Which statement best compares structured data and narrative documentation in electronic health records?

Which statement best compares structured data and narrative documentation in electronic health records?

• A. Structured data are free text; narrative is coded data.
• B. Structured data are standardized fields enabling quick retrieval; narrative is free text capturing nuance but harder to analyze.
• C. Structured data cannot be analyzed; narrative data is easily analyzed.
• D. Structured data and narrative data are interchangeable for analytics.

Answer: (B)