What type of filing system is used by a hospital that organizes paper health records with a three-part number?

The three-part number filing system used by hospitals is known as a terminal-digit filing system. In this method, patient records are organized based on the last two digits of a unique numeric identifier. This allows for efficient access and retrieval of records, as files are sorted in a way that facilitates easy location, especially in a high-volume environment like a hospital.

The terminal-digit method enhances organization by breaking down numbers into segments, which allows for a systematic approach that reduces the risk of misfiling. For instance, when files are labeled with three sets of numbers, the last two digits serve as the primary key for sorting, while the preceding digits help further categorize the records.

This approach contrasts with other filing systems such as alphabetical, which relies on the patient's name, and chronological, which sorts documents by date. Numeric filing, while also using numbers, does not necessarily utilize the terminal-digit principle, thus lacking the specific organizational benefits tailored for ease of access in healthcare settings.