Which medical record filing system protects patients' privacy and allows for unlimited expansion in a high-volume office?

The numeric filing system is the correct choice for protecting patient privacy and allowing for unlimited expansion in a high-volume office. This system uses numbers to assign files, which helps maintain confidentiality since patient names are not directly visible in the file label. Only individuals who are aware of the corresponding number can successfully locate the patient's information, thereby enhancing privacy measures.

Moreover, a numeric system can accommodate a large number of records and allows for easy expansion as new numbers can be sequentially added without disrupting the existing organization. This is especially useful in high-volume healthcare settings where the number of patients and records can grow significantly over time.

In contrast, other filing systems can present some drawbacks in this context. The alphabetical system relies on patient names, which could compromise privacy if not carefully managed, and it may face challenges as the number of records grows. Subject filing organizes records by topic, which can be less efficient for patient-specific information and may complicate retrieval. The chronological system organizes records by date, which may not be practical in high-volume environments where patient flow is constant, potentially leading to confusion over record access times.