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©
1999-2001
STAT America
All Rights Reserved
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Our Sympathies
| STAT
America and HRPLUS extend our sympathies to
the victims and the families of the tragic events of September 11,
2001. As a nation, we have all been touched by these acts of terrorism.
Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected by this tragedy.
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Who We Are
| STAT
America and HRPLUS
are risk-management partners who provide timely, high-quality background
reports and drug tests. We have developed a quarterly bulletin
to share current information with our clients about our companies
and about the drug-testing and background-screening industry. We
will provide legislative and legal updates, current events, press
releases, new product and service offerings and more. We provide
background-screening and drug-testing programs that are cost-effective,
easy to manage and of the highest quality. Please enjoy our latest
publication and look for additional bulletins in the months to
come. |
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ATTENTION
CALIFORNIA CLIENTS OF HRPLUS
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California
state law requires that authorization forms for employment background
reports must include a check box for an applicant or employee to
mark to request a free copy of his or her credit report if one is
ordered as part of the background report. HRPLUS
authorization forms for California already have this check box, and
if you would like to use these forms, please let us know by contacting
either your sales representative or our customer service department.
If you do not use our forms, your forms must still include this check
box. HRPLUS will
mail a copy of an individual's credit report to him or her if the
individual marks the check box, whether it be on your form or ours;
however, in order to ensure that you and HRPLUS
are complying with state law, you must provide HRPLUS
with a copy of any of your forms on which the check box has been
marked.
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ATTENTION
MINNESOTA AND OKLAHOMA CLIENTS OF HRPLUS
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Minnesota
and Oklahoma state law requires that authorization forms for employment
background reports must include a check box for an applicant or employee
to mark to request a free copy of his or her entire background report.
HRPLUS
authorization forms for Minnesota and Oklahoma already have this
check box, and if you would like to use these forms, please let us
know by contacting either your sales representative or our customer
service department. If you do not use our forms, your forms must
still include this check box. HRPLUS
will mail a copy of an individual's entire background report to him
or her if the individual marks the check box, whether it be on your
form or ours; however, in order to ensure that you and HRPLUS
are complying with state law, you must provide HRPLUS
with a copy of any of your forms on which the check box has been
marked.
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Online Pre-Employment Background Report Delivery Option
| If
you are looking for an even more convenient way to receive pre-employment
background reports from HRPLUS, try our Internet
delivery service. When a report is ready, you will receive an e-mail
notification which links you to the HRPLUS Web
site, where you can access the report with your assigned username
and password. You can also access any other report which you have
ordered within the past 12 months by a variety of methods: name, social
security number, and date the order was submitted. By using our Internet
delivery service, you will have your own virtual file cabinet - without
having to worry about the security of your reports. HRPLUS
utilizes the best security measures, which is why we are certified
by TruSecure Corporation. For more information and your personal password
assignment, call Cathey at 800-332-7587, ext. 631. |
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HRPLUS
recommended in Los Angeles Times article
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STAT
America and HRPLUS Client Spotlight
| Recently,
Instromedix, a leader in the design, development and distribution
of remote diagnostic telemedicine devices for the cardiology and pulmonology
fields, was looking to improve its hiring process. As an industry
leader, Instromedix depends on a highly skilled and experienced workforce.
The company strives to hire and retain quality employees while reducing
exposure to negligent hiring claims. Instromedix's challenge was to
select a company that could help it streamline its hiring process
while offering competitive pricing, multiple drug-testing locations,
and responsive customer service. |
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solution was to use the combined services of STAT America and HRPLUS.
Instromedix was pleased to be able to choose from a variety of HRPLUS
services instead of being forced to accept a prepackaged background-screening
program from another service provider. This enabled the company to
customize a program based on its needs at a competitive price. STAT
America offers thousands of collection sites, and an easy-to-use online
collection site locator for Instromedix's applicants throughout the
country. From the time of its initial inquiry, Instromedix was assigned
a team of STAT America customer service representatives who were immediately
available to assist the company in understanding STAT America products
and services, and to offer immediate consultation and troubleshooting
by telephone and through e-mail. |
| By
choosing STAT America and HRPLUS
for employment background screening and drug testing, Instromedix
streamlined its screening process. The company stayed within its
budget and got a customized background reporting process to meet
its needs. With STAT America's fast turnarounds, Instromedix is
able to make quick hiring decisions, especially with its out-of-state
applicants. STAT America's customer service representatives help
answer questions so that Instromedix spends less time and energy
on issues that arise. STAT America and HRPLUS
services have enhanced Instromedix's ability to hire and retain
the highest quality employees. |
| Instromedix's
products include: ambulatory ECG monitors, pacemaker follow-up transmitters,
remote point-of-care vital signs systems, and trans-telephic spirometers.
For more information contact Instromedix at 800-633-3361 or on the
Web at www.instromedix.com. |
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Summary
of Amendments to the US Department of Transportation (DOT) Drug and Alcohol
Testing Regulations
| The
US Department of Transportation (DOT) published its revised drug and
alcohol testing rule in the Federal Register on December 19, 2000.
Amendments to the current 49 CFR part 40 became effective on January
18, 2001, and the entire revision went into effect on August 1, 2001.
Some important changes are summarized below: |
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New
CCF required after August 1st. Changes to the new form include a reduction
in the number of copies from seven to five and additional reporting
terminology allowing for the laboratory reporting of rejected-for-testing,
adulterated specimens, substituted specimens and invalid test results.
The use of old 7-part forms is permitted when accompanied by an affidavit
completed by the collector. After October 31, 2001, failure to correct
the error will result in cancellation of the test. |
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Specimen
Validity Testing (SVT), to include creatinine, specific gravity, pH
and substances that may be used to adulterate a specimen. Established
criteria to determine if a specimen is diluted or adulterated. (Effective
January 18, 2001) (Subpart E -40.205; 40.207; 40.209; 40.211) Because
the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has not completed
final guidelines concerning laboratory procedures for specimen validity
testing the Department is postponing the requirement that all employers
and laboratories begin conducting SVT on all specimens. SVT will remain
voluntary, as it has been to date. A subsequent amendment to Part
40 will be published making SVT mandatory after HHS issues its final
rule. |
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Adulterated
and substituted specimens must be treated the same as positive
results during the medical review process to include offering the
employee the opportunity to present a legitimate medical explanation
for the laboratory result and have the split specimen tested. (Subpart
E - 40.215) |
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Public Interest Exclusion (PIE) has been introduced as a method
to remedy situations where a service agent has serious noncompliance
violations. Service agents include collectors, laboratories, MROs
and C/TPAs. (Subpart F) |
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The
policy to stand-down employees while awaiting the MRO verification
of laboratory-confirmed positive results is not permitted unless the
employer has a received a waiver from the appropriate DOT operating
administration (e.g. FTA). (Subpart B - section 40.21.) |
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STAT
America recommends that all DOT employers obtain a copy of the regulations
for their review and records. 49 CFR part 40, Subpart B addresses
the employer's responsibility for meeting all applicable requirements
and procedures, including stand-down policy and the requirement to
request and provide previous drug and alcohol records. Six DOT Agencies
(the Federal Transit Administration, Federal Railroad Administration,
Federal Aviation Administration, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration,
Research and Special Programs Administration, and Coast Guard) have
issued conforming rules. These rules amend their drug and alcohol
testing rules to make them consistent with the new Part 40.
STAT America's background screening division,
HRPLUS, complies with the new DOT revision
by providing employers with the applicant's previous drug and
alcohol records upon request. For more information about this
service, contact HRPLUS at 800-332-PLUS.
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| The
complete revised 49 CFR part 40, technical amendments to 49 CFT
part 40, DOT agency conforming rules, 2001 random rates and additional
program guidance materials can be accessed online at www.statam.com
or at the DOT Web site www.dot.gov/ost/dapc or by calling STAT
America at (303) 679-0010, ext. 1 to request a mailed hard copy. |
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STAT America Offers Two-hour Turnaround
for Drug Test Results
| STAT
America, a Colorado-based national drug-screening provider, has
added two-hour turnaround on negative drug test results through
the eScreen Drugs of Abuse Screening System. The eScreen system
is the first instant and automated drug-testing device. The innovative
technology is designed to report negative results within two hours
to STAT America clients, substantially decreasing the average turnaround
time traditionally associated with drug-testing programs. |
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eScreen system uses a computer-linked digital camera that reads and
interprets urinalysis strips in a specially designed specimen test
cup. The automated process protects the integrity of the sample, eliminates
the subjectivity of human interpretation and eradicates the need for
paper chain of custody forms. The self-contained testing system uses
SAMHSA cutoff levels. All positive results are sent to the laboratory
for GC/MS confirmation and reviewed by STAT America's Medical Review
Staff. Negative results from are immediately available to STAT America
clients through the company's online reporting system. Utilizing this
same-day result program, STAT America clients really expedite the
hiring process. |
| STAT
America operations manager Melissa Sabus said, "For most companies,
time is of the essence when hiring new employees. eScreen is an exciting
addition to our same-day test results programs. It allows STAT America
to provide negative results in two hours from the time of collection.
This is a considerable difference compared to traditional reporting
methods that provide results within 24 to 72 hours. Since an electronic
reader interprets the results, the subjectivity and legal liability
of onsite device interpretation by a test giver is eliminated. eScreen
is another example of how we are helping employers expedite the hiring
process." STAT America offers the eScreen program in combination
with traditional laboratory testing programs for optimum geographic
coverage and fast turnaround for its clients. |
| STAT
America is a privately held corporation headquartered in Evergreen,
Colorado. The company offers corporate drug-testing programs and
on-site drug and alcohol screening products. For more information,
visit the company's Web site at http://www.statam.com or call 888-644-7828.
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2001 NCHRA Annual Conference and Tradeshow
| HRPLUS
is attending the 2001 NCHRA Annual Conference and Tradeshow October
29-30, 2001. The conference is being held at the San Jose McEnery
Convention Center, located in San Jose, California. Stop by and
say hi to HRPLUS sales representative, Marion Bellamy. |
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Contact HRPLUS & STAT America
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