Importance of Healthcare Background Checks
Ensuring the safety and well-being of patients receiving home healthcare services is paramount. Healthcare background screenings are crucial to maintain high standards of care. You cannot have one without the other.
These checks help identify any red flags that indicate a risk to patient safety. Screenings mitigate the risks of hiring.
This process helps to build trust between patients, caregivers, and healthcare organizations. In an industry where vulnerable individuals rely on professionals, trust is paramount. They serve as a protective measure against potential harm or negligence.
But it also does something – it instills trust within the workforce. Retention is a huge issue for many home healthcare providers – and it isn’t going away! Home care is at a breaking point, with over 15 million patients and 600 million visits yearly. However, the answer isn’t to make a large number of hires. It’s to make better, smarter hires. Knowing someone’s full background can help you make hires that make sense.
What Do Healthcare Background Checks Look For?
The focus of these checks is on ensuring the safety and well-being of patients. Providers look for a range of information to assess candidates thoroughly. This includes verifying educational credentials, checking licensing status, and reviewing work history.
Criminal background checks identify any red flags that might compromise patient care. More experienced recruiters may notice these red flags right away. Others need help identifying them, either through background screening services or a mentor. What are they looking for?
- No history of violence or misconduct that could put patients at risk.
- Applicable certifications or education to ensure proper treatment.
- Reference checks from past employers, families, or co-workers.
- Drug testing ensures that one can provide care.
The problem? Not all home care companies do this! Instead, they do only the most basic screenings to check off the box. This is not fair to the families served nor to the other workers. Employers need to screen for issues that could impact one’s ability to do the job.
Healthcare background checks create a safe environment – but only when done correctly.
Common Pitfalls in Healthcare Background Checks
In healthcare hiring, there are common pitfalls that compromise patient safety. One of the main issues is relying only on self-disclosure by applicants. People may not always be forthcoming about their past indiscretions or criminal history. Why? They need jobs and a paycheck to survive. It’s very well known that this is an industry that needs to make a lot of hires. They figure that as long as they apply and don’t reveal their past, they’ll be able to get a few paychecks. Others may not even know that a certain violation in their past will hurt their chances!
Another pitfall is the lack of thorough verification processes. Incomplete or inaccurate information slips through the cracks without proper validation. Those who know they don’t qualify bank on home healthcare recruiters not checking.
While this is morally wrong of the applicant, the onus is on the company. Failing to check for sanctions or disciplinary actions puts patients at risk. Moreover, overlooking gaps in employment history can lead to missing important red flags. Gaps could indicate unaccounted-for periods where misconduct or illegal activities took place.
Avoiding these pitfalls maintains high standards of care in home healthcare.