Background Checks

Information for Students on Background Checks

On January 1, 2004, the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) instituted new regulations for accreditation of hospitals, home health agencies, clinics, etc. to gain or maintain accreditation status. One of these new regulations requires that all persons who are involved in patient care activities, including employees, volunteers, AND STUDENTS, must have criminal background checks and other health care-related checks. Most public/private school systems are requiring background checks as well

Initiating the Background Check

Prior to their final acceptance and initial enrollment in classes, conditionally accepted applicants will be directed to have a background check completed by Validity Screening Solutions. Online results will be emailed to the Center for Health Informatics where they will be reviewed and accessible through Validity Screening Solutions. Your acceptance into the graduate Health informatics program will not be final until the Center for Health Informatics has received background check information from the reporting agencies.

The background check performed by Validity Screening Solutions includes:

1. Social Security Number Trace (primarily serves as an address/identity verification tool)
2. Criminal History (felony/misdemeanor convictions/pending cases at county, state, and federal levels)
3. OIG/GSA (searches Office of Inspector General and General Service Administration for fraud against any federally funded health care program, i.e., Medicare, Medicaid, etc.)
4. Multi-State Sex Offender Registry

The student must pay the one-time fee directly to the company performing the background investigation. Please be aware that while most health care facilities with whom KU has affiliation contracts will accept this verification of a background check, some may require a more current report. The Center for health Informatics requires only one background check prior to final acceptance and subsequent enrollment into an academic program.