Manitoba’s Health System Urged to Abandon Fax Machines

Manitoba’s health-care system faces significant challenges, including long wait times, overcrowded emergency rooms, and chronic staffing shortages. Additionally, a report from Doctors Manitoba highlights an outdated communication method that is further complicating the situation: the continued reliance on fax machines. This archaic technology is described as a barrier to efficient patient care and a contributor to administrative delays.

According to the Axe the Fax report, an alarming number of approximately one million referrals to specialists and diagnostic imaging requests are still transmitted via fax or traditional mail each year. Furthermore, 85 percent of consultations between doctors also rely on this outdated method. The report underscores the inefficiencies that persist in a health system that should be embracing modern communication technologies.

In the view of Dr. Nichelle Desilets, president of Doctors Manitoba, the reliance on fax machines signifies a health-care system that has accepted delays, duplication, and dysfunction as routine. Patients often do not witness the behind-the-scenes issues that arise from this system, yet they experience the consequences firsthand. Delays in receiving scans or referrals can lead to prolonged suffering and uncertainty for those awaiting care.

The health-care debate in Manitoba typically focuses on high-profile needs, such as increasing operating room capacity and hiring more medical staff. While these issues are critical, the inefficiencies caused by outdated practices like faxing can waste valuable physician time. In a system already stretched thin, this wasted time exacerbates wait times and diminishes the quality of patient care.

To illustrate the problem, a typical referral process involves a physician filling out a form, faxing it, and then waiting for confirmation. Often, the receiving specialist’s office gets an incomplete or unclear copy, leading to delays in processing. This can result in referrals being lost or misdirected, forcing patients to endure unnecessary waiting periods.

Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara has indicated that the province is making strides toward modernization, including the introduction of a digital health card and centralized surgical referrals. Plans for a provincial electronic patient record are also in the works for 2026. While these initiatives are promising, skepticism remains among Manitobans who have heard similar promises in the past.

The government is urged to treat the elimination of fax machines as a priority rather than a secondary concern. The recommendations from Doctors Manitoba are straightforward and overdue. They include the establishment of a provincial physician directory to ensure referrals are directed to the appropriate specialists, the development of properly resourced central intake systems, and the urgent resolution of diagnostic imaging backlogs. Importantly, the digitization of referrals and consultations is essential to streamline processes.

The overarching goal, as articulated by Dr. Desilets, is to reclaim wasted time for doctors and enable patients to access care more swiftly. A modern health-care system requires modern tools that facilitate secure electronic referrals, electronic diagnostic requests, and enhanced accountability. Reducing the reliance on fax machines will lead to fewer lost documents and more time dedicated to patient care.

In summary, the call to “axe the fax” reflects a broader need for the Manitoba health-care system to embrace contemporary communication methods that enhance efficiency and ultimately improve patient outcomes. Immediate action is necessary to address these systemic inefficiencies and ensure that patients receive timely and effective care.