Employment Background Checks

What happens to a person’s information such as their Social Security Number (SSN) once they’ve passed away? In 1980, the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) developed an electronic database called the Death Master File (DMF), or sometimes referred to as the Social Security Death Index (SSDI), which currently contains over 85 million Social Security records of deceased individuals issued since 1936.

Background check compliance continues to be a hot topic moving through 2018. From increased class-action lawsuits to data breaches affecting millions, it’s critical that employers exercise their proper due diligence to safeguard their organization and the reputation they must uphold.

Governor Jerry Brown signed Assembly Bill 1008 into law on October 14^, 2017, expanding a section of the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) to restrict employers’ ability to make pre-hire and employment decisions based on an individual’s criminal history. California’s Ban the Box law is effective January 1, 2018.

AB 1008 applies to all employers in California with five or more employees and restricts affected employers from:

While most healthcare employers conduct background checks on new hires, it can also be a component that can increase the time to fill for talent acquisition. While human resources departments have traditionally been viewed as cost centers, focusing on improving metrics such as time to fill that can demonstrate improved return on investment can change this perception. Since shorter background check turnaround times can contribute to improved results and cost reduction, we compiled this list of ways you can approach this critical component of the hiring process.

As an employer in healthcare, running employment background checks is an integral part of your hiring and talent qualification process. It reduces compliance risk and ensures your due diligence in promoting a safe working environment to deliver quality patient care.

Background screening has become increasingly important in today’s competitive, complex and security-minded labor marketplace. Not only must organizations navigate an ever-evolving patchwork of federal and state regulations, they must cope with an emerging “gig economy” characterized by growing numbers of short-term contract and freelance employees.

The healthcare industry is one of the most complex and highly regulated, which means employers have a greater responsibility to ensure a safe workplace environment not just for their own staff, but also for patients. The past decade has seen advancements in technology and best practices for the industry, with the Affordable Care Act (ACA) placing greater emphasis on quality of care and patient safety. Industry regulators have provided updated guidance and newer technologies have allowed leading organizations and systems to improve the efficiency of their screening efforts.

Selecting a background screening company for healthcare has increased significance when compared to other industries because it can have a big impact on patient safety. With the healthcare industry’s rising challenge of consumerism, an effective background screening process is critical for delivering the best patient care.

I recently had the opportunity to speak with our partner 1st Healthcare Compliance about the work we do at PreCheck. In my interview, I discuss PreCheck’s background and how our company has evolved over time to meet the healthcare industry’s needs. Additionally, I examine key recommendations for an effective, compliant healthcare background screening program.

The following represent the key takeaways from my interview:

While most healthcare employers conduct some form of employment background checks to safeguard their patients and staff, these screenings should not be limited to the ones conducted at the time of hire. Indeed, background screening experts have identified the emergence of a new trend referred to as infinity screening. “Infinity screening is the process of conducting background checks on current employees on a periodic or ongoing basis to stay informed about life changes which could create increased risk for your organization,” W.