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Benefits of Employee Background Checks

It is no secret that we live in a litigious society. There is no way for individuals or businesses to completely insulate themselves from potential lawsuits or litigious individuals. There are, however, steps that can be taken to minimize the risk of becoming embroiled in a financially and emotionally draining lawsuit or administrative hearing.

This article focuses on one aspect of safeguarding your practice by performing employee background checks. The performance of employee background checks is important for several reasons, including minimizing the potential exposure to lawsuits or other administrative claims initiated by unhappy patients over alleged inappropriate care, treatment or billing issues. Employee background checks are also important for safeguarding your practice against internal theft. Finally, background checks can assist to protect the safety of your patients and staff.

As an employer and owner of a small business, dentists face possible claims for the negligent hiring of both associate dentists and support staff. Consequently, it is important to perform background checks in order to confirm their qualifications and professional standing. The extent of the background check will depend on various factors, including the position for which the person is being considered.

For example, when the decision is made to hire an associate dentist, it is important to ensure that the prospective associate is appropriately licensed. It is also important to determine whether the licensee is the subject of any present or past licensing action. Confirming your hygienists and/or assistants maintain the appropriate license or certification is equally important, depending on the extent to which you intend on delegating professional services. As a dentist and employer, it is your responsibility to ensure your employees are performing only those services within the scope of their license or certification. This determination is regulated by state statutes, on a state by state basis.

Having a responsible and trustworthy staff is integral to the success of any dental practice. Background checks of individuals handling administrative areas of your practice, such as billing, are important, since patient dissatisfaction often originates from billing disputes. The prudent owner should also attempt to protect the practice from internal theft, billing inaccuracies and inappropriate communication with patients concerning their bills. Obviously, maintaining happy and satisfied patients' aides in patient retention and referrals. It also helps to avoid malpractice claims. Remember, a patient that considers you more than just their dentist is less likely to file a claim of malpractice or institute some other form of administrative proceeding against you.

Developing strong relationships with patients not only applies to you as the dentist, but also your staff. Since your support staff will be regularly interacting with your patients, it is important to be sure they share a positive attitude towards your patients. Knowing the background of your employees and prospective employees can assist in determining whether a particular employee is a good fit for your practice.

Background checks may also protect the safety of your workplace from the threat of harm by those who may be a danger to themselves or others. An individual's history of convictions for theft, violent crimes, or the possession of controlled substances is all factors to consider when determining whether a prospective employee should be hired.

There are numerous methods of performing background checks, including obtaining credit reports, performing criminal background checks, obtaining education and driving records, checking public records and obtaining information regarding an individual's past employment experiences. Depending on the circumstances, visiting various social networking sites or performing "Google" searches may also provide insight into a prospective applicant's background. Obtaining proper consent for the performance of many of these checks is recommended and, in many instances, mandatory. Careful consideration must be given before performing background checks to ensure you do not run afoul of the laws which protect the privacy rights of prospective employees and protect individuals from unlawful discrimination.

Numerous laws and regulations exist which must be closely followed to perform lawful employee background checks. Of course, a lawful background check cannot guarantee you will not have issues with your staff, but it can certainly help minimize the potential exposure and risk you face as an owner of a dental practice. Consultation with an attorney is recommended to be sure that you are in compliance with the requirements for a lawful background check.