Medical Transcription Vs. Medical Coding

Medical transcription involves transcribing lab reports, clinical notes or other medical information as dictated by medical personnel. Medical coding is translating descriptions of diseases, injuries and other medical conditions into numeric or alphanumeric codes to accommodate the medical billing process.

Qualifications

Medical coding and medical transcription require a high school diploma or GED.

Working conditions

Medical coders and transcriptionists can work in doctors offices, clinics and, of course, hospitals. They often work side-by-side. The transcriptionist ensures the notes of the medical personnel are understandable while the coder ensures that the coding necessary for billing insurance organizations are entered correctly.

Salary

Medical transcriptionists begin at $8 to $12 hour while medical coders begin at $14 per hour, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. With several years of experience transcriptionists can expect to make $15 to $40 per hour and coders can make upwards of $23 per hour.

Job Opportunities

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for medical transcriptionists and coders is good.

Classes

Medical coding and transcription can be learned from home (online or correspondence) or in the traditional classroom setting. The length of the courses can be four months to a year or more, depending upon the curriculum.

References

• Medical Transcription FAQs
• American Health Information Management Association; Coding

Resources

• American Academy of Professional Coders
• Medical Transcription Daily