In-Depth Background Checks for Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) and Paramedics
EMTs, paramedics and ambulance drivers are often the first medical support a patient receives in an emergency situation. If your organization hires candidates for these roles, you need to know you are hiring the most qualified candidates possible — people your patients can count on during the most difficult and stressful moments of their lives.
Understanding Regulations for Medical Transport Drivers
Even for non-emergency transportation, performing a complete background check on your medical transport drivers is critical. Medical transport drivers often transport members of highly vulnerable populations, including the elderly and the disabled. So beyond being trustworthy and responsible, they also need to be capable of making patients feel safe and cared for during transport.
Employers providing medical transport services are also subject to various federal and state regulations to ensure the safety of their services. This can include regulations from all of the following:
- Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA)
- Department of Transportation (DOT)
- Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
Regulations vary widely by state, so it’s important to understand what checks are required for your drivers and how often they’re needed. Though they may not provide hands-on medical care, medical transport drivers are still a key part of your and your patients’ healthcare teams — and their background checks are just as important.
Hire Safe and Reliable EMTs
Background checks for ambulance drivers and other medical transportation providers are unique, even within the medical industry, for one very important reason — the need to check driving records.
Ambulance drivers must be able to drive safely at high speeds, making on-the-spot decisions to navigate crowded roadways and reach patients quickly. They must also be able to do this while transporting patients that may be in critical, life-threatening condition, placing the driver under extreme stress. Hiring a safe driver helps protect your patients while minimizing the risk of accidents, lawsuits, and fines for your organization.
At Accurate, we perform a detailed check that can provide you any history of DUIs and any moving violations that may be relevant to your hiring decisions.
The Importance of Background Checks for Healthcare Transport
EMTs and paramedics provide critical, on-the-spot care that can save a patient’s life and allow them to reach a doctor or surgeon’s care.
Conducting regular background checks on both new and current employees helps you give patients the quality care they deserve, while protecting your business and helping you stay compliant with regulatory requirements.
Accurate’s background checks verify your candidates’ education, applicable licenses, employment history, and more, giving you a clear, complete picture of their qualifications, experience and fitness for the job. Drug and Occupational Health testing is also typical in hiring for these roles. In addition to checking criminal records, our paramedic background check also searches key databases — like the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) Exclusion List and Systems and Award Monitoring (SAM) sanctions list — for any exclusions or sanctions on their record.
Our background checks are customizable for each organization’s needs. Contact Accurate today to find the right background screening program for your business.
Connect With Our Healthcare Expert!
Whether you’re new to background screening or looking for a better solution, our healthcare expert Dawson Pulliam is here to help you. Get a free consultation today to see how Accurate can help your healthcare organization onboard candidates faster and ensure your clinical staff is properly licensed.
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Disclaimer
The commentary above is not offered as legal advice but is instead offered for informational purposes. Accurate Background is not a law firm and does not offer legal advice. The above commentary is therefore not intended as a substitute for the legal advice of an attorney knowledgeable of the user’s individual circumstances or to provide legal advice. Accurate Background makes no assurances regarding the accuracy, completeness, currency, or utility of the preceding information.
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