Failure to Complete Pre-Employment OIG Background Check
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to conduct a required Office of Inspector General (OIG) background check for one of four randomly selected employees, a registered nurse, prior to hire. According to interviews and record reviews with the Director of Staff and Development (DSD), the Director of Nursing (DON), and the Administrator (ADM), the facility's practice was to hire applicants before completing background checks, contrary to the facility's own policy and procedure. The DSD confirmed that the background check for the registered nurse was performed after the hiring date, following instructions from the previous DSD. Both the DON and ADM acknowledged during interviews that background checks should be completed prior to hiring to ensure applicants do not have a history of abuse or criminal records. Review of the facility's policy titled "Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation" indicated that screening for a history of abuse, neglect, exploitation, or misappropriation of resident property must be conducted on potential employees, contracted staff, students, volunteers, and consultants before hire. The policy specifies that background, reference, and credential checks are required prior to employment. The failure to follow this policy resulted in the hiring of an employee before confirming their eligibility through the OIG database.