UPMC: Hiring, Background Check & Employment Verification FAQs

UPMC traces its roots to 1893, when Presbyterian Hospital was established in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, later becoming the system's flagship facility. In 1949, an affiliation agreement between the University of Pittsburgh and Presbyterian Hospital established the foundational mission that continues to guide UPMC today: patient care, research, and training. In 1973, a reorganization of the Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic under Dr. Thomas Detre and Jeffrey A. Romoff ushered in a new era of research-based medicine in Pittsburgh, setting the stage for UPMC's eventual integrated mission.

In 1986, three university-affiliated hospitals, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, Presbyterian-University Hospital, and Eye & Ear Hospital of Pittsburgh, unified under an organization that would evolve into UPMC, and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center name was formally adopted in 1990. UPMC continued to expand through mergers with community and specialty hospitals throughout the 1990s and 2000s, including the Pittsburgh Mercy Health System and Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh in the early 2000s, creating the first truly integrated healthcare delivery system in the Pittsburgh region. UPMC has also expanded internationally, launching a public-private partnership hospital in Palermo, Italy in 1997 and establishing research and clinical collaborations across multiple countries.

Today, UPMC is headquartered in the U.S. Steel Tower in Pittsburgh, employs approximately 100,000 people including more than 5,000 physicians, and generates more than $27 billion in annual revenue. The health system serves patients across Pennsylvania, New York, and Maryland, as well as internationally, and its UPMC Insurance Services division covers more than 4 million health plan members. UPMC's workforce includes registered nurses, physicians and advanced practice providers, allied health professionals, insurance and administrative staff, and researchers supporting its academic health system affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences.

Company culture and employee programs: UPMC emphasizes the synergy between patient care, medical education, and biomedical research as central to its mission as an academic health system. The organization reports providing nearly $2 billion annually in community benefits, more than any other health system in Pennsylvania. Benefits, training, and advancement opportunities can vary by role and facility, so candidates should confirm specifics with a recruiter during the hiring process.

Yes. Employers in the healthcare industry, including UPMC, are legally required to conduct thorough background checks on employee candidates, particularly for clinical roles, given state healthcare licensing requirements and the vulnerable populations served. In the United States, employment screening is governed by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), which requires employers to obtain written consent, provide disclosures, and follow adverse action procedures.

UPMC is generally reported to conduct background checks as part of its hiring process, which is standard and often mandated for large hospital and healthcare system employers, particularly for clinical roles involving direct patient care.

The hiring process for clinical and support roles at UPMC typically includes an application, one or more interviews, verification of any required professional licenses or certifications, and a background check prior to a final offer.

Background check timelines can vary based on the type of screening requested and how quickly records can be verified. Learn more about typical background check turnaround times to understand what factors can affect the process.

A typical pre-employment background check for a hospital role may include:

Under the FCRA, criminal history reporting is generally limited to seven years for most background checks, though Pennsylvania state law and healthcare industry requirements for clinical staff may involve more extensive background review, including state and federal abuse registry checks.

Hiring decisions involving candidates with criminal records are generally made on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the nature of the offense, how much time has passed, and its relevance to a role involving direct patient care, with Pennsylvania healthcare licensing regulations imposing additional restrictions for certain clinical positions. Pennsylvania has adopted certain "ban-the-box" laws that may apply differently in regulated healthcare contexts.

Candidates can generally expect to provide personal information such as full legal name, date of birth, and Social Security number, along with signed consent authorizing the background check, in compliance with FCRA and applicable state healthcare licensing requirements.

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) is a federal law that regulates how employers can use background check information in hiring decisions. It requires employers to notify candidates before running a check, obtain written consent, and follow specific adverse action procedures if a decision is made based on background check results.

Running a personal background check with Checkr lets you preview what UPMC may see during the hiring process, helping you address any concerns before you apply. A personal background check can include:

Learn more about Checkr Personal Background Checks and explore your Checkr Profile to see what information may appear in your own background check.

If you're a candidate with a background check in progress through Checkr as part of your application to UPMC or another employer, you can check your status through the Candidate Portal. For additional support, visit the Checkr Help Center.

The information provided in this article does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice. All information is for general informational purposes only. Checkr does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of this information and is not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for the results obtained from the use of this information. This article may contain links to other third-party websites. Such links are only for the convenience of the reader. Checkr does not endorse the contents of the third-party sites and disclaims any affiliation with the companies mentioned in this article unless otherwise stated.