Question

Identify the required character length of the field and field type necessary for the diagnosis codes to be in the database. a) VARCHAR(10) b) VARCHAR(50) c) CHAR(10) d) CHAR(50)

Answer 1

To store diagnosis codes in a database, the required field length and type would be varchar 50. Option b is correct.

Step-by-step explanation:

Diagnosis codes are typically alphanumeric codes that represent specific medical conditions or procedures. These codes are used by healthcare providers to document patient information and communicate with insurance companies for reimbursement purposes.

A varchar (Variable Length) field with a length of 50 characters would be appropriate for storing diagnosis codes, as it would allow for a range of codes to be stored without the need for explicit length specifications. This type of field would also be flexible enough to accommodate future expansions or changes to the diagnosis code system.

On the other hand, using a char (Character) field with a length of 10 (option (a)) would be too limiting, as it would not be able to accommodate longer codes or descriptions.

Similarly, using a char field with a length of 50 (option (d)) would be unnecessary, as it would provide more storage space than necessary for the vast majority of diagnosis codes.

Hence, option b is correct.