Online Communication in Medicine

Aside from email, internet based communication between medical professionals, patients, pharmacies and institutions are still clearly in its infancy. In Europe, the Journal of Medical Internet Research reported in April of 2011 that only 1.8% of those canvassed has communicated with their doctors using online methods. In the US, the Pew Research Center released a report showing 91% of patients still only use face-to-face methods of communication with their medical professionals. There is no data on the level of online communication between differing medical entities, such as doctor-pharmacist or hospital-medical insurance company. However, with the exception of the real estate industry, it seems as though the medical industry is a large part of the reason the fax machine still exists today.

Let’s first look at the communication variables involved here. Email between doctors, surgeons, nurses, occupational therapists, specialists and so on does exist, at least informally. When it comes to official diagnostic reports and referrals, the fax machine still plays a role. If the pharmacy needs a copy of a prescription renewal, the doctor’s office faxes it over. When there are forms for medical insurance, fax again.

On the other hand, when a patient wishes to make an appointment or ask a question a phone call is made. Rarely is email used. The reasons for a phone call instead of an email are fairly understandable. Urgency can be assessed by listening to the tone of the caller. Very often a patient is not aware of the magnitude of a situation and the listener would also not necessarily become aware through the use of email. Plus, in a busy medical office emails can pile up leading once again to the possibility of an emergency being overlooked or forgotten. Ultimately the decision to use online methods of communication between doctors and patients lies with the doctor. Some specialties are appropriate, others are not.

There is far too much paper floating around the medical industry. Hospitals have basements full of archived records going moldy and providing housing for mouse families. There is no doubt the records are important to keep, and it would take far too much time and resources to convert them all too digital form. What the medical administrators can do is stop adding to it, and one way is in the use of internet fax. Reports either in paper or electronic form can be sent via online fax, leaving the receiver to decide if a hard copy is necessary or not. Then patient files may be electronically compiled, saving the excess use of paper. The scenario is simple, cheap and easy to use. If stored properly, damage will not occur and mice will definitely not find homes among the files.

The same is true for medical office assistants working in clinics, doctor’s offices, laboratories and so on. When there are communicative documents to be sent elsewhere, use an internet fax service. Even documents created electronically can be faxed via the internet without ever having to print them. Paper costs are reduced and time is saved by removing the printing step. Pharmacies and medical insurance companies may especially enjoy the ease of internet fax. The added benefit of personalized reception of the internet fax means goodbye to ‘lost’ faxes that end up in the recycle bucket or in another client’s file.

Consider confidentiality when it comes to the fax machine. Anyone in the office can view documents being spit out of a Jurassic period fax machine. Paper sits until someone claims it, becomes out of order or can even go missing. Since internet fax services send documents straight to an email address, only the intended person will receive them. No more picking up the wrong papers off the fax machine, missing documents or questionable confidentiality. Every patient or client will surely feel much more at ease knowing the safety of their vital information is kept out secure.

In view of the fact that the medical industry is one which carries a great deal of personal information, it seems almost backwards that more use is not made of online communication. Do the reasons go beyond the need for face-to-face communication? Is it because so many of those in the medical system are elderly and not necessarily ‘online’? There may be a hundred explanations, but let’s keep focused on collective global goals: to progress towards a more healthy, efficient and greener world. An internet fax service is one step towards reaching the objective.

Chris Haycox is a representative of MetroFax Internet Fax as their head Network Administrator. MetroFax has just launched their iPhone app to enable their clients to more easily and securely access their faxes from anywhere. For more information about online faxing services, please visit us at Metro Fax!