An example of a primary data source is the

• A. Health record
• B. Admission register
• C. Radiology report
• D. Billing statement

Answer: (A)

In healthcare information, primary data sources are the original records created during patient care—the data filed at the point of interaction and used as the source for everything else. A health record fits this role best because it contains the complete, original documentation from clinicians: demographics, symptoms, examination findings, diagnoses, treatments, and clinical decisions made during care. It’s the foundational source from which other outputs are derived, such as summaries, reports, and even billing in many systems.

The other options are not the same kind of original clinical record. A billing statement is produced later and pulls information from the health record to bill for services, so it’s a secondary data source. An admission register is more of an administrative log, while a radiology report is an original document within the patient’s record but is typically considered a part of the health record rather than the overall primary source itself. Overall, the health record best exemplifies the original data captured during care.