If you want to bring on the very best team members possible, you will want to make sure you use all of the tools available. Today, technology has made it easier than ever to check out an applicant’s information. This information is crucial to the hiring process. This is especially true in the healthcare field. Because health care workers provide such critical care it is essential that you are hiring the very best, most reliable candidates.
One of the ways you can better screen health care applicants is by understanding sanctions. Keep reading to learn more about this crucial step in the health care hiring process.
What Are Sanctions?
In the United States, the Department of Health and Human Services has put in place a system of protection for employers, patients, and customers to ensure that dangerous health care workers are not posing a threat to the public. If a health care worker is “sanctioned” it means that they have violated important laws concerning their work or care of individuals. The sanctions placed on the worker will prohibit them from working in any program associated with Federal Medicaid or Medicare.
How Can You Use Sanctions Checks?
Even if your company is not associated with Medicaid or Medicare, you can still use sanctions checks in order to screen health care job applicants. The sanctions database is available for the public to view. By taking advantage of this database, you will be able to take your screening process one step further. This information can help you make the best hiring decisions for your health care-based company.
What Does A Sanctions Check Reveal?
The sanctions check will reveal if Federal sanctions were placed on an individual by the Federal government. Sanctions can be placed for a number of reasons. Some of the reasons can include:
- Conviction of Medicaid or Medicare fraud
- Patient abuse or neglect
- Felonies for health care-related fraud
- Felonies for manufacturing, prescribing, or distributing controlled substances
There are other reasons why sanctions can be placed as well. The important thing to remember is that if an individual has had sanctions placed on them it means that the Federal government does not believe they are safe to be working in the health care field.
An employer still has the right to hire someone with sanctions placed on them, however. If your company is not associated with the Medicaid or Medicare programs, you can still hire a person who has been placed under sanctions. However, you should keep in mind that you are not only putting your company at risk, but you are also putting your customers, clients, or patients at risk as well. Sanctions are a big deal and should be taken very seriously.
How Can I Check For Sanctions?
The easiest way to check for sanctions is to use a sanctions check service. This will streamline the process for you. Remember, the information will simply tell you that a sanction was placed and what it was for. You will be required to make your own decisions based on that information.
Other Ways To Check Health Care Workers
One of the best ways to screen your potential health care workers is to do thorough work history checks. This can often require that you do some research and speak with past employers. Health care workers can have many far-reaching consequences when workers are not taking their responsibilities seriously. You cannot afford to cut corners when you are considering applicants for health care positions.
A sanctions check just one more way you can screen your job applicants to make sure you are getting the very best team members.
