Before choosing any career path, the first thing you must do is determinewhich path is right for you. Sometimes, though, two careers may be similarenough that it can be difficult to sort out their pros and cons. This is trueof medical office assisting and medical transcription. Both of these careershave a lot to offer, and both require a similar level of training andexperience… but which is right for you?

Medical Office Assistance

A Medical Office Assistant works in a hospital or physician’s office in asecretarial or administrative assistance capacity. Working with physicians andhealth care providers is a demanding and detail-oriented position– in order tosuccessfully work as a Medical Office Assistant, you must have goodcommunications skills, some experience as an Administrative Assistant orSecretary, and the proper training.

Training: In addition to applying the usual office-related tasks to thehealth care field, some of the more complicated things a Medical OfficeAssistant must undertake are medical billing, completing clinical procedures,and applying medical terminology. Most Medical Office Assistants takecertificate programs, either online or at a community college oruniversity.

Pay and Work Conditions: Medical Office Assistants generally make from$20,000 to $30,000 per year, depending on location. This salary is in additionto regular health and vacation benefits provided by the employer. MedicalOffice Assistants generally work from a physician’s office or hospital, andhave very few opportunities to telecommute.

Medical Transcription

The job of a Medical Transcriptionist is to listen to recordings dictated byhealth care professionals, transcribing them into reports, correspondence, etc.They generally use set types of equipment, including digital/analog recorders,headphones, and foot pedals (for pausing and playing recordings). A qualityMedical Transcriptionist does more than transcribe recordings– he/she must beable to spot inconsistencies or mistakes in terminology and correct them inwritten reports. This is of key importance, as accuracy of reporting can affectpatient care.

Training and Requirements: As Medical Transcription is in-depth, detailedwork, most employers will only hire Transcriptionists who have completed anappropriate training certificate program. Though it’s not always required, thecompletion of an Associates Degree is recommended. This work also requires goodEnglish language skills, including an in-depth knowledge of grammar andpunctuation.

Pay and Work Conditions: Though the earnings of a Medical Transcriptionistvary widely according to experience and industry, the median salary for aMedical Transcriptionist is $34,400 yearly. Though Medical Transcription isgenerally done from a hospital, medical library, etc., many MedicalTranscriptionists (about a third) telecommute, receiving dictation via theinternet and working from home.

Which is Right?

The most important thing to keep in mind when deciding between these twocareers is your own priorities. For instance, Medical Transcription may pay abit more and provide tons of personal freedom for telecommuters, includingworking from home and choosing your own hours, those that telecommute generallyreceive no health or vacation benefits, simply working as independentcontractors. On the other hand, while a position as a Medical Office Assistantcomes with the benefits you would expect from any full-time job, it gives youvery little freedom– no more than any administrative position would.

For those out there looking for the freedom of a work-from-home position,Medical Transcription might be just the thing you’re looking for. However, ifyou’re seeking the stability of a 9-to-5 job, Medical Office Assistance mightbe right for you.