EmployeeScreenIQ

One Ohio hospital system is implementing background check rules to help keep patients and workers safer.

University Hospitals began requiring extra security measures, including fingerprinting doctors, last year for employees, volunteers and anyone else who comes in contact with patients.

"Because of the attacks, we went though a rigorous process of heightening security and background checks," hospital spokeswoman Janice Guhl said in an article by the Plain Dealer.

The efforts stemmed from an incident in which a temporary nurse's aide abused patients in 2007. The temporary agency that sent that worker to UH had failed to complete a required criminal background check. A further state investigation found other workers had not undergone the necessary checks.

UH has required fingerprinting and background checks for all employees except doctors since 2004. However, the new rules include doctors in the checks, as well as students from medical and nursing schools. Temp agencies also now have to provide background checks, which are then reviewed by the hospital.

While violent crimes are usually rare, Cleveland police reported 176 assaults and 1,500 crimes at hospitals and other medical facilities from 2001 through April 2008.

William Nesbitt, a hospital security consultant in California, said in the article he has seen more sexual assaults and other crimes involving temporary hospital workers in recent years.

"There has probably been some naivete on the part of some hospitals to do their due diligence," he said. "It may be somewhat out of the norm (to require universal fingerprinting), but maybe the norm is moving in that direction."

Labels: Background check