Most of us have heard stories about people we know being taken to the hospital and then being taken for their valuable. We have heard about jewelry being relieved, precious heirlooms, watches, cash, whatever. It may have been you who has had this ugly experience.
It turns out, according to an article in the Los Angeles Times, that many healthcare workers are not receiving background checks. While facilities have preemployment screening programs in place, there is little if any follow through. Anywhere from half to a third of the healthcare workers slip through the cracks. Some have criminal records.
We are talking about tens of thousands of medical and healthcare workers in California alone. No small number. These employees can range from doctors and therapists to the hospital aide or the person pushing your gurney. These almost two hundred thousand workers in California enjoys its fair share or predators, sexual deviants, drug addicts and violent offenders. And, of course, a sprinkling of thieves.
There are background searches available for those administrators wanting check out employees, specifically in the healthcare industry. Aside from the usual criminal background checks there is the OIG/GSA Government Sanctions Report. This can tell you whether a worker is excluded from working in any federally funded program. There are professional licenses checks to make sure you employees is certified and that all licenses and certifications are current and in good standing.
Not checking out healthcare workers is really a travesty. Unfortunately, it is the kind of travesty we have come to expect. And that is not right.
