ANTONOVICH CALLS FOR STANDARDIZED BACKGROUND CHECKS FOR AGENCIES THAT LICENSE HEALTHCARE WORKERS

 

 

PRESS RELEASE

Contact:  Tony Bell, Communications Deputy    Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich Office:  (213) 974-5555   Cell: (213) 215-5176    E-mail:  tbell@bos.lacounty.gov

 

 

   February 9, 2009                                                                                                       For Immediate Release

 

ANTONOVICH CALLS FOR STANDARDIZED BACKGROUND CHECKS FOR AGENCIES THAT LICENSE HEALTHCARE WORKERS

 

LOS ANGELES COUNTY -- Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich will introduce a motion at Tuesday’s Board meeting directing the Chief Executive Officer to establish a standard protocol for the performance of criminal background checks to be followed by all registry and temporary staffing agency contractors to ensure they comply with their contractual responsibilities prior to dispatching staff to County facilities. 

 

“We must ensure that all contact employees have been properly screened to determine their fitness to provide care for patients in our County facilities and clinics,” said Antonovich.  “Requiring agencies to perform these checks adds an additional safeguard on top of the County’s established operational protocols.”  

 

Additionally, the CEO will be directed to investigate the practices of state agencies responsible for the licensing of health care professionals in conducting criminal background checks as a component of the licensing process.  The investigation will review criminal background check criteria, standards and assessment procedures used by each agency.

 

The report will also include recommendations and/or legislative remedies that may be required to ensure that all licensed health care professionals receive a standardized criminal background check as a condition of licensure.   

 

 

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