Medical Transcription Vs. Medical Coding

In the medical transcription field, you will be transcribing clinical notes, lab reports and other medical info that was dictated by a health care professional. In the field of medical coding, you will be required to translate the descriptions of injuries, treatments and other conditions into codes made up of numeric and alphanumeric symbols. These codes are inputted into insurance claims for the medical billing process.

Qualifications

To get into the field of medical coding and medical transcription, you will need to obtain a high school diploma or GED.



Working Conditions

There are a variety of places a medical coder and medical transcriptionist can work, such as clinics, doctors' offices, hospitals and in some cases, at home. The two positions sometimes work side by side. The role of the medical transcriptionist is to ensure that the medical personnel's notes are understandable and then the medial coder makes sure that the proper codes are used for the billing to insurance agencies.

Salary

The average hourly salary for medical transcriptionists is between $8 and $12. Then the starting rate for medical coders is at $14. With a couple years experience, a medical transcriber can earn between $15 and $40 an hour; and medical coders can make up to $23 an hour.

Job Opportunities

The job outlook for the two fields is said to be very good.

Classes

You are able to learn medical coding and transcription at home, using online training, or you can go to a physical school. The time it takes to complete the courses can take anywhere between four months to a year or more.