| So you've finally surpassed the arduous studying | | | | starts after the physician has already accepted |
| for board exams, you've survived medical school, | | | | the offer. |
| and you're now finally an inch closer towards | | | | There are many reasons for conducting a record |
| becoming a full-fledged doctor! Everything should | | | | search on a doctor. One reason is that hospitals |
| be smooth-sailing from now right. Well, not so | | | | invest so much money, time and resources in |
| fast. There are still so many procedures to | | | | recruiting the best possible doctors so it's only |
| undergo. There's applying for residencies, | | | | natural that they want to hire only the ones who |
| internships and surveying the best hospitals to | | | | are really suited for the job. Medical malpractice |
| work for. That in itself is as tough a task as any | | | | lawsuits are also rife and rampant these days and |
| other. | | | | these can affect the reputation of a medical |
| When applying for hospitals, a criminal record | | | | institution. Medical malpractice results from the |
| check is usually asked of physicians. Even if the | | | | incompetence of some doctors, which ultimately |
| doctor has tremendous academic achievement, it | | | | stem from negligence and poor training. Hospitals |
| is still important to check the background of the | | | | only want to protect their staff, their doctors, |
| doctor because he is, after all, dealing with | | | | and of course, their patients. |
| life-and-death situations. He will be dealing with | | | | Just like with any other employees applying for a |
| patients and ultimately he will be reflecting on the | | | | position in a company, physicians need to give |
| high standards of the hospital he is applying for. It | | | | their consent before their prospective employer |
| is essential that the doctor possesses only the | | | | conducts a background check on them. Hospitals |
| highest level of professionalism and skill. | | | | just cannot randomly perform searches without |
| Traditionally, a physician's background check is | | | | the permission or approval of the physician. The |
| made after the doctor accepts an offer already. | | | | check covers such items such as employment |
| The times have changed, though. In most | | | | credit profile, affiliations with professional |
| hospitals today, most applying physicians must | | | | organizations, training programs including internship, |
| expect to have been background-checked before | | | | residency and fellowship. Of course, educational |
| expecting an offer. In most cases, a background | | | | attainment will be covered also, as well as |
| check is conducted even before an interview is | | | | previous employment and even the state and |
| scheduled. The process of credential verification | | | | federal court records of motor vehicle history. |