In this filing system, which method assigns patient numbers rather than names?

• A. Alphabetical by last name
• B. Color-coded by department
• C. Subject-based
• D. Numerical filing

Answer: (D)

Using a numerical filing system means each patient record is indexed by a unique number rather than by the patient’s name. The file itself is labeled with that number, and an index connects the number to the patient’s details. This approach preserves privacy and reduces mix-ups when names are similar, since the lookup is based on the numeric identifier rather than on spelling or alphabetical order. When you need a file, you retrieve it by the assigned number and then reference the associated patient information.

The other methods rely on names, department categories, or topics rather than a numeric key, so they don’t fit the description of assigning patient numbers.