Medical Transcription vs. Medical Coding How to tell which one is right for you! |
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| So, you’re ready to begin your new career as a valuable professional medical transcriptionist or medical coder but you’re not sure which career path is right for you. Use our easy to understand career comparison chart to see where each career will take you; and how long it will take to get there. |
| Medical Transcription |
New Student
Enroll 1/1/2009 |
Graduate
2/1/2010 |
Year 2
by 2/1/2012 |
Year 5
by 2/1/2015 |
| Pay |
N/A |
$10–$15 per hour
(Varies according to location and responsibilities) |
$15–$19 per hour |
$20+ per hour |
| Job Type |
N/A |
Editing Transcripts from home |
Transcribing |
Transcription manager, trainer, educator |
| Competency Requirements |
- Minimum typing speed of 45 wpm
- Proven skills in English usage, grammar, punctuation, style, spelling, and editing
- Excellent eye, hand, and auditory coordination
- Ability to operate word processing equipment, with outstanding knowledge of MS Word
- Ability to work under pressure with time constraints
- Ability to concentrate
- Excellent listening skills
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- Basic knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, disease processes, signs and symptoms, medications, and laboratory values
- Knowledge of specialty (or specialties) as appropriate
- Knowledge of medical transcription guidelines and practices
- Proven skills in English usage, grammar, punctuation, style, and editing
- Ability to use designated professional reference materials
- Ability to operate word processing equipment, dictation and transcription equipment, and other equipment as specified
- Ability to work under pressure with time constraints
- Ability to concentrate
- Excellent listening skills
- Excellent eye, hand, and auditory coordination
- Ability to understand and apply relevant legal concepts (e.g., confidentiality)
- Registered medical transcriptionists (RMT) status preferred
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- Exceptional knowledge of medical terminology and anatomy & physiology
- Proven business skills (scheduling work, purchasing, client relations, and billing)
- Ability to understand and apply legal concepts
- Ability to work independently with little or no supervision
- Acute care transcription experience at increasing levels of difficulty
- Certified Medical Transcriptionist preferred (CMT)
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- Minimum 5 years experience
- Continuing education, and/or degree
- Certified Medical Transcriptionist (CMT)
- Registered Health Information Technologist (RHIT)
- Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA)
- Acute care transcription experience
- Trainer/supervisor/ educator
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| Coding Program |
New Student
Enroll 1/1/2009 |
Graduate
8/1/2009 |
Year 2
by 8/1/2011 |
Year 5
by 8/1/2014 |
| Pay |
N/A |
$10–$18 per hour
Varies according to location (inpatient, outpatient, remote) |
$18–$27 per hour (Varies according to job title and responsibilities) |
$36+ per hour |
| Job Type |
N/A |
Coding in a physician/outpatient practice, hospital internship |
Coding remote from home, hospital or any healthcare environment, office manager, cancer registry, specialty practice |
HIM manager, director, RHIA, CCS, CCS-P, CPC, office manager, trainer, educator, business owner, consultant, auditor |
| Competency Requirements |
- Good analytical abilities
- Basic math skills
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- Advanced knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, disease processes, signs and symptoms, medications, and laboratory values
- Extremely familiar with physician based coding
- Proficient in CPT and ICD-9-CM coding, outpatient
- Basic understanding of reimbursement principles
- Familiar with computer healthcare software applications
- HIPAA trained
- Ability to concentrate
- Ability to understand and apply relevant legal concepts (e.g., confidentiality)
- Certified Coding Associate, (CCA), AHIMA
- Certified Professional Coder, Associate, (CPC-A), AAPC
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- Ability to code CPT, ICD-9-CM, APC, DRG, outpatient and inpatient coding
- Ability to understand and apply coding guidelines
- Ability to work independently with little or no supervision
- Acute care coding experience at increasing levels of difficulty(operative reports)
- Ability to abstract from patient records
- CPC, CCS, CCS-P, RHIT
- Continuing education, prefer Associate Degree
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- Continuing education, and/or degree, BS or Masters
- Acute care coding with ability to abstract data, experience w/ RAC
- Business management and supervisory skills
- CCS, CCS-P, CPC or specialty certification
- Registered Health Information Technologist (RHIT)
- Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA)
- Trainer, supervisor, educator, program director, business owner, auditor
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