Is Too Much Information Too Much? The State of Florida now requiring Detailed Background Screening
Online, July 19, 2010 (Newswire.com) - No matter where you receive your health or personal care services, the State of Florida just passed legislation requiring detailed, Level II background checks for all new hires after August 1, 2010. The State has always required Level I background checks, which included a statewide criminal search through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. The new law will insure that a nationwide criminal search through the FBI Arrest Database will also be a hiring requirement. This new legislation will be administered by the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) with recertification required every five (5) years for new hires, and Level II eligibility must be completed for all current employees within the next several years as well.
What this means for you, the consumer, is added peace of mind knowing that those who are caring for you or your loved ones in a medical or personal care environment have been screened for criminal offenses and deemed "eligible for hire" by AHCA. So, the next time you are at your doctor's office, visiting a friend or family member in a nursing home or in a hospital or interacting with staff in any other health care environment, rest assured that these individuals have met the State of Florida's requirements.
What this means for health and personal care providers is that proactive hiring plans will need to be adopted so that the added expense and time required to complete the Level II background checks can be accommodated. The Level II background check requires a potential hire to be fingerprinted so that the FBI's National Arrest Database can be searched.
Tony Gomez, President & CEO of Sunshine Research in Tarpon Springs, has been in the information & background check business for 20 years. "There are many ways for Florida's health and personal care providers to continue to offer uninterrupted, quality service to their patients and insure the highest quality hires. The easiest way will be to control the hiring process, and that will mean bringing the capability to perform fingerprinting in-house." He recommends that companies take as much of the guesswork out of the process as possible by securing Fingerprint Packs and investing in the necessary in-house training.
"Having worked for many years with companies that have thorough Hiring Screening Policies, I can tell you that companies have saved substantial time and money by managing the process in-house.'" says Gomez. It reduces the turn-around time for the background search itself, allows a company to staff quickly as needed and can save substantial staff time in monitoring and coordinating the process. Gomez continues, "There is no added expense to completing the Level II paperwork in house and conducting the fingerprinting at the same time a potential job applicant is making application. It's all about thoroughness and convenience for the employer."
You can never have too much information about the people in your life - especially those who provide health and personal care services to you and your loved ones. If you would like more information about Background Check Services, this new consumer legislation, or would like a free consultation please visit www.SunshineResearch.com or www.AHCA.MyFlorida.com.
ABOUT THE COMPANY
Sunshine Research, Inc. is a nationwide investigative firm providing peace of mind - to business owners, employers, landlords, parents or mates. Discreet, thorough, quick and affordable, Sunshine offers a complete line of information services on the people you will do business with or share your life with, including employment, education, credit, civil, criminal, rental or driving histories. Specializing in hands-on, county-level criminal background checks and Florida Level II background checks. Customized reports in 48 hours. No long-term contracts. For more information, call (888) 786-1242 or visit their website at www.SunshineResearch.com.