Medical Records
Running Head: Pros and Cons of Terminal Digit Numbering and Filling System
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Introduction Medical record numbering and filing is the most important tasks in the management of medical information in health care institutions. Well kept and filed medical records enhance effective and efficient collecting, recording and retrieval of patient health information whenever required. The patient record care system adopted influence the ease of maintenance and retrieval of medical records. According to the Remote Health Branch of United States, health care institutions ought to adopt a standardized medical record numbering and filing systems during storage of valuable medical records. Notably, most health care institutions across the world file and number the medical records numerically basing on the patient’s medical record number. In the recent past, hospitals have numbered and filed patient’s records basing on their names, discharge numbers, or diagnostic code numbers. Some of the commonly used medical records numbering and filing systems include Straight System, Terminal Digit System and Middle Digit System (Terese, 2006).
Middle Digit Numbering and Filing System
Terminal Digit Numbering and Filling System Under this system, numbers are grouped into units containing two digits each. The medical staff used use a six-digit number which they divide it with a hyphen into three parts. The six-digit numbers are often read from right to left. Notably, the last two digits of a number are referred to as primary digits and comprise of first indexing unit. The middle two digits which represent second indexing unit are referred to as secondary digits. The first two digits represent the third indexing units are referred to as third indexing unit. This is illustrated below.
Medical Records Numbering and Filing System: Terminal Digit System.
Number Tertiary Digits Secondary Digits
Name:
Course Name:
Institution:
Tutor:
Date:
Introduction Medical record numbering and filing is the most important tasks in the management of medical information in health care institutions. Well kept and filed medical records enhance effective and efficient collecting, recording and retrieval of patient health information whenever required. The patient record care system adopted influence the ease of maintenance and retrieval of medical records. According to the Remote Health Branch of United States, health care institutions ought to adopt a standardized medical record numbering and filing systems during storage of valuable medical records. Notably, most health care institutions across the world file and number the medical records numerically basing on the patient’s medical record number. In the recent past, hospitals have numbered and filed patient’s records basing on their names, discharge numbers, or diagnostic code numbers. Some of the commonly used medical records numbering and filing systems include Straight System, Terminal Digit System and Middle Digit System (Terese, 2006).
Middle Digit Numbering and Filing System
Terminal Digit Numbering and Filling System Under this system, numbers are grouped into units containing two digits each. The medical staff used use a six-digit number which they divide it with a hyphen into three parts. The six-digit numbers are often read from right to left. Notably, the last two digits of a number are referred to as primary digits and comprise of first indexing unit. The middle two digits which represent second indexing unit are referred to as secondary digits. The first two digits represent the third indexing units are referred to as third indexing unit. This is illustrated below.
Medical Records Numbering and Filing System: Terminal Digit System.
Number Tertiary Digits Secondary Digits
References: Lists Rajakumar, M. (2009). Numbering and Filling System. Retrieved August 21, 2010, from http://laico.org/v2020resource/files/NumberandFilingsystem.html Terese, C. (2006). Medical Filing. New York: Cengage Learning Publishers. 33-35.