State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs has opened up about ongoing infrastructure problems at the Mississippi Department of Health, including the continued use of fax machines.
“Believe it or not we still use a lot of fax machines. Now that’s not just a problem of us, but our infrastructure in our communications with docs and hospitals, a lot of it is still antiquated. So, when I talk to some of our federal colleagues in Congress and they learned that we’re using a lot of fax machines for COVID reporting they were absolutely appalled. So we need some IT modernization for sure,” Dobbs said.
Dobbs estimates that modernizing the department’s technology will require nearly $14 million, along with an additional $107 million to upgrade many of the state’s 92 county health departments.
The concerns extend beyond technology. Dobbs shared insights into the dilapidated conditions of many buildings, emphasizing the need for maintenance and repair. Dr. LouAnn Woodward, Vice Chancellor of the University of Mississippi Medical Center, added her voice to the conversation, outlining the pressing need for upgraded facilities and services.
Woodward is requesting $360 million of federal COVID-19 relief funds, a substantial portion of which would go toward a new comprehensive cancer center for Mississippi.
Though the conversation touched on various challenges facing the healthcare system in Mississippi, the continued reliance on faxing highlights the complexities of modernizing healthcare communication. The resilient use of this technology serves as a testament to its practical application in various scenarios, affirming its ongoing relevance within specific sectors of the industry.
Until they do, you can use PayPerFax to fax medical test results.