Healthcare workers have been considered synonymous with the divine, due to their power to heal, however, slight negligence from them can result in a catastrophe. Hence, it is significant to conduct thorough Background screening of healthcare workers before hiring.

Index Medical malpractice in Pakistan The need for background checks in healthcare Types of background checks for medical professionals

Medical malpractice in Pakistan

Doctors are amongst the most sued professionals in the world. This finding is consistent with the fact that about 45,000 and 98,000 fatalities that occur each year in the United States may be attributed to malpractice. Similarly, it can truly be said for Pakistan where instances of medical negligence are neither documented nor redressed. The only cases that come into the limelight are those related to celebrities, such as those of Huma Wasim and Fauzia Wahab to name a few. 

Medical malpractice is synonymously used with Medical negligence, and for most purposes that is accurate. It is usually faulty operation techniques, administration of wrong injections, use of expired drugs, wrong diagnosis, and wrong treatment/medicine that leads to serious injuries and even death. More often than not, something as alarming as leaving gauze pieces and instruments in the abdomen of a patient during surgery has also been observed. Refer to the figure which tabulates data for malpractice awareness among surgeons at a teaching
hospital in Pakistan.

The need for background checks in healthcare

It is crucial to conduct a background screening for healthcare institute as it’s the duty of a healthcare provider to offer medical advice and treatment. However, a sense of responsibility cannot be guaranteed in the absence of accountability, which in turn requires a comprehensive medical law system to be in place. Such a system is almost non-existent in Pakistan. 

In the absence of a well-defined law system, it is essential for any healthcare institute to conduct background verification of its doctors, nurses, and other medical staff which would allow its patients to trust the institute completely.

To prevent fraud & malpractice
When it comes to healthcare, mostly it’s a “do or die” situation, hence, the risk is always greater. Malpractices and frauds have become a constant problem in the healthcare sector. Fraud can be committed at various stages in the healthcare sector spanning from doctors, nurses, pharmaceuticals, drugs, tests standardization, drugs testing, clinical trials, and medicine invention. The consequences of human error aggravate, especially in such an environment. Several things might go wrong due to staff negligence and potentially pose risks to patient’s health. Thus, it becomes an immediate priority to conduct comprehensive background checks on the staff being hired as the patient's health is at stake.

To create a safe work environment
Healthcare practitioners have a serious job of being entitled to the patients’ sensitive information and practitioners with malicious intentions may use their position to harm vulnerable patients such as children and older people. Alternatively, running a complete background check can help protect and ensure the safety of your clientele. 

Furthermore, a healthcare background check enables you to rule out any potential staff who might be subjected to various disciplinary actions or might have been sanctioned. Criminal background checks reduce the likelihood of hiring individuals with prior disciplinary actions or criminal records, safeguarding your organization from potential risks and curtailing greater consumer trust. 

To ensure the safety of the client
Healthcare workers are obviously, more aware of their patients' personal growth and medical history, which is sensitive data kept private for every patient. Increasingly, there is a greater risk of biases being created based on caste, color, race, or sex. Employees with questionable motives may use this data for personal benefits, hampering the trust in the institution and services being provided. 

Background verification companies verify that every candidate hired is trustworthy and has a clean record. They do so by conducting the employee’s criminal history check for accountability.

Types of background checks for medical professionals

Identity verification check
Identity checks ensure that potential candidates are providing correct information regarding their identity. This also determines whether the rest of the information shared by your employee is accurate. An identity verification ensures that background screening is aimed at the correct person and not someone with the same name. 

Professional license verification
Any healthcare organization needs to make sure that the hired candidate is not exaggerating their credentials; making credentials verification a must. A professional license verification procedure ensures that the new professional hired has the required license to work respectfully and ethically. A healthcare license is more than a set of credentials. Your organization may face substantial legal penalties if you hire someone without the proper license by mistake, including negligent hiring lawsuits. Additionally, this process helps reveal any prior restrictions on the candidate’s license.

Employment and education verification
A medical professional requires a significant list of credentials, certificates, and other accolades, many of which are based upon their prior job experiences or educational institutes.  Education background check & degree verification of employees help ensure that candidates do not falsify their qualifications. It is quite easy to mention a prestigious institute in the resume’, however, the verification procedure ensures that candidates state the truth about their education, training, and work experience.

Conclusion

In a world where trust is the cornerstone of successful relationships, Check Xperts leads the way in revolutionizing background screening in Pakistan by offering a comprehensive suite of verification services, including License verification, Education Check, and Criminal background checks, just to name a few. With a commitment to transparency and authenticity, Check Xperts provides precise, tailored solutions for healthcare organizations. By optimizing staff reliability and ensuring compliance, we empower healthcare providers to focus on delivering exceptional services while fostering a secure and trustworthy environment for patients

So, whether you are a new healthcare organization working to provide exceptional services to your patients, or you are an existing organization intending to optimize your staff to the maximum, Check Xperts is your one-step, modern day solution to achieve your goal of a trustworthy, optimized, verified staff.