You must do a thorough background check whether you’re looking for a doctor, nurse, or physical therapist. These searches include a national criminal database search, a professional licensing search, and drug screening. While some employers view background checks as unnecessary, they are necessary in certain industries. It includes the healthcare industry, where patients trust your staff.
Check Their Drug Test Results
While some employers feel background checks are unnecessary, for certain industries and professions, they are a necessity. One such industry is healthcare, where employee drug abuse could have devastating consequences for patients. As such, medical background checks include a detailed examination of an applicant’s medical history and drug tests.
A urine sample is used in a typical drug test to look for drugs and alcohol. Blood, hair and saliva can also be used as testing specimens, but they are more invasive and expensive than urine tests. Employers frequently utilize urine tests for pre-employment and random drug testing programs and when they have a good faith suspicion that an employee is abusing drugs at work.
Healthcare employees often have access to powerful prescription drugs and mustn’t have a history of substance abuse. In addition, many healthcare positions require licensure, and an employer may be prohibited from hiring an employee with a license that has been suspended or expired. A background check can help you to discover these issues early on.
In some cases, a background check can also reveal mental health information. It is because, in most states, records of involuntary commitment to a mental hospital are public records, and the same applies to any other records relating to a diagnosis of a mental illness. However, it is not legal for an employer to ask a job candidate about their mental health history outside of specific contexts, such as when discussing a possible disability accommodation.
Check Their Credentials
When hiring a healthcare employee, you must be sure they’re qualified for the position. It means education, training and licensing should be verified before making an offer of employment. Healthcare workers are required to have licenses for a variety of different positions and must pass a national criminal database search. These searches scour thousands of other databases, including county records from every state and territory, to find criminal convictions. A medical background check should incorporate a national sex offender search because of the likelihood that many healthcare personnel may deal with children and other vulnerable people.
Passion for the profession is another important factor, as healthcare professionals tend to be passionate about helping people. It can mean that they’ll put in a lot of effort to keep up with continuing education and will take the time to learn new techniques. Determining whether an applicant is committed to their career is also important, as they’re more likely to follow through on their responsibilities and represent your brand with integrity. Unlike most other industries, healthcare background checks must be thorough due to strict compliance regulations. For this reason, it’s best to have a custom healthcare screening package that includes FACIS(r), an OIG/SAM Sanctions Search, and a national criminal database search. It allows you to determine if an applicant is prohibited from participating in federally funded healthcare programs and is a risky hire.
Check Their Licensing
Since the healthcare sector is one of the most strictly regulated in the US, recruiting decisions must be made with great care. It is especially true for medical workers — patients rely on them for their lives, and medical facilities must ensure their employees are capable, competent, and safe. To help employers meet these needs, dozens of states require that medical offices conduct background checks. The most important thing to check is an applicant’s medical license. If a candidate has yet to be licensed for the job they are applying for, it is illegal to hire them. It requires a thorough investigation, including searching state medical boards, registries, and lists and contacting schools and previous employers. It requires time and attention, so it is typically advised that healthcare institutions seek the advice of a seasoned screening business to ensure they comply with all state rules and regulations. An OIG search is another crucial part of a healthcare background check, telling you if the Office of Inspector General has sanctioned a doctor. It’s against federal law for organizations that participate in Medicare and Medicaid to employ physicians authorized by OIG, and this search can reveal these sanctions before you hire someone.
Check Their Criminal Record
Because healthcare workers deal with patient’s medical records and personal information, they should be well-versed in basic safety procedures. Employers can use a background check to identify whether a candidate has a criminal past that would endanger patient safety. A national criminal database search can help to locate records from dozens of jurisdictions and states. The search can uncover various convictions and other legal issues that may affect an applicant’s eligibility for employment. If a healthcare worker has been found guilty of a felony or misdemeanor crime, obtaining the necessary licensing and work authorizations may be impossible. For that reason, it is crucial to run a complete criminal record check before hiring any new employees. Often, healthcare background checks will include a national sex offender search. This search is essential for healthcare professionals who must regularly come into contact with children and vulnerable adults.
