Connecticut to require comprehensive employee background check for long-term care facilities

The Connecticut Department of Public Health has launched a comprehensive background check program for direct care employees of nursing homes and other long-term care agencies.

The Applicant Background Check Management System helps nursing homes and other providers identify whether a job seeker has a disqualifying criminal conviction or other patient abuse or neglect information that could make him or her unsuitable to work directly with residents.

“With this system, Connecticut has implemented an important safeguard which will help protect the health and safety of some of our most vulnerable residents and clients,” says DPH Commissioner Jewel Mullen, MD, MPH, MPA, in a news release.

State law requires national background checks for all prospective direct patient care employee or volunteer that includes searching both state and federal criminal records, abuse and neglect registries and databases such as the Connecticut Nurse Aide Registry. In the past, it was up to the facilities to conduct background checks

Long-term care facilities or providers covered under the new program include nursing homes, residential care homes, home health agencies, assisted living services agencies, intermediate care facilities for persons with intellectual disabilities, long-term care hospitals and hospice providers.

Nicole Stempak

Nicole was Senior Editor at I Advance Senior Care and Long Term Living Magazine 2015-2017. She has a Journalism degree from Kent State University and is finalizing a master’s degree in Information Architecture and Management. She has extensive studies in the digital user experience and in branding online media. She has worked as an editor and writer for various B2B publications, including Business Finance.