Pennsylvania to Fingerprint Long-Term Care Workers

New biometrics methods will be established for people applying to work in Pennsylvania’s long-term care facility or home health care agency. As announced by Secretary of Aging Brian Duke, the Pennsylvania Department of Aging will be using an electronic fingerprinting system to screen applicants.

The Older Adults Protective Services Act will require applicants and employees to undergo a criminal history background check beginning June 4. While the Department used to process fingerprints manually, it is now upgrading in order to be compatible with standard law enforcement and screening processes. Under the electronic fingerprinting process, background checks submitted manually will no longer be accepted.

Applicants and employees are required to get their criminal history record reports from the Pennsylvania State Police. For applicants who are not resident in Pennsylvania, they must provide an additional criminal history record from the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Secretary Duke said that this will not only enhance the protections provided to seniors, but electronic fingerprinting will also help to quickly process background checks thereby quickening the speed at which people obtain jobs in Pennsylvania’s health care sector.

Will fingerprinting health care job applicants make senior care safer?

Article Topics

access control  |  fingerprint verification  |  healthcare  |  identity proofing  |  law enforcement  |  secure identification