Group One background checks in Texas

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I have been put into group one, which is a reporting agency that allows other healthcare facilitys to see why I was terminated. I was not given a chance to resign before termination. My question is, can I request to have it changed? Is this a type of discrimination? all this is making me want to get out of healthcare all together, seems like i will allways have a disadvantage being a guy and all.

Specializes in ICU, ER, HH, NICU, now FNP.

http://www.dfwhc.org/groupone/Fair+Credit+Reporting+Act/

If they are experts in the FCRA, then to counter them, you must be too.

And the list posted earlier by another poster was highly incomplete....

http://www.dfwhc.org/about+dfwhc/Member+List/DFWHC+Membership.asp

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Specializes in home & public health, med-surg, hospice.

SO you can complain and you can go work in some othjer city and you can stay out of nursing or whatever you decide to do, but this *IS* a growing practice, it *IS* spreading - and not just in healthcare but in other industries as well, and until those who have been wronged step up and take ACTION nothing will CHANGE. All the complaining and whining and changing careers and working elsewhere will not change it. The attitude is that if you are mad enough at GO to leave DFW then you are probably someone they wouldnt want working in one of their member hospitals anyway.

Under the law, all you can do is follow the fair credit reporting act to change what is not accurate information. Just as a creditor can not put a comment saying you were crazy on your credit report - neither can a past employer. That *IS* libel or slander or one of those and you would have recourse under the law.

I'm not an attorney, I just know the FCRA because I had a problem with a particular creditor and had to exercise my rights. I have never had problems with GO, I hope I never do. I feel for thoseof you who are dealing with them, and I would encourage you all to get in contact with each other as a group and seek assistance. I don't think what they are doing is right, but it is legal unfortunately.

I agree, the only solution is to band together. Each one of you can tackle this issue individually but until you confront them with a united force it will continue.

Another thought is to address this issue (as a united force) with the elected officials. Raise a stink, make a fuss, inform the pubilc about this! What's the worse than can happen???...I mean, you're already bein' blackballed, right?

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Specializes in ICU, ER, HH, NICU, now FNP.

It was orginally designed with the concept that they could keep people with criminal backgrounds out of the facilities - good intent. And I believe it is still used this way. However, certain loopholes allow abuses. It is those abuses you want to stop. Nobody wants to have criminals taking care of patients and I do see a need for something like GroupOne in that regard. It is the abuses of defamation and inaccurate biased information that I keep hearing about that something needs to be done about. It is has been taken too far.

ETA: I doubt even GO wants it's database to be used in a retaliatory fashion or as a threat for an uncooperative employee or by a vindictive manager. It's a shame that they have no way to differentiate.

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And the list posted earlier by another poster was highly incomplete....

http://www.dfwhc.org/about+dfwhc/Member+List/DFWHC+Membership.asp

Wow ... and I thought the other list was long. There's more than 70 hospitals on that list.

:uhoh21:

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Are criminals able the be licensed as nurses in Texas?

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Specializes in ICU, ER, HH, NICU, now FNP.

Criminals cannot be licensed in Texas IF the BNE is aware they are criminals without a long and arduous investigation process depending on the type and level of crime. However - some people commit crimes after they become licensed, and the BNE is not always made aware of it. You know - there has to be a better system, we just don't have it yet.

In any industry - healthcare or otherwise - it is not uncommon for an employer to do a background and credit check on a potential employee. Why? It provides insight into the character of the person you are hiring. As nurses we have access to very personal parts of peoples lives, private information etc. How we handle our personal affairs and our business certainly has some bearing on how we practice as professionals. I know some of you may disagree. It's the old adage "How you show up anywhere is how you show up everywhere"

Would you hire a person to be a manager in a bank who had a history of managing his own financial affairs poorly? It's part of adult responsibility. Granted - things happen - lay offs, illness, things beyond our control. Those things are understandable when viewed in the eyes of a potential employer, even if a potential creditor would not be as forgiving.

The use of the credit reporting system as part of a background check is not improper - it is the abuse of that credit reporting system by certain indivuduals and entities which needs to be stopped. GroupOne should be called upon to do it's part to put an end to that.

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So you would let them keep you out of nursing? Way to show em!

Absolutely. Especially Because I know my DH is on Orders for Recruiting in Dallas.

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I think that HCA started GroupOne for its own purposes (to intimidate nurses) then brought in other hospitals as cover. The other hospitals may use GroupOne as legitimate background checks, but HCA hospitals use it illegitimately (charging "abandonment" if you won't work an extra shift or a too heavy caseload, etc.).

Anyone have any experience to prove/disprove this theory?

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Specializes in ICU, ER, HH, NICU, now FNP.
Absolutely. Especially Because I know my DH is on Orders for Recruiting in Dallas.

Even smarter!!! A temporary situation and you are going to base a permanant career choice on it.

Frankly - I wouldn't give it a second thought - I'd do what I had always dreamed of doing and I wouldn't worry too much about it...unless of course I was worried I had something to hide...which is exactly the intent of such background checks.

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Specializes in ICU.
I think that HCA started GroupOne for its own purposes (to intimidate nurses) then brought in other hospitals as cover. The other hospitals may use GroupOne as legitimate background checks, but HCA hospitals use it illegitimately (charging "abandonment" if you won't work an extra shift or a too heavy caseload, etc.).

Anyone have any experience to prove/disprove this theory?

HCA hospitals in Austin don't use Group 1.

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Specializes in Tele.

There are "public records" that check your arrest records and while that is all fine and dandy, I do not want someone who has been arrested for child abuse to take care of one of my children or allow them to go on a "camping" trip with the church and one of the counselors is a pediophile. There is a fine line between public record and GO, GO should be in place on those instances where proof of neglect cannot be supported by law although witnesses can prove it. There has to be a way to avoid a one-sided all out blackball against healthcare workers who had an issue with the manager and she wants to be vengeful.

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Specializes in Tele.

It is to the point I have NOTHING to lose, so I contacted the "investigation" team at Fox four. They may never respond, but I will continue to contact them, then other news stations until someone FINALLY says..............................ok, enough, NO MORE e-mails from this person and they look into it. I am not saying get rid of GO, all I want is more protection from a one-sided verdict. Heck, even in our legal system we are suppose to be innocent until guilty and guaranteed proper legal representation. Heck, If I would of robbed a bank, at least an atty would have already visited me at the jailhouse. BUT, if my nurse manager does not like me............................well, I have to look into it myself.

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