Health Providers at Risk Without "Safe Hiring" Practices

Background Screening Uncovers Applicants' Criminal Backgrounds

by Barry J. Nadell, April 20, 2001

Health care providers have reason to practice safe hiring according to the results of study released today which shows that 11.5% of employment applicants (better than one in ten) carry criminal records, whether felony or misdemeanor. The study was conducted internally by InfoLink Screening Services, Inc., a nationwide screening company and provider of services to many health care organizations. Other than those offering in-home health care, health providers are not required by law to conduct criminal searches. However, the results of the study validate the concerns of organizations which conduct such screening anyway.

The security measures of health care providers are a consumer issue, states Barry Nadell, President and co-founder of InfoLink Screening Services. If you are a patient or related to one, you want to feel comfortable with the people delivering that care. More and more providers are taking advantage of background screening to ensure that the environment they offer to both their patients and staff is a secure one.

Major findings of the study reveal that of those with criminal records, auto-related crimes were the largest category of offence at 34.8%, followed by theft/fraud offences at 20.8%. Crimes of violence or threatened violence accounted for 15.4% of the crimes uncovered. Another 14.9% were caused by alcohol and narcotics offenses. The remaining 14.5%, classified miscellaneous, included crimes such as prostitution, violation of probation, contempt of court, criminal trespass and others.

Within the largest category of automotive-related crimes, key sub-categories included DUIs accounting for 42.3% of offenses, unlicensed drivers for 19.5% and driving with a suspended license for 18.1%.

The theft/fraud category of convictions was split between theft convictions of 78.3% (including theft, grand theft, petty theft, shoplifting, burglary) and fraud convictions of 21.7% (including forgery, welfare fraud, passing worthless checks).

Convictions in the violence/threats category consisted mainly of battery (44.1%) or public disturbance (35.3%); the latter category including arson, fighting in public, resisting arrest, disturbing the peace and creating a public nuisance.

InfoLink provides background screening to over 1,200 health care facilities nationwide. The study addressed 1,920 applications from fifteen randomly selected California providers. Each organization had processed over 100 applicants dating from as early as April, 1999, to the present. The study addressed searches of criminal records only and did not include other types of screening such as DMV records, Social Security identity checks, credit checks, or checks of past employment and education which can also be run by prospective employers. The report is one in a series conducted by InfoLink to identify and address the employment screening requirements of specific industries it serves.

Employers may not deny employment to an applicant strictly due to a past conviction or convictions, unless their profession is one where laws prohibit hiring those with criminal backgrounds, or unless the employer can show the conviction relates directly to the position applied for. However, many applicants disqualify themselves by attempting to conceal past convictions which are nevertheless uncovered during background screening by a professional consumer reporting agency.