How does medical transcription differ from medical coding?

The distinction between medical transcription and medical coding primarily lies in the nature of the tasks involved. Medical transcription is the process of converting voice recordings made by healthcare professionals into written text, creating accurate medical documents such as patient reports, discharge summaries, and progress notes. This involves listening to the recordings and accurately typing out the information as dictated, ensuring that it is clearly and correctly represented in a written format.

In contrast, medical coding involves the assignment of standardized codes to diagnoses, procedures, and services provided to patients. These codes are drawn from specific classification systems, like the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) or Current Procedural Terminology (CPT), and are used for various purposes, primarily relating to billing and insurance reimbursement processes.

This differentiation highlights how transcription focuses on transforming spoken word into documentation, while coding transforms detailed medical information into a numeric or alphanumeric format suitable for billing and record-keeping purposes. Thus, the correct answer captures the essential difference between these two critical healthcare functions.