Your hospital must maintain a firm background screening policy as the healthcare industry grows and changes. It helps ensure that your hiring practices comply with state and federal laws.
A national criminal search is one of the essential background checks in the healthcare industry. These searches pull data from millions of records across thousands of jurisdictions and databases.
Know Your Legal Requirements
Healthcare employers have a variety of legal requirements for background checks. These vary by state and include many different searches, including criminal background checks for both state and federal levels, professional license verification, education verification, employment verification, and more.
Having these checks performed on every new hire helps protect your organization from negligent hiring lawsuits, which can result in high costs for the business. Additionally, running these checks on current employees is a best practice for maintaining confidence in your staff year-round.
Know the Type of Background Check You Need
Hiring the right people is critical for healthcare organizations to ensure the safety of their patients and staff. Whether you are hiring new doctors, nurses, or other employees, a thorough background check is essential to avoiding legal problems, malpractice lawsuits, and reputational damage.
A comprehensive background check includes a criminal history screening, drug testing, and employment verification. It should also have a national sex offender search, mainly if your candidate works with children.
Know the Process
Healthcare background checks are necessary for hiring doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals. They protect patients, employees, and facilities from dangerous, incompetent, or unqualified employees.
They can also help you avoid the high costs of medical malpractice lawsuits and other legal liabilities. For example, hospitals typically disqualify candidates reported to industry exclusion and sanction lists or whose licenses have been revoked.
Know the Type of Information You Want
Whether hiring a nurse, medical assistant, home health aide, or other healthcare professionals, you want to know that the person you hire can do their job safely. That is why a thorough background check is essential for healthcare organizations.
A national criminal search is one of the most common types of background checks. These searches tap comprehensive databases and examine offender registries from all 50 states.
Before requesting the fine print, you must know precisely what information you need. For instance, is it just a medical background check, or are you looking to screen interns and non-medical staff?
To streamline things, list the most critical searches you need and ensure the screening providers are well-versed in your needs. It will ensure you get the most relevant results possible and keep you on the right track to success. Consider using the same provider for multiple healthcare positions to reduce confusion.
Know the Time Frame
A healthcare background check takes time because it requires information from multiple sources, including licensing boards, educational institutions, and past employers. Depending on your needs, this could take weeks to months, especially if you try to do it yourself.
Hiring a background screening company that knows the ins and outs of your industry can save you a lot of time and hassle. They also know the laws that vary from state to state. It is critical to keep your business compliant, and avoiding potential fines or lawsuits is vital.
Know the Type of Report You Want
Choosing the correct type of background check will save you time, money, and headaches. There are many options, from the basic to the comprehensive.
The most comprehensive option will be able to cover all bases. For instance, a license verification search will prove you are hiring a bona fide doctor or nurse. In contrast, education and employment verification will reveal whether an applicant has the experience to support their claim. It is a good idea to partner with an expert that understands your unique needs and is familiar with the industry’s regulations.
Know the Fees
One of the areas with the most regulations is healthcare, and unreliable workers can be costly for your business. As such, it is crucial to partner with a background check company that understands your compliance requirements and has the resources to stay ahead of the curve when screening candidates.
The fees for a good background check vary depending on which screenings you need and where you live. Ensure you are getting the best deal by asking for an accurate bid.
Know the Time Frame
When you hire healthcare employees, you want to ensure they are the right fit for your team and that their background does not risk your patients or sensitive information. That is why the healthcare industry requires a particular type of background check.
For instance, a drug screening is essential for healthcare workers who deal with potentially dangerous drugs. It is also vital to verify your candidates’ education and employment history so you can be confident they are qualified for the position. It ensures patient safety and confidentiality.
Most healthcare background checks go back at least seven years. It is standard across the industry and considered sufficient time to dredge up anything that could interfere with your hiring process.
However, not all records are reportable for this amount of time. It is vital to work with a background check provider who understands the period limits in your industry.