Physician background checks are a critical part of the hiring process. Candidate evaluation is like a puzzle, and you want to get the whole picture.

Conducting background checks allow you to see most relevant aspects of a candidate’s life to help you make a hiring decision.

Physician recruiters conduct background checks for two purposes: to ensure competence on the part of the provider, and to ensure safety on behalf of the candidate and everybody involved.

It helps mitigate risk for your patients, your community and your hospital. It helps you maintain a safe environment for both medical staff and patients. Financial liability for a health care organization is a real concern—and the responsibility to properly screen prospective candidates lies with us.

I’m often asked how I got into physician recruiting. People find it to be an interesting career, and they are curious to know more. I’m asked if I went to medical school; if I planned to be a physician recruiter; and how I learned the clinical knowledge I’ve picked up.

Though there are different paths you can take to become a physician recruiter, most paths end up on a similar road after you’ve been in the industry a while.