Medical Malpractice and Inadequate Employee Screening
We often think of medical mistakes happening in a doctor’s office or the surgical suite. Sometimes those mistakes occur elsewhere in a clinic or hospital. Poor laundry or cleaning practices may increase infection risk when patients are recovering in a bed, for example. Sometimes mistakes go all the way to human resources and hiring offices, with unqualified candidates getting medical staff jobs they should not have.
The Salt Lake City, UT medical malpractice and negligence attorneys of Younker Hyde Macfarlane, PLLC would like to consider the importance of employee screenings for medical staff jobs. The failure of a hiring manager can have serious repercussions.
Background Checks Matter
Any time a hospital or clinic hires someone, it’s essential that proper background checks are performed and carried out. This means checking on all references and employment history of medical staff, and making sure that there are no red flags in their background that might disqualify them for a position.
Since medical facilities are tasked with ensuring patient wellness and looking after the best interests of people in their care, there should be some diligence with regard to hiring safe, qualified, individuals to their positions.
Hiring Unqualified Medical Staff
If employees aren’t screened properly, this could lead to unqualified individuals being hired to do jobs that they are not qualified for. It’s crucial that medical staff have relevant experience related to their duties at the facility. If unqualified or inexperienced people are hired at a hospital, the likelihood of preventable mistakes and patient harm increases. Hiring managers should only hire qualified candidates to all hospital or clinic positions.
Employees Lying About Experience and Credentials
Related to the above point, it is possible that a potential employee may lie about his or her past employment history and credentials. In these cases, an unqualified person is hired because they have fabricated their qualifications. When hiring, hospitals must verify employment and education, especially for any positions that involve direct care or contact with patients.
Medical Professionals with a History of Mistakes
Checking on previous performance is part of the employee screening process for people with a history in the medical field. The screening process may reveal a history of past mistakes by a potential employee, some of which may have resulted in medical malpractice lawsuits. If a doctor or medical professional has a track record for negligence, hiring managers should think twice about considering that person for a health care position.
Medical Staff with a Bad Criminal Record
A criminal record may not be immediately disqualifying, but it must be taken on a case-by-case basis. If a potential employee has a violent criminal record or a history of crimes that may put patients at risk, that persons should not hold that job. It’s important that patients always be in good care and well looked after, and that their safety not be jeopardized by medial staff.
Holding Medical Facilities and Staff Accountable
If poor employment screening has led to a patient being harmed, our attorneys can hold the offending individual as well as the hiring managers accountable. We want to make sure that liable parties answer for these mistakes, and that you receive damages for any harm that has come to you as a result of their negligence.
Learn More About Medical Malpractice Lawsuits
To learn more about all of your legal options after a hospital or clinic has caused you harm, be sure to contact our team of medical malpractice lawyers. The legal team at Younker Hyde Macfarlane, PLLC are here to help. You can reach us by phone at (801) 335-7025.
