RHIA practice question 33 of 35
What type of filing system would store records in the following order: 00-76-05, 01-76-04, 01-77-04, 02-76-05?
Full set: 1,828 questionsDomain Information Governance
The records are ordered based on their value as a whole number when read from left to right. The sequence 00-76-05 (7,605), 01-76-04 (17,604), 01-77-04 (17,704), and 02-76-05 (27,605) is in strict ascending numerical order. This method, where files are arranged consecutively in ascending order, is the definition of a straight numeric filing system. It is the simplest filing method but can lead to congestion in the most recently used file areas.
A. terminal digit: This system would primarily sort by the last two digits (04, 05). The provided sequence (05, 04, 04, 05) is not sorted by terminal digits.
B. middle digit: This system would primarily sort by the middle two digits (76, 77). The provided sequence (76, 76, 77, 76) is not sorted by the middle digits.
C. serial unit: This refers to a numbering method where a new number is assigned for each encounter, not the filing system itself. The records would still be filed using a method like straight numeric.
1. LaTour
K. M.
Eichenwald-Maki
S.
& Oachs
P. K. (Eds.). (2021). Health information management: Concepts
principles
and practice (6th ed.). AHIMA Press.
Page 203
"Straight Numeric Filing System": "In a straight numeric filing system
records are filed in numerical order." This directly supports the correct answer as the provided sequence is in simple numerical order.
Page 203
"Terminal-Digit Filing System": Defines the system as filing based on the last two digits (primary)
then middle two (secondary)
and first digits (tertiary)
which is inconsistent with the question's sequence.
2. Johns
M. L. (2015). Health Information Management Technology: An Applied Approach (4th ed.). AHIMA Press.
Page 138
"Straight Numeric Filing": "Records are filed in a strict chronologic order according to the patient number
from lowest to highest." This definition perfectly matches the order of the numbers in the question.
Page 137
"Serial Numbering System": Explains this as a system where a patient is issued a unique numerical identifier for every encounter
clarifying it is a numbering method
not a filing arrangement.
Pages 139-141: Detail terminal-digit and middle-digit filing
confirming that the primary sort keys for those systems do not match the sequence provided in the question.
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