Final answer:
In a conventional medical record, patient information is recorded in chronological order within each section, with information grouped by the type of service provided.
Step-by-step explanation:
In a conventional, or source-oriented, medical record, all the patient's problems and treatments are recorded in the record in chronological order. This organizational method groups information by the type of service provided, such as all laboratory results or all progress notes. Within each section, documentation is ordered by the date of service, starting with the oldest entry, and progressing to the most recent.
It's essential to properly maintain these records for ongoing patient care, legal requirements, and billing purposes. This record-keeping style is contrasted with a problem-oriented medical record (POMR), which organizes information according to the patient's individual medical problems, making it easier to track the patient's history of specific issues.