What describes a source-oriented health record?

A source-oriented health record is characterized by its traditional paper format, wherein patient information is organized chronologically by each department that contributes to the record. This type of record keeps information such as clinical notes from different healthcare providers in separate sections, making it easy to view data from each source, such as nursing notes, physician orders, or laboratory results. This structure is typical in many hospital settings, historically representing how health records have been maintained prior to the widespread adoption of electronic health records (EHR).

The choice regarding digital records or standardized electronic forms does not align with the nature of source-oriented records, which are often linked to a more conventional paper-based system. Thus, while other options might describe various forms of health records, the distinctive feature of a source-oriented record type ultimately aligns with the traditional paper format used in many healthcare settings.