What is an important step before healthcare workers can start work?

The correct answer emphasizes the importance of HCW Evaluation as a crucial step before healthcare workers can begin their duties. This evaluation serves multiple purposes, including assessing the healthcare worker's knowledge and skills related to infection control practices and ensuring that they understand the protocols necessary for maintaining a safe environment for both patients and staff.

Conducting an HCW Evaluation helps identify areas where additional training may be necessary, ensuring that each healthcare worker is competent and prepared to adhere to standards that minimize the risk of infection. This proactive measure is essential in a healthcare setting, where even a minor lapse in infection control can have serious repercussions for patient safety and public health.

The other options, while relevant to the overall onboarding process, do not specifically address the immediate prerequisites for ensuring safety and compliance with infection control standards. Staff Orientation typically provides an overview of facility policies and procedures, but does not specifically evaluate the worker's proficiency in infection control practices. A Background Check is important for verifying the credentials and history of the healthcare worker before hiring but does not assess their competency in the context of patient care. Patient Interaction Training is vital for effective communication and care, yet it comes into play after ensuring that the healthcare worker is already equipped with necessary infection control knowledge through an HCW Evaluation.