Seeking Information

good question. I wonder if your HR dept. can give you info. There should be no reason to deny access to info about yourself. It is my understanding the purpose is to follow licensed people who move around a lot, even state to state. What is a misdemeanor in one state could be a felony in another. Plus, who wants a child molester working the pedi unit? I don't know what else they look at, maybe a credit report. But just because the intentions are good does not mean the info is accurate. Thanks for the heads up.

Well, Dave is wrong. I know the the VNA uses Group One as a screener for applicants because my interviewer stated the fact. My present place of employment utilizes this system. Associates who are RTS were holding about a conversation about an applicant who was informed by HR she cannot be hired until she "fixes" the coding assigned by Group One.

Thanks.

I contacted this "consumer reporting service" and received information from a pleasant administrative assistant today.

I suggest that one should call and verify if any information has been posted in this data collection system before initiating further action. Not every hospital, home health agency, or business that employs healthcare workers subscribes to this business.

Keep in mind, some of these businesses are based outside the D/FW area and can utilize this system as a pre-employment screening tool if one is seeking employment in another state (ex., Columbia/HCA or whatever name they are using at this time).

A written request providing full name, ssn, dob, daytime telephone number, printed name and signature by the requestor to Group One will help to obtain this information. If you haven't been refused employment within the last 60 days there is a cost of $9.00 (as of this date - 3/20/04).

The information can be disputed. If the former employer is unwilling to modify or remove the information, you are allowed 100 words or less to be posted as an explanation.

I can understand the purpose of a "reporting" service.

Let us hope this Dallas/FW system is used for good not evil.

Here are the web sites - Good Luck.

http://www.dfwhc.org/

http://www.gp1.com/

I contacted this "consumer reporting service" and received information from a pleasant administrative assistant today.

I suggest that one should call and verify if any information has been posted in this data collection system before initiating further action. Not every hospital, home health agency, or business that employs healthcare workers subscribes to this business.

Keep in mind, some of these businesses are based outside the D/FW area and can utilize this system as a pre-employment screening tool if one is seeking employment in another state (ex., Columbia/HCA or whatever name they are using at this time).

A written request providing full name, ssn, dob, daytime telephone number, printed name and signature by the requestor to Group One will help to obtain this information. If you haven't been refused employment within the last 60 days there is a cost of $9.00 (as of this date - 3/20/04).

The information can be disputed. If the former employer is unwilling to modify or remove the information, you are allowed 100 words or less to be posted as an explanation.

I can understand the purpose of a "reporting" service.

Let us hope this Dallas/FW system is used for good not evil.

Here are the web sites - Good Luck.

http://www.dfwhc.org/

http://www.gp1.com/

Glad you found and posted the website...it has been down for awhile and recently had to do a directory search to find the address and phone which is in Irving, Texas.

Just this week my employer has used Group One to prevent another one of my former coworkers (nurse for 25 some years) from finding work in the DFW area...it is a very sad state of affairs here IMHO. I have referred her to my nurse attorney, who would LOVE to challenge Group One in court if enough nurses would be willing to step up to the plate. So many of us just suck it up...

Group One (per my RNJD) seems protected as a third party, and she also questions the non-public info that may be being shared: such as if nurses are activists, injured on the job, etc. Hard to prove what all they may be saying under the table within their organizational protections.They are a 'subsidiary' of the DFW hospital association and provide info about healthcare workers to 'subscribers'...institutions within their organization.

I'm glad the word is getting out and nurses are getting wise to the tactics used to control us. I didn't even know about a black mark I had on my Group One til a kind HR person shared this info with me... I didn't get called for interviews for a time and this was why. Once I entered my rebuttal into the system I have LESS problems but I still have to go through people who know me personally or I won't get a nibble on my application...this is how strong this stuff is here.

I do find it strange it 'never goes away'. Credit agencies erase bankruptcies in 7 yrs I hear, my Group One is still biting me after 17 yrs.

Thanks for alerting others here to this issue. I was afraid I was the only one bothered by this...glad to know I'm not alone. :)

Tell your nurse attorney I'll join the fight.

Glad you found and posted the website...it has been down for awhile and recently had to do a directory search to find the address and phone which is in Irving, Texas.

Just this week my employer has used Group One to prevent another one of my former coworkers (nurse for 25 some years) from finding work in the DFW area...it is a very sad state of affairs here IMHO. I have referred her to my nurse attorney, who would LOVE to challenge Group One in court if enough nurses would be willing to step up to the plate. So many of us just suck it up...

Group One (per my RNJD) seems protected as a third party, and she also questions the non-public info that may be being shared: such as if nurses are activists, injured on the job, etc. Hard to prove what all they may be saying under the table within their organizational protections.They are a 'subsidiary' of the DFW hospital association and provide info about healthcare workers to 'subscribers'...institutions within their organization.

I'm glad the word is getting out and nurses are getting wise to the tactics used to control us. I didn't even know about a black mark I had on my Group One til a kind HR person shared this info with me... I didn't get called for interviews for a time and this was why. Once I entered my rebuttal into the system I have LESS problems but I still have to go through people who know me personally or I won't get a nibble on my application...this is how strong this stuff is here.

I do find it strange it 'never goes away'. Credit agencies erase bankruptcies in 7 yrs I hear, my Group One is still biting me after 17 yrs.

Thanks for alerting others here to this issue. I was afraid I was the only one bothered by this...glad to know I'm not alone. :)

Remember, Group One is funded by its supporters (i.e., hospitals, etc.). The information posted on an employee is generated from the Human Resources Department supplied by the manager/supervisor. One can obtain access to this information and dispute it with the employer. If that is ineffective, one is allowed to post an explanation.

It is unfortunate how this reporting system is utilized. The days are gone where an employer finds value in the retention of employees. Punitive action is initiated for the smallest offenses. I wonder if a nurse would fare better with VBNE/BNE interventions in Texas than with an employer?

Also check out www.dfwhc.org/dfwhhra.htm , . . . .evil bastards they be.

I contacted this "consumer reporting service" and received information from a pleasant administrative assistant today.

I suggest that one should call and verify if any information has been posted in this data collection system before initiating further action. Not every hospital, home health agency, or business that employs healthcare workers subscribes to this business.

Keep in mind, some of these businesses are based outside the D/FW area and can utilize this system as a pre-employment screening tool if one is seeking employment in another state (ex., Columbia/HCA or whatever name they are using at this time).

A written request providing full name, ssn, dob, daytime telephone number, printed name and signature by the requestor to Group One will help to obtain this information. If you haven't been refused employment within the last 60 days there is a cost of $9.00 (as of this date - 3/20/04).

The information can be disputed. If the former employer is unwilling to modify or remove the information, you are allowed 100 words or less to be posted as an explanation.

I can understand the purpose of a "reporting" service.

Let us hope this Dallas/FW system is used for good not evil.

Here are the web sites - Good Luck.

http://www.dfwhc.org/

http://www.gp1.com/

I am blackballed apparently at this time following comp. secondary to disk injury. I can't buy a job. Interviews go quite well, although out of over 100 applications I have gotten only about 4% reply to apps and resume.

I haven't a blotch on my record, no counselings, and a 96% on 100 scale in performance eval just prior to injury.

How did you get info on yourself? I'm steaming angry to hear of this agency.

Also, we apparently don't sign a release for this info as we do a credit reporting agency.

Thx

I know this is an old thread but I had to post....

It hurts me to say this since I went to school on a DFWHC scholarship but...

Group One is terrible!!

I was blacklisted and could not BUY a job in a Dallas hospital for months and I could not figure out why. That is until one of my nurse friends filled me in on Group One. Well, I was living in Irving just a hop from their office, so I went down to talk with them. With ID and a few dollars, they gave me a copy of my report. I almost had an MI right in the office!

They had reported address that were never mine, schools I had never attended (had me listed as a Nurse, a Resp. tech AND an EEG tech).

They also had hospitals in the area I had never worked at. The scary part, it said that I had "ABANDONED" my positions. No wonder I could not get a job. It took months for me to clear it all up. In the interim I had to find work as a traveler using personal references from former college instructors, former employers, my college transcript and my "REAL" credit report.

I spoke with my nurse friends about this. They told me that many healthcare workers and nurses in Dallas who had left a position for valid reasons or in protest had been blacklisted with the "ABANDONED POSITION" or "NOT ELIGIBLE FOR REHIRE" on Group One because they were not liked.

I talked to one person who admitted to not giving two weeks notice. At the beginning of her shift she informed the powers-that-be that she would not be returning because of "unsafe conditions" Well, they told Group One she had "ABANDONED POSITION".

I even had one person at an interview tell me that she wanted a two and 1/2 years commitment because she was going to give me "special training" and if I left before then she would be upset and "take action." This was not an intern or extern position and I was not required to sign any contract to this effect. To "scare me (I guess) she even admitted in the interview that she was reporting to 2 employees who had just left because they only stayed a year. I knew them and they had no contract either.

Texas is an "AT-WILL" State!!!!

I agree we must do proper background checks on all employees. It is necessary to keep clients and patients safe.

Unfortunately, the system is broken! Group One had allowed itself to become a tool! This must be fixed before someone really terrible slips through the cracks and really hurts someone!