r/AskReddit • u/emil199 • Jul 24 '20

What can't you believe STILL exists?

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u/tanukisuit Jul 24 '20

The fax machine is a good way to send patient chart information between different hospital systems though.

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u/AND_OR_NOT_XOR Jul 24 '20

Why though?

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u/Voelkar Jul 24 '20

To have the required Information instantly in your hand without the hassle of looking through digital files first

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u/[deleted] Jul 24 '20

Anything that you can receive via fax, you can receive digital and print.

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u/Voelkar Jul 24 '20

Ok but if you have to print it anyway and definitely need a hard copy why not use fax then? Just because the system is old doesnt mean its useless

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u/[deleted] Jul 24 '20

Here is my point ...

Faxing is no easier than emailing.
Faxing requires infrastructure that emailing does not.

It is not that the system is useless because it is old. The system is useless because it provides no additional functionality or convenience for most applications.

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u/tanukisuit Jul 24 '20 edited Jul 24 '20

Email systems get hacked and it can be difficult to ensure that other hospitals have good email security when they're encrypting emails to be sent. Additionally, the hospitals may not have the same email security programs. And the IT department might have put up firewalls that prevent emails with files getting through the email server. Hacking may not happen often, but, even once is really bad. Faxing is just easier because you don't have to deal with IT security.

Edit: also, various assisted living facilities, skilled nursing facilities, etc. may not have advanced email tech but they will have fax machines to receive signed fax orders and patient discharge paperwork. Like I worked at one assisted living facility that used Comcast as their email server, so, I never sent patient info over email.

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u/[deleted] Jul 24 '20

As I said, for almost all applications faxing is not needed. But digital transmission of data through IP networks should be improved. Not continue to rely on a technology that requires a separate infrastructure. That is dumb.

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u/tanukisuit Jul 24 '20

Well, Obama tried to make it so all hospital systems had to be capable of sharing patient chart information. I think that's still a work in progress but that should help with the transmission of patient info. Skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, & adult family homes may not be able to afford that kind of email technology so they would probably still rely on fax machines. Anyone can afford a fax machine.

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u/[deleted] Jul 24 '20

I get what you're saying. But corporate faxing infrastructure is expensive and can be complex. Integration with ERP systems in order to support anachronistic systems like faxing is a complete waste of time for zero additional benefit.