Medical Scribe Certification vs. Medical Coding Certification: What's the Difference?
In the ever-evolving healthcare industry, there are a variety of career paths available that cater to individuals interested in administrative, technical, or clinical roles. Two such roles that often get confused are medical scribes and medical coders. While both are crucial to the smooth operation of healthcare facilities, they serve different purposes. In this blog post, we’ll dive deep into the key differences between medical scribing and medical coding, compare career prospects, discuss salary differences, and provide guidance on how to choose the right certification based on your goals.
By the end of this post, you’ll have a clearer idea of which certification aligns with your career aspirations.
Key Differences Between Medical Scribing and Coding
While both medical scribes and medical coders work in healthcare settings, their duties and responsibilities differ significantly, and each role plays a vital part in maintaining the flow of healthcare operations. Understanding these differences will help you make an informed decision about which career path best suits your interests and professional goals.
Related Blog: What is the difference between medical scribing and coding?
Medical Scribe:
Role: A medical scribe serves as the doctor’s right-hand in documenting patient visits, ensuring that every detail of the consultation is accurately recorded in the patient's medical history. Their primary task is to transcribe the verbal notes dictated by physicians during patient consultations, including patient histories, physical examinations, diagnoses, lab results, and any medical procedures performed. This real-time documentation helps reduce the physician's administrative burden, allowing them to focus on patient care rather than writing notes.
The role of a medical scribe extends beyond simple transcription. They are required to be highly familiar with medical terminology and the different procedures within the healthcare setting. Scribes also assist with updating patient information in Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems, ensuring that all data is up to date and complies with healthcare standards and regulations.
Work Environment: Medical scribes typically work in environments that are directly involved in patient care, such as hospitals, clinics, outpatient centers, and even urgent care facilities. Unlike many administrative roles, scribes work closely with healthcare providers, especially physicians, during patient consultations. They often have direct exposure to various aspects of patient care and medical practices, providing a dynamic work environment. In some cases, scribes may also work remotely, particularly in settings where telehealth consultations are performed, but this is less common.
Key Skills: To succeed as a medical scribe, individuals must possess a diverse skill set, including:
Strong Typing Skills: Speed and accuracy are essential as scribes need to document information quickly during patient consultations.
Knowledge of Medical Terminology: An in-depth understanding of medical terms is necessary for accurately transcribing and documenting physician notes.
Attention to Detail: Precision is critical to ensure all medical details are recorded accurately.
Multitasking: Medical scribes must juggle multiple tasks, such as listening to a physician’s instructions while simultaneously documenting and organizing information.
Familiarity with EHR Systems: Most scribes are proficient in using electronic health record (EHR) software to input, update, and retrieve patient data.
Medical Coder:
Role: A medical coder, on the other hand, works in a more behind-the-scenes capacity but plays a crucial role in ensuring that healthcare providers get paid for their services. The primary responsibility of a medical coder is to assign standardized codes to diagnoses, treatments, procedures, and services that were provided to patients. These codes are essential for medical billing and insurance claims, as they help insurance companies determine reimbursement for medical services.
Coders must accurately interpret and apply codes based on the physician’s documentation, whether it’s for outpatient, inpatient, or specialist visits. The codes used by medical coders typically come from various coding systems, such as ICD-10 (International Classification of Diseases), CPT (Current Procedural Terminology), and HCPCS (Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System). Coders ensure that the documentation provided by the physician matches the correct code, ensuring compliance with insurance company guidelines and government regulations.
Work Environment: Medical coders usually work in office settings and often work within hospitals, outpatient care centers, or medical billing companies. With the rise of remote work, many medical coders now have the flexibility to work from home or as freelancers. While the role is less likely to involve direct patient interaction, it requires a deep understanding of healthcare procedures and insurance practices. Coders are typically responsible for processing the documentation and ensuring it’s submitted for reimbursement purposes, all while maintaining confidentiality and compliance with privacy laws like HIPAA.
Key Skills: The role of a medical coder demands a specialized skill set to ensure that coding is accurate and compliant with regulations:
Expertise in Coding Systems: Coders must be proficient in using coding systems like ICD-10, CPT, and HCPCS to ensure correct coding for diagnoses, procedures, and services.
Attention to Detail: Coders need to scrutinize medical documentation carefully to ensure that every aspect of the treatment provided is properly coded.
Strong Understanding of Healthcare Billing Practices: Knowledge of insurance rules, billing practices, and reimbursement procedures is necessary for a medical coder.
Analytical Thinking: Coders must interpret medical records and apply the right codes, even when faced with complex or ambiguous documentation.
Organizational Skills: Coders often work with multiple patient records and must keep everything well-organized to meet deadlines and ensure accuracy.
Career Prospects for Each Certification
Both medical scribe and medical coding certifications provide excellent career opportunities, but they offer different career paths, job responsibilities, and work environments. These distinctions can play a major role in deciding which certification is right for you, depending on your long-term career goals and professional preferences. Here’s a deeper look at the career prospects for each:
Medical Scribe Career Prospects:
Job Demand: The demand for medical scribes has been steadily rising, largely driven by the adoption of Electronic Health Records (EHRs) and the increasing push for efficiency in healthcare settings. Medical scribes help physicians document patient information in real time, allowing doctors to focus more on patient care rather than administrative tasks. This shift has made scribes an invaluable part of the healthcare system, ensuring accurate and timely documentation, which is critical in today’s fast-paced medical environments.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the field of medical transcription and scribing is growing at a faster-than-average rate, with more healthcare providers looking to hire scribes to improve workflow efficiency. As healthcare organizations continue to adopt advanced digital tools like EHRs, the role of the medical scribe becomes even more integral, ensuring that healthcare teams can work efficiently and maintain the quality of patient care.
Career Path: For those who start out as medical scribes, there are various pathways for career advancement. Many scribes transition into roles such as medical office managers or medical assistants, where they take on more responsibility in overseeing office operations and assisting with patient care. With additional training or certifications, medical scribes can also move into healthcare administration or clinical roles, such as becoming physician assistants, nurses, or healthcare managers.
Another potential career path for medical scribes is working as a clinical coordinator, overseeing the daily operations of medical practices or departments. Some experienced scribes may also move into medical research or data management, where their detailed knowledge of patient care processes and medical documentation can be valuable.
Job Settings: Medical scribes are employed across various healthcare settings. The most common work environments for scribes include:
Hospitals: Scribes often work alongside physicians in hospital settings, supporting busy medical teams in documenting patient interactions.
Private Practices: Smaller medical practices may also hire scribes to help manage patient records and improve the physician’s efficiency.
Urgent Care Centers: With a high volume of patients requiring immediate care, urgent care centers often rely on scribes to manage fast-paced documentation.
Medical Group Practices: Larger medical practices that offer a variety of healthcare services may employ scribes to ensure that all patient records are up-to-date and properly documented.
Medical Coding Career Prospects:
Job Demand: The demand for medical coders continues to rise, driven by the increasing complexity of healthcare systems and the need for precise billing. As healthcare transitions to value-based care (where healthcare providers are reimbursed based on patient outcomes rather than the number of services provided), the demand for skilled medical coders has grown significantly. The increase in the number of insured individuals, along with changes in healthcare legislation and policy, means there is a higher demand for accurate coding to ensure proper billing and insurance reimbursement.
According to the BLS, the medical coding profession is expected to grow by about 8% by 2025, which is faster than the average growth rate for other occupations. This growth is driven by the ongoing changes in healthcare practices and the increasing need for medical billing and coding specialists to manage the administrative tasks associated with insurance claims, medical reimbursements, and patient data management.
Career Path: For medical coders, career advancement opportunities are robust, particularly for those with certifications and a strong understanding of the various coding systems. Many certified medical coders advance to supervisory positions, such as coding supervisors or billing managers, where they oversee teams of coders and ensure that coding practices are accurate and compliant with healthcare regulations.
With additional experience, medical coders can also move into medical compliance roles or become auditors, ensuring that healthcare organizations are following all the necessary regulations and guidelines. For those with a more entrepreneurial spirit, medical coders can even start their own medical coding businesses, providing coding services to hospitals, clinics, or insurance companies.
Certified coders who specialize in specific areas of medical coding—such as oncology coding, orthopedic coding, or inpatient coding—can further differentiate themselves in the job market and command higher salaries due to the specialized nature of their skills.
Job Settings: Medical coders work in a variety of settings, offering flexibility in where they can pursue their careers. Some of the most common work environments for coders include:
Hospitals: Many hospitals employ medical coders to handle billing for the services provided in different departments, including inpatient and outpatient care.
Physician Offices: Smaller clinics and physician offices often employ coders to manage billing for consultations, treatments, and medical procedures.
Insurance Companies: Insurance providers rely on medical coders to process claims, ensuring that medical services are properly documented and paid for according to insurance policies.
Freelance or Self-Employed: Many medical coders choose to work as independent contractors or freelancers, providing coding services to various healthcare providers remotely.
Education Requirements and Job Responsibilities
Both medical scribe and medical coding certifications require specialized education and training, but the paths diverge in terms of formal education, certification requirements, and job responsibilities. Below is a more detailed look at the education and job duties for each role.
Medical Scribe Education Requirements:
Formal Education: To become a medical scribe, there are no strict formal education requirements, but most employers prefer candidates who have completed some college coursework in healthcare-related fields, such as health information management, medical assisting, or biomedical sciences. Having a basic understanding of human anatomy, physiology, and medical terminology is highly recommended, as it helps scribes understand and document clinical notes accurately. While a high school diploma may suffice for entry-level positions, pursuing higher education can significantly improve job prospects.
Certification: Certification for medical scribes is not mandatory, but it can be a valuable asset for individuals seeking employment in a competitive job market. Certification programs like the ACMSO medical scribe certification can enhance a candidate’s employability by demonstrating a thorough understanding of medical documentation practices. These certification programs typically teach essential skills, such as proper documentation during patient visits, the ability to understand medical terminology, and proficiency in using Electronic Health Records (EHR) systems. With certification, medical scribes can show prospective employers that they have the competency to support healthcare professionals effectively.
Medical Coding Education Requirements:
Formal Education: In contrast, medical coding typically requires more formal education. Most medical coders hold a postsecondary certificate or an associate degree in health information management, medical coding, or a related field. These programs generally cover the principles of medical coding, billing procedures, and healthcare law, with a focus on coding systems such as ICD-10, CPT, and HCPCS. Medical coding programs are designed to give students the tools to interpret medical documentation and accurately assign appropriate codes for diagnoses, procedures, and services. These educational programs may also include an internship or hands-on experience working with coding software.
Certification: Unlike medical scribes, certification is essential for medical coders. The most widely recognized and respected certification is the Certified Professional Coder (CPC) credential, offered by the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC). To earn this certification, candidates must pass an exam that tests their knowledge of coding practices, healthcare regulations, and insurance claims. Other specialized certifications are available, including those for specific types of coding, such as inpatient coding or oncology coding, which can increase a coder’s career opportunities and earning potential.
Job Responsibilities Comparison:
Medical Scribe Responsibilities: The primary responsibility of a medical scribe is to document patient visits in real time, assisting healthcare providers by recording patient histories, physical exams, lab results, diagnoses, and treatment plans during consultations. Scribes ensure that all clinical notes are accurate, complete, and properly filed in the EHR system. They act as a support system for doctors, allowing physicians to focus more on patient care and less on administrative tasks. A scribe must be familiar with medical terminology and procedures to ensure accurate documentation. Their role often requires multitasking, as they must type quickly while also listening attentively to physicians during patient interactions.
Medical Coder Responsibilities: In contrast, medical coders focus on reviewing medical records and translating diagnoses and procedures into standardized codes. These codes are then used for insurance billing, reimbursement, and reporting. Coders must thoroughly understand the medical documentation to apply the correct codes, ensuring that the healthcare provider is reimbursed accurately. Coders work with a variety of coding systems like ICD-10 for diagnoses and CPT for medical procedures. Their responsibilities include maintaining compliance with insurance guidelines, as well as ensuring that all coding is consistent with current healthcare regulations. Coders play a critical role in the financial health of healthcare providers by ensuring the accuracy and completeness of claims submitted to insurance companies.
Salary Comparison Between Certified Scribes and Coders
When choosing between a medical scribe or a medical coder career, salary is a key consideration, and both professions offer competitive pay. However, several factors—such as location, experience, specializations, and work environment—can influence how much you can earn in each field.
Medical Scribe Salary:
The average annual salary for a medical scribe typically falls between $35,000 and $45,000. Entry-level positions are often on the lower end of the spectrum, but as scribes gain experience, they can increase their salary potential. Experienced scribes who take on leadership roles (such as becoming medical office managers) or transition into other areas of healthcare administration or clinical roles may see their salaries rise significantly.
Medical Coder Salary:
Medical coders tend to earn higher salaries, with an average annual salary ranging from $50,000 to $60,000. This higher salary is largely due to the technical nature of the job, as coders must have an in-depth understanding of coding systems and insurance procedures. Certified medical coders—especially those with a Certified Professional Coder (CPC) certification—often earn more, and coders with specialized skills in areas like inpatient coding or oncology coding can command even higher salaries.
How to Choose Between the Two Certifications Based on Career Goals
When deciding between becoming a medical scribe or a medical coder, it is important to consider your career goals, your preferred work environment, and the type of tasks you enjoy doing.
Medical Scribe:
Ideal for those who enjoy working closely with doctors and patients. This role offers a hands-on, dynamic, and fast-paced work environment in clinical settings. If you’re looking for a job that allows you to work directly with healthcare professionals, medical scribing is a great option. Additionally, this career provides a solid foundation for moving into other healthcare roles like nursing or healthcare administration.
Medical Coder:
Ideal for individuals who prefer independent, technical work. Medical coding requires great attention to detail and a love for working with numbers and data. If you’re interested in the administrative side of healthcare and enjoy analyzing medical records to ensure accurate billing, medical coding may be a better fit. This path also offers remote work opportunities and potential career advancement into roles like coding supervisor or medical billing manager.
Conclusion
In conclusion, both medical scribe certification and medical coding certification offer valuable career paths in the healthcare industry. The decision to pursue one over the other ultimately depends on your personal interests, career goals, and the type of work environment you prefer. If you are looking to enter a fast-paced, patient-facing role, becoming a medical scribe might be a good fit. However, if you are more interested in the technical side of healthcare with opportunities for remote work, then medical coding may be the better option.
At ACMSO, we provide high-quality medical scribe certifications that can help you launch your career in this rewarding field. Whether you choose to become a medical scribe or a medical coder, both paths offer long-term job security and opportunities for growth in the ever-expanding healthcare industry.
Lesser-Known Facts About Medical Scribing and Coding
Medical scribes help reduce physician burnout by taking over documentation tasks
U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) provides general information on the role of medical scribes in the healthcare industry.
Medical coders must stay updated on changes to coding systems like ICD-10 and CPT codes
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) offers resources on ICD-10 updates. Read more here.
Scribing can be an excellent gateway to becoming a physician assistant or nurse practitioner
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) describes various career pathways in healthcare, including becoming a PA or NP.
There are over 300,000 medical coders employed in the U.S.
This data can be found on the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) for medical coding and billing professionals.
Medical coding is one of the most in-demand remote jobs in healthcare
USAJOBS provides listings for medical coding jobs and the growth of remote healthcare positions.
Many medical scribes go on to become medical researchers or clinical coordinators
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) supports healthcare professionals transitioning into research. Read more.
Certified coders often specialize in a specific area like oncology coding or orthopedic coding
The American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) offers certification in various specialties like oncology and orthopedics. Learn about coding specialties.
The ICD-10 coding system is used internationally, impacting how diseases are diagnosed and treated
World Health Organization (WHO) provides information on ICD-10 and its global use in healthcare. Check the ICD page.
Medical scribes usually work alongside physician assistants or nurse practitioners
American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) provides details on how PAs and scribes work together in clinical settings. Explore more.
The CPC certification is recognized globally and is considered a mark of excellence in coding
The American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) is the certifying body for the Certified Professional Coder (CPC) designation. Certification details here.
FAQs
-
A medical scribe documents patient encounters in real-time during doctor visits, while a medical coder assigns codes to diagnoses and treatments for billing and insurance purposes.
-
While certification is not required for scribes, it is beneficial. Medical coders, however, typically need certification, such as the CPC
-
Medical scribes earn between $35,000 to $45,000 annually, while medical coders typically earn $50,000 to $60,000 per year.
-
Yes, many medical coding jobs offer remote work opportunities, especially for certified coders with specialized skills.
-
Scribes can advance to roles like medical assistants or office managers, while coders may progress to coding supervisors, billing managers, or consultants