In many instances, not being thorough can have negative consequences. Atlas Home Health (a now out-of business home care provider) failed to conduct a comprehensive background check on a home health aide, and the fallout from failing to do so resulted in emotional and physical harm to a young girl.
Abulay Nian, an employee of Atlas Home Health was hired by a family to care for their developmentally disabled son. However, a solid background check was not conducted on Nian, so he was able to take advantage of the situation and sexually assault the boy’s sister. What is so troubling is that had Atlas performed the proper due diligence, they would have found a sexual assault history for Nian in another state.
Home health agencies provide a valuable service to a large part of the population. Patients and their family members need safeguarded from caregivers who have prior convictions for abuse, violence and theft. Home health agencies are responsible for hiring qualified and employees to protect the patients and families they serve. Laws vary by state, but all applicants seeking home health employment should undergo thorough criminal background checks.
It seems Atlas Home Health may have had more problems than just background checks. One of their owners was also charged with Medicaid fraud (case is pending), and the company was placed on Ohio’s Medicaid exclusion list.
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