By Steve Arend, Account Manager

I often find myself answering the same question over and over: “Are people still faxing?” The short answer is yes, individuals and organizations still fax. Not only is fax technology still relevant today, but research points to growth in the number of documents being faxed in the future. There are a few industries driving this increase in demand and one of the key cogs is healthcare.

Why is fax important to healthcare? Two things immediately come to mind: fax is secure and relatively inexpensive when compared to other secure delivery methods. Security is key when we talk about medical records and thanks to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), it is now a requirement. HIPAA is responsible for changing how medical information is sent, received and managed.

So where does fax fit in to all this? HIPAA has set some requirements specific to fax transmissions and they include:
  – Fax machines must be placed in secure areas that aren’t generally accessible
  – Faxed information is only accessible by authorized personnel
  – Recipient information is verified before transmission on outbound faxes
  – Cover sheets are to be used
  – Confirmation notices are saved
  – Received faxes are saved in a secure location
  – Fax transmission logs must be maintained

While these requirements could be met using a traditional, legacy fax machine, most healthcare facilities are implementing a fax server. A fax server allows fax documents to be delivered and stored on the network and not printed automatically, which helps to satisfy the security requirements previously mentioned. Fax servers also allow users to send faxes through their desktop, adding another layer of security (no physical document required).

Electronic Medical Record (EMR) and Electronic Health Record (EHR) companies are popping up everywhere and many healthcare institutions are required to implement these systems. EMR/EHR systems are designed to manage the medical/health records and satisfy HIPAA requirements. When it comes to delivery of these EMR/EHR records, fax is still preferred. Many EMR/EHR companies are looking to invest in integrating their software with a hardware solution, like a fax server. Integration can lead to even more efficiency and security.

I think we can all agree that fax is an “old” technology. Almost everyone knows that most content that would have been faxed 20 years ago is now relegated to email and text messaging, but neither of those methods provide the security many industries still require. Be sure to reach out to me to learn about Multi-Tech’s fax server solution, the FaxFinder, or other industries that continue to fax.

Steve can be reached at SArend@MultiTech.com or 763-785-3500.