CHARLESTON, W.Va. — In nearly two months, state Department of Health and Human Resources officials have flagged over a dozen applicants who were not eligible for employment through the WV CARES Program.
The program, that stands for West Virginia Clearance for Access: Registry and Employment Screening, requires both state and federal background checks for those applying for jobs at long-term health care facilities. The federal checks were added in August.
“We have been able to identify 14 individuals who have been ineligible to work in long-term care facilities, mainly nursing homes right now,” said WV CARES Program Director Meghan Shears.
Shears said they were able to discover some applicants had a criminal history.
“We actually found three individuals who were wanted from other states for various crimes. We turned that information over to the State Police,” she said.
That information lead to one person being extradited to stand trial for the crime they were wanted for. Shears did not give specific details of the crimes, but did say they are glad these people were caught.
“That’s our goal is to make sure the vulnerable citizens in the long-term care facilities are being taken care of by the best possible employees,” she said.
Shears said the unfortunate event of identifying a person with criminal history is something they know they will continue to find by using the program.
“I would love to never have to find anyone ineligible,” she said. “That would be the best thing because we know that the people that are applying are the best of the best, but ultimately we understand that that’s not going to happen.”
Screenings will continue for any healthcare worker with access to a patient’s resident or beneficiaries of long-term care services. The services include skilled nursing facilities, nursing facilities, home health agencies, hospice care, long-term care hospitals, personal care services, adult day care, residential care providers and workers employed in assisted living facilities for those with intellectual disabilities.
The program will be phased in over the next few months, so all providers can use the new screening system by the beginning of 2016.
West Virginia’s long-term care facilities are home to approximately 12,000 residents and employ roughly 18,000 direct access workers.
The program is administered by DHHR and in partnership with the West Virginia State Police Criminal Investigation Bureau.