Maryland Medical Board Considering Background Check Policy

Currently 37 states conduct background checks on physicians, but Maryland is one of 13 that do not. However, other professionals such as nurses, therapists, social workers, etc are subject to a background check. For some reason, doctors are one of the few professions that are left out of this requirement. The state of Maryland is considering adopting a background check policy, requiring criminal background checks on physicians before obtaining their state license.

The Maryland Board of Physicians received a shock when practicing physician of nearly two decades, Dr. William Dando, was accused of sexually assaulting a patient at an urgent care center. During the investigation it was discovered that Dando had previously been convicted and served a sentence for raping a woman at gunpoint in Florida in 1987. Dando served four years of a ten-year sentence before being released for good behavior. He then started practicing medicine in Maryland in 1996.

This revelation served as a wakeup call and the medical board soon thereafter began considering a background check policy to ensure the safety of their citizens. The board is considering a system that would run electronic fingerprints through state and FBI databases to get results in as soon as 24 hours. The board is still weighing its options and hasn’t released details as of yet, but they are working towards a legislative proposal.

Examples like Dando are proof that we still have a long ways to go with background checks. Of course a background check doesn’t guarantee that criminals or potential criminals won’t hold medical positions, but a background check could have prevented the above crime from happening.

Does your state require criminal background checks of medical professionals?

The Different Types of Background Checks—Are you Doing the Right Ones?

Employers conduct background checks—or hire companies like Victig to do them—to ensure that their company, employees, clients, and sensitive information stays safe. But they may still be exposed to risks by not conducting the right background check. To determine which background checks apply to which jobs or professions, you must understand the limitations and goals of the different background checks available.

Criminal Background Check

Although employers can’t hold a criminal record against someone, they can choose not to hire them for a position of trust or finance if they’ve been convicted of a theft. However, an applicant should be forthcoming about any and all convictions. You’ll want to check more than national records as well as local criminal records; some convicts may travel to other states to avoid past convictions.

DMV Records

Employers can check an applicant’s driving record. Not only is this important if the job involves some driving, but a driving record can give a little more insight into an applicant’s character.

Credit Check

Employers may not only check an applicant’s credit if they’re applying for a financial position, but also to see if they are responsible. Showing responsibility and maturity with money may indicate what kind of employee they will be.

Employment Background Check

Want to catch the one-third of the population that lies on their resume? They you’d better run an employment background check to verify dates, salary, and job description. You don’t want to hire someone who will compromise their integrity to get a job.

Education Verification

Along with employment history, many applicants lie or aggrandize their education. Whether it is accolades, scholarships, coursework, G.P.A., or even degrees earned that is fabricated, it is all fraud. You would be surprised by the number of professionals who have lied about their education in some way, and even gotten away with it for a time.