The use of facsimile machines has become increasingly popular in healthcare communications.
Patient care is enhanced when clinical information is readily available to healthcare providers.
However, the fax machine also opens up avenues for loss of patient confidentiality if information is transmitted or handled improperly. Healthcare providers must protect patients from unauthorized, inappropriate, or unnecessary intrusion into the sensitive information in their health records. Most regulatory and accreditation requirements do not address specifically the acceptability of transmitting health information via facsimile. How-ever, health information management professionals should be aware of any specific laws in their states, including hospital licensure laws, which outline requirements for original records or address facsimile transmission of health information. The Medicare Conditions of Partici-pation for Hospitals do not specifically allow or prohibit use of the facsimile machine for transmitting health information.