Canadian Health Information Management Association Practice Exam

Which technique best ensures that registration clerks consistently use the correct notation for admission date in an electronic health record?

1. Make the admission date a numeric field

2. Make the admission date a required field

3. Provide an input mask for entering the data

4. Provide sufficient space for the data to be entered

The correct answer is: Make the admission date a numeric field

The option that best ensures consistent use of the correct notation for the admission date in an electronic health record is to make the admission date a numeric field. This approach explicitly restricts the type of data that can be entered into that field, allowing only numerical values. By enforcing a numeric format, registration clerks are limited to entering dates in a standardized manner, which reduces the likelihood of errors that might occur with free-text input. Other techniques, while helpful, do not enforce notation to the same extent. Making the admission date a required field ensures that the date must be entered, but it does not control the format of the data entered, which can lead to inconsistencies. Providing an input mask is beneficial as it can guide users on how to fill out the field appropriately; however, it might not cover all variations in date notation that could arise without further strict validation. Finally, providing sufficient space for data entry helps accommodate longer entries, but it does not inherently influence the correctness or standardization of the notation itself. By using a numeric field, the system maximizes the chance that the data entered will be accurate and uniform.