COUNTY TO REQUIRE STANDARDIZED CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECKS FOR CONTRACTING AGENCIES

 

 

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 10, 2009                                                                                                        For Immediate Release

 

COUNTY TO REQUIRE STANDARDIZED CRIMINAL

BACKGROUND CHECKS FOR CONTRACTING AGENCIES

 

LOS ANGELES COUNTY – The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a motion by Supervisors Michael D. Antonovich and Molina establishing a standard criminal background check protocol for all registry and temporary staffing agency contractors to administer 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.”  

 

The motion also directed the CEO 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.   

 

Additionally, the Office of Public Safety was directed to implement a security protocol requiring all County hospitals and clinic personnel to display an appropriate identification badge in accordance with County policy. 

 

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