Raae Wolfram

Bio:

Raae Wolfram has over 15 years of professional experience in IT, a decade of which focused on healthcare IT. She currently serves as a Senior Product Manager at Microsoft, building out their first party managed security services. Her academic journey includes a BA in Anthropology, followed by an MPH in Epidemiology, both from Hunter College, and an MBA from NYU Stern. Her focus on healthcare IT aligns with her deep interest in patient safety and care quality. Raae, a proud Latina raised in a close-knit Puerto Rican family in the Bronx, brings a unique cultural perspective to her work. Outside of work, Raae's avid passion for Star Trek and impromptu dance parties shines through. She resides in Westchester, New York, with her child, and a beloved cat.

Abstract:

In the era of digital healthcare transformation, the continued use of fax machines in hospitals presents significant security challenges, especially when handling patient records and scheduling appointments for MRIs. This proposal will shed light on the security issues surrounding fax machines in healthcare settings, discuss why hospitals still employ them, and explore the barriers they create for patients. We will also delve into the technical considerations and present alternative, secure communication methods. The persistence of fax machines in a healthcare setting can be attributed to historical norms and regulatory compliance. They are perceived as a secure means of transmitting sensitive patient information, though the reality is quite the opposite. Moreover, since faxes often sit in open communal areas, the risk of physical document theft is significant. The lack of encryption and secure authentication mechanisms further compounds these issues, potentially leading to patient data breaches. In 2019, a major healthcare provider in the U.S. inadvertently exposed 1.7 million patient records due to a fax server misconfiguration, illustrating the critical risks involved. Requiring patients to send records via fax creates a significant barrier to care, especially for those who lack access to fax machines or the technical know-how to use them. Patients, often already burdened with health concerns, face unnecessary hurdles in their healthcare journey. Real-life cases demonstrate how this can lead to delayed diagnoses, missed appointments, and suboptimal patient outcomes. The transition from traditional faxing to secure electronic communication methods in healthcare is a transformation that not only provides substantial business value and enhanced security but also brings pivotal improvements in patient care and outcomes. Secure messaging platforms, EHR integration, telemedicine solutions, and Health Information Exchange (HIE) messaging offer highly protected channels for sharing patient data. These alternatives streamline communication and enhance operational efficiency, ultimately leading to faster and more informed decision-making, which, in turn, improves patient care. The estimated benefits encompass cost savings, better resource utilization, and revenue growth, while simultaneously reducing the risk of data breaches and non-compliance with regulations such as HIPAA. Administrative changes like user training, access control, consent management, and compliance measures are instrumental in reaping these advantages. This presentation will highlight how adopting these direct alternatives to legacy fax policies, healthcare organizations can fortify data protection, optimize workflows, and ensure their continued success and growth while also contributing to better patient care and outcomes.