California will impose a stronger set of background checks for Healthcare workers who have been disciplined as drug abusers. More specifically, any healthcare professionals in state run recovery programs will be mandated to take a minimum of 104 drug test that first year after they have been committed to the program. According to the article in the Los Angeles Times, if there is one positive result then they will be temporarily removed from practice.
The change in California policy is a result of investigations conducted by the Los Angeles Times and Pro Publica where they found healthcare professionals where helping themselves to prohibited drugs from the medical repositories. Even when the state did discover the theft, it was taking around 15 months to bring charges. Meanwhile they were working, attending to patients and in some cases stealing from those patients. Amazing.
So with healthcare insurance being so high, the average patient not only endures the thrill of paying out of pocket, but may be robbed by the healthcare professionals as well. Not what I would call the bonus plan. So now California is taking the additional steps to protect the public. A good thing, for sure.
For substance abusing healthcare professionals, they will now undergo a series of drug tests. If they have a relapse, if their habits get the best of them, they will be kicked off the job.
Check them out before you hire.
