Fingerprint Background Checks For Doctors
7/18/07-Texas
It's a safeguard for teachers, and day-care workers, and now, your doctors
will soon join the ranks.
The
Texas Medical Board is now putting in tougher criminal background checks.
The action comes after an investigation this year that revealed a
registered sex offender, recognized twice by the State legislature as
Doctor of the Day.
Starting in September all Texas doctors applying to the get their State
Medical Board certification are required to undergo a mandatory
fingerprint background check.
"We look at Texas criminal records through a name search with the
Department of Public Safety. We look at national database, sex offender
database, and other databases," said Jaime Garanflo, Director of
Licensure and Customer Affairs about the current checks in place for
applicants.
Now, the Board is taking on more fool-proof measures to make sure doctors
aren't hiding anything.
"Anybody
who is in Texas who applies for a license would be fingerprinted at a
site. That company would send the prints through the Department of Public
Safety who would then submit to FBI. The agency would get a report back
from both DPS and the FBI," said Garanflo.
These new electronic fingerprint checks will go beyond people trying to
get a license now.
"Right now we are talking about applicants and then later
implementing the possibility for all existing physicians," said
Garanflo.
Most physicians who have nothing to hide have no concern in having
themselves undergo a background check. Local Physician and Smith County
Medical Board President Dr. Jonathan MacClements says this is a good thing
for both local doctors and patients.
"This would absolutely ensure that the patients are safe regarding
the physician that is treating them. As a profession it is absolutely our
responsibility to ensure that the physicians who take care of the public
are honorable members of the society," said Dr. MacClements.
The State Medical Board previously required fingerprint checks using
paper, but they had a number of problems and decided to get rid of it.
But, with the new electronic scanning there will be less room for error,
and the fingerprints stored to keep tabs on your doctors.
Anyone can look up the background on any Texas doctor at
www.tmb.state.tx.us
Danielle Capper, Reporting.
dcapper@kltv.com 
