Modern communication technologies are essential for improving operational efficiency and protecting sensitive patient data, as healthcare businesses understand. It is possible to reconcile innovation with compliance when updating old technology, even if some people have been hesitant to accept new technologies because of worries about HIPAA regulations and associated hazards to patient data. This is particularly true for fax servers, a technology that is sometimes overlooked but essential.
The justification for modernization
To hasten the transition to electronic health records (EHRs), the HITECH Act was enacted into law in 2009. However, many providers continue to share medical records using fax servers due to problems like poor interoperability and widely disparate standards. Up to 70% of hospitals still transmit and receive medical records by fax as of 2021. However, the healthcare industry is evolving quickly, and firms may choose to update their communication systems for a number of reasons.
As businesses seek to implement more flexible communication solutions that enable collaboration across various platforms and devices, fax servers—which are only capable of sending and receiving faxes—become more and more inefficient. Employees and overhead IT budgets may be strained by the rising maintenance expenses and inadequate or discontinued manufacturer support associated with traditional fax servers. Additionally, they find it difficult to meet the needs of contemporary healthcare settings, where company operations may be jeopardized by server outages. Critical information may fall between the cracks and result in serious regulatory compliance setbacks, or prior authorizations may not be handled in a timely manner, causing delays that disrupt important business activities. Due to these restrictions, fax servers are especially susceptible in an industry where quick, safe communication across several platforms and devices is essential, as well as regulatory requirements.
Better procedures are more than a nice-to-have. By 2025, there will be a nationwide deficit of 124,000 to 160,000 full-time physicians in the U.S. healthcare system. This impending problem, when combined with rising patient demand, means healthcare businesses urgently need solutions that cut down on delays and free up IT staff to concentrate on important tasks.
A cloud-based, compliance fax solution that combines the greatest features of both worlds
The capacity of cloud fax systems to give the same degree of HIPAA compliance and dependability that traditional fax servers have provided for decades is a major barrier preventing healthcare firms from making the switch. Because 53% of experts believe that cloud compliance is too challenging, several firms have been reluctant to make the whole shift to cloud services, including cloud fax systems.
The good news is that compliance-focused cloud fax solutions may give businesses the piece of mind they require while assisting them in navigating these intricate regulatory environments. These solutions have built-in security features that guarantee patient data is always safe. Healthcare firms can guarantee the secure transmission of sensitive patient data with processes that adhere to HIPAA compliance guidelines by utilizing the appropriate cloud-based fax services.
Advantages that go well beyond compliance
For those wishing to go to the cloud, HIPAA compliance is important, but cloud fax has several advantages beyond legal requirements. For instance, conventional fax servers that are undersized may find it difficult to manage huge quantities during busy times, running the risk of losing important data when the server is unable to process additional faxes. Workflow interruptions and possible legal problems may result from this. Cloud fax solutions solve these issues by offering smooth scalability, which guarantees that healthcare institutions can handle increasing demands and communication volumes without sacrificing service quality or data integrity.
Cloud fax also allows IT teams to improve operational efficiency and reduce infrastructure responsibilities by alleviating the operational strain of managing on-premises fax servers. It removes the need for specialized fax hardware as well as the expenses associated with fax and phone infrastructures, software, upgrades, management, and upkeep. In summary, cloud fax gives businesses the convenience and effectiveness of a cloud-based solution while preserving all the features and compliance of conventional fax systems.
The future of healthcare’s compliant digital transition
By switching to cloud fax, healthcare organizations may benefit from a contemporary, effective communication technology while maintaining the compliance norms they have depended on for years. Making the switch to cloud-based fax solutions provides a practical, scalable, and legal substitute that reduces these dangers and boosts workflow effectiveness. The healthcare sector may modernize healthcare communications by embracing digital technologies like cloud fax, which will help strike a balance between innovation and legal compliance.
Concerning Tim Armstrong
Tim Armstrong, the Head of Product Management, Messaging at Retarus, has extensive knowledge of both worldwide B2B software and Retarus itself. Tim has served as Chief of Staff and Head of Marketing at Retarus. Tim used to work at NICE, where he assisted in spearheading their Trade Floor Compliance business’s Go-to-Market initiatives.
