Which statement best describes Joint Commission employment screening requirements?

• A. They require drug testing only after employment begins.
• B. They require background checks only for clinical staff.
• C. They require drug testing and background checks pre-employment.
• D. They do not require any pre-employment screening.

Answer: (C)

Joint Commission standards expect healthcare employers to screen applicants before they start work, combining both background checks and drug testing as part of pre-employment screening. This approach helps verify qualifications, uncover any disqualifying criminal history, and identify safety risks before a person begins patient care, protecting patients and ensuring compliant hiring practices. Doing drug testing only after employment starts misses early risk detection, and limiting background checks to clinical staff would overlook screening needs for other roles with patient contact or access to sensitive information. Skipping pre-employment screening altogether would leave potential safety and compliance gaps.