Home Forums Discussions Problems Faxing a pt chart

Hi,

1. How do I fax a patients chart from AC without printing it out and then faxing through a fax machine?

2. How do I save a pts chart in PDF to the desktop so I can transfer it to a USB drive?

Thanks

You will need a multifunction networked printer which has fax capabilities, if you have multiple workstation computers.
You will need to install Adobe acrobat or any of the free PDF converters available on like cute PDf etc.
1. You right click on the patients name and choose Print Notes & letters. You are given 3 options PRINT ALL, PRINT PREVIEW or PRINT TO DEFAULT PRINTER
If you choose the the first 2 you will be directed to a list of print options- you choose your fax option. If you choose the
3rd option it will print the enire chart to your printer (avoid that one.)
2. To save pts chart in PDF , you right click on the patients name & choose the PRINT NOTES & LETTERS & then PRINT ALL or PRINT PREVIEW & from the print options choose ADOBE PDF & save to whatever location you want, even directly to your USB.
This is one way of doing it.
Grenville

If you don't want to buy a network fax machine, you can subscribe to Updox , which is an electronic document management system. Among many other things, you can "print" to an Updox printer application, and then transfer the document(s) to a distant fax machine over the internet, without using a real fax machine or telephone line.

Thanks,
I don't have a networked printer w/ fax capabilities, but I do have a fax modem on my computer. I should be able to send a fax through that?

george, anywhere you have a fax modem, you can fax. You will need software such as XP or WIN7's software (which, of course, is not the best). Or there are many 3rd party programs out there. If the computer is on the network and other computers can access the fax driver, they can fax as well, ALTHOUGH that is not optimal as it takes up a lot of resources.

Thanks guys.
So downloaded the cute PDF writer and I am able to convert the charts to PDF.
I tried to fax the chart to my fax machine just like the instructions GRENVILLE said, except rather than choosing cute PDF, I chose the fax. But the patient chart is not going through, only the empty fax.

I am not sure what your setup is so it is difficult to help. You will need to very specific.

If you only have one modem ON a computer, then it is not networked, and it will be easiest to fax from that computer. You will have to have a fax line, and the modem will need to be connected to it. If you are trying to fax directly from your computer, it will have nothing to do with your fax machine unless it is connected to the printer or is networked AND has a fax server.

My guess is, if you have the modem connected to a fax line you can fax, but the fax driver you clicked on, is probably not configured correctly.

You would probably best best downloading a trial of Snappyfax or some other fax software, and see if it recognizes your fax modem.

But, you can't really fax from your PC to your fax machine without A) its being connected somehow either networked (which I don't think it is) or directly to your computer. But, even then, just connecting it to your computer won't allow you to fax from your PC if it doesn't have a fax server with a fax/print driver which sends your PDF to it. If you have a modem on your PC, forget about your fax machine and set it up so you are faxing directly out via your modem.

For those using a networked fax machine, for your incoming faxes, does it just dump it into a box with random *.pdf names and then your staff just files them into the charts accordingly by using the import function in import tabs?

Thanks

It depends on what fax software you are using. I use Paperport. You can check out previous threads on this.

Generally, fax servers which "dump" faxes onto your desktop or folder, do so by naming it with date and time:

For instance, mine comes in:

FAX-372011 20220 PM_1.pdf meaning

it's a fax:

that arrived on March 7, 2011 @ 2:02:20 pm. Just in case two pdfs arrive within one second of each other, a 1 is placed at the end.

Bert:

so then for outgoing letters, where is the rolodex of fax numbers?

Well, most software programs including XP and WIN7, pop up a window when you click on the print/fax driver. We have every single pharmacy and office, etc. we fax.

There are ways to do it with a minimal fax driver without much fanfare, but it is important to check out the software. We had a $7,000 Toshiba all-in-one on lease, and we made them take it back, because the interface was so bad. We now have a Xerox, and it is great. Plus, we have Faxil/Imecom which I wouldn't completely recommend. It doesn't use a modem, it uses a Faxboard made by Brook Trout. I won't even tell you what it costs.

Hi Bert,
My phone (Panasonic) has an input in the back where you can plug in another phone or fax, etc. So I have a line going from the phone to the modem in the back of my computer.

I also have a different line for the fax hooked up to my fax machine.
If I go to the windows 7 fax and send a fax to my fax machine it will go through, with the subject and the letter.

When I tried to fax a pt.s chart to my fax machine, I right clicked on the pt, PRINT NOTES & LETTERS, Preview, print, then chose fax. I could see that the chart was attached to the fax, but it didn't go through, but what I wrote in the letter went through.
I can see the pt chart attached to it as a TIF file.

Hi George, everyone has developed there on work around that works best for them. It is finding the method that you feel comfortable with. Generally I find that sending multiple pages of a chart is easily accomplished with updox. They have a great interface with amazingcharts. It is reasonable if you have a small amount of faxes but fees can add up after 500 fax limit per month. We have over 2000 faxes monthly. Initially I found it difficult to work with but as I have used it more it has been a great resource. Another option would be to have a decaded network fax that all computers can access. I like network superfax which you can get for about $400 for 10 users. Once you pay the upfront cost you only need a decaded fax line to send and recieve faxes. The key is to have a decaded line with unlimited calls for a fixed fee. Also can use Windows fax but I find this more difficult to Use. Some people like paperport which simplefies the process also. I hope this helps you make the decision as to what is best for you.

Again, don't know much about your setup. It sounds like you have an analog phone. I have never seen these, but if a fax comes in to that line, it could tie up your line for awhile and vice versa.

If you are really serious about PC to Fax and Fax to PC, I would highly suggest a networkable fax machine or MFP. You can get a good one at a good price with Brother, although everyone knows I am not big on Brother.

I almost fainted!!! I was reading your post Bert and then you said "get a good one at a good price with Brother" and I had to go back up and check to see if I was indeed reading a post of yours. Then I finished the sentence and laughed!!!

George, a lot of us on here use the Brother and find it very well worth the price. It even comes with its own document management software "Paperport". However, there have been issues with the newer versions (11 and above) of Paperport so I do not want tout it as the be all. But, free is good. I also think there have been additional updates to PP making it more W7 friendly but I have not investigated this much so far.

I will try to go back and find the post, but about four years ago, I actually listed the networked Brothers and recommended them. It's hard not to suggest them due to their price break.

But, Paperport or not, and I know it's nice, I can't officially recommend them until they fax to PDF and are easily networkable, e.g. can't hear the word USB to a main computer, lol.

My post was supposed to be invisible to you, but I guess your mod status got you through.

Hi,
So I finally got it to work.
1. I made a PDF like mentioned earlier and saved it to the desktop.
2. I then Right clicked on the PDF, then Send to, Fax receipient, then the number, and it went through.

With this method it was attached as a PDF file to the WIN 7 fax.
Before it was attached as a TIF (if I right click on the pt from AC, then Print Notes & Letters, then Print All, then choose Fax.
Anyone know how to change it so that it attaches as a PDF than a TIF?


About my phone, it is a Panasonic KX-T7436. I got it from Ablecomm.
http://www.ablecomm.com/kx24speak6li.html

It is a Digital phone,but has been discontinued. While I was looking at different phones 10 yrs ago, the Panasonic stood out because of this extra input in the back.

Thanks for all your help.

I think that is what I was talking about. You are't using your fax machine. You are using WIN7 fax software.

The question about Tif to PDF wasn't clear. But, if you are talking about AC, then get to the point where you need to print, and "print it to a PDF" using any one of the 100 pdf software drivers out there.