthen your diagnostic muscle as a writer, start there.

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Alexandra Howson PhD, CHCP, FACEhp is a writer, researcher, and podcaster who shares her deep expertise in health care and education with new-to-the-field or CME-curious professionals to help them create educational content with confidence. She hosts Write Medicine, the premier podcast for CME/CPD professionals like you, wherever you are in the content creation process. Alex runs WriteCME Pro and teaches on the Professional Education Program in Medical Writing and Editing at the University of Chicago.

Connect with Alex | alex@alexhowson.com | 415.374.9757

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WriteCME Roadmap

$24.99

Even if you have no prior experience or connections in the field, you can achieve success in continuing medical education (CME). Written by an expert with decades of experience as a nurse, academic, and CME professional, this book provides a comprehensive roadmap to help you navigate the complex landscape of CME and establish yourself as a skilled professional in the field.

Buy Now

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