The Deutscher Orden Hospital in Friesach relies on FTAPI for GDPR-compliant fax replacement

The Challenge

A Fax Alternative for Transmitting Sensitive Patient Information

To ensure secure communication with doctors, authorities, and patients, the Deutscher Orden Hospital in Friesach was searching for a simple yet highly compatible solution. The goal was to find a viable alternative to fax, which remains widely used—particularly among private practitioners—despite being only rarely GDPR-compliant.

While the hospital's Medical Data Network (DaMe) allows encrypted communication with authorities and doctors, it requires a key exchange, significantly limiting the number of users who can participate. Additionally, ELGA provides a secure transfer option but is restricted to specific documents, such as medical reports and lab or radiology findings.

The challenge was to implement a solution that would allow the easy and secure transmission of highly sensitive patient data, medical reports, and other confidential documents—without requiring recipients to install software or create an account. At the same time, replacing fax was a long-standing goal in the hospital’s digital strategy, as emphasised by Günter Staber, Administrative Director at the Deutscher Orden Hospital in Friesach.

"The only thing required from the recipient is their email address and choosing a password—that’s it."
— Günter Staber, Administrative Director, DOKH

The Solution

Another Step Towards Digital Transformation

To ensure secure and efficient information exchange with doctors, service providers, and patients, the Deutscher Orden Hospital in Friesach has implemented FTAPI solutions.

Finding the right solution was surprisingly easy—Günter Staber first came across FTAPI because it was already in use by public institutions in Carinthia. Positive feedback from IT colleagues in these organisations quickly led him to take a closer look at the FTAPI product portfolio.

A key factor in the decision was ease of use: "The only thing required from the recipient is their email address and choosing a password—that’s it," says Günter Staber. In the end, it was not only the simplicity but also the quality and feasibility of FTAPI that won him over.

Additionally, long-term collaboration, reliability, and strong customer relationships were crucial in selecting FTAPI. Having dedicated, consistent points of contact and outstanding customer service made all the difference.

"FTAPI is another step towards the digital transformation of our hospital."
— Günter Staber, Administrative Director, DOKH

The Result

Virtual Data Rooms Without Client Installation

Thanks to seamless integration into daily workflows, FTAPI was immediately adopted for active use. FTAPI SecuMails are now widely used, particularly in the secretariats and executive offices.

This has significantly simplified communication not only with patients but also with tax advisors and legal professionals. The SubmitBox has proven especially popular—this digital mailbox allows users to submit even large files effortlessly.

Additionally, FTAPI SecuRooms provide a secure space for storing and managing large files. The best part? Because FTAPI SecuRooms operate in the cloud, no client installation is required—a major advantage for collaborating with tax advisors. "Previous solutions often failed at the installation stage," explains Günter Staber. "Employees at tax consultancy firms often don’t have the permissions to install software—so IT has to step in, which quickly becomes too complicated."

Today, FTAPI SecuRooms are used to store particularly large files, such as architectural plans, ensuring that all project stakeholders have access to the latest version of their documents.