15 Medical Office Receptionist Interview Questions (With Example Answers)
It's important to prepare for an interview in order to improve your chances of getting the job. Researching questions beforehand can help you give better answers during the interview. Most interviews will include questions about your personality, qualifications, experience and how well you would fit the job. In this article, we review examples of various medical office receptionist interview questions and sample answers to some of the most common questions.
Common Medical Office Receptionist Interview Questions
- How do you prioritize your work tasks?
- How do you handle difficult customer service inquiries?
- What are your thoughts on working in a fast-paced environment?
- How do you stay organized throughout the day?
- What is your experience with handling medical insurance billing and coding?
- Tell me about a time when you had to deal with a difficult customer or patient.
- Can you tell me about a time when you had to go above and beyond for a patient or customer?
- Tell me about a time when you had to deal with a challenging phone call.
- What are your thoughts on multitasking? Can you give me an example of a time when you had to juggle multiple tasks at once?
- How do you stay calm under pressure? Can you give me an example of a time when you were feeling overwhelmed but still managed to get the job done?
- What experience do you have with scheduling appointments?
- Are you comfortable working with computers? Can you tell me about any experience you have with using office software, such as Microsoft Office or Google Docs?
- Do you have any experience with handling medical records?
- What are your thoughts on maintaining confidentiality of patient information?
- Tell me about a time when you had to deal with a difficult or irate customer or patient.
How do you prioritize your work tasks?
The interviewer is trying to gauge how the medical office receptionist would handle multiple tasks and priorities at one time. This is important because the medical office receptionist is often the first point of contact for patients and needs to be able to handle a variety of tasks simultaneously.
Example: “I prioritize my work tasks by first identifying what is most important and urgent. I then create a list of tasks in order of priority and work on them one by one. I also make sure to leave some time each day for unexpected tasks or emergencies.”
How do you handle difficult customer service inquiries?
An interviewer might ask "How do you handle difficult customer service inquiries?" to a medical office receptionist to gain insight into the receptionist's customer service skills. It is important to be able to handle difficult customer service inquiries because they can be a challenge and they require excellent customer service skills.
Example: “If I receive a difficult customer service inquiry, I first try to understand the customer's issue and what they are trying to achieve. I then work with the customer to find a resolution that is mutually agreeable. If we are unable to come to a resolution, I escalate the issue to a supervisor or manager.”
What are your thoughts on working in a fast-paced environment?
The interviewer is trying to gauge if the medical office receptionist can handle a fast-paced environment. This is important because the medical office receptionist will be the first point of contact for patients and will need to be able to handle a high volume of traffic.
Example: “I thrive in fast-paced environments. I am very organized and efficient, and I work well under pressure. I am able to multitask and prioritize tasks effectively, which helps me to stay calm and focused in a busy environment. I enjoy working in a fast-paced environment because it keeps me challenged and on my toes.”
How do you stay organized throughout the day?
There are a few reasons why an interviewer might ask this question to a medical office receptionist. First, it can help them gauge how well the receptionist is able to stay on top of their work. This is important because the receptionist is responsible for managing a lot of different tasks and keeping the office organized. Second, it can help the interviewer see how the receptionist handles stress. This is important because the job can be quite stressful at times and the interviewer wants to make sure that the receptionist is able to handle it. Finally, it can help the interviewer understand what methods the receptionist uses to stay organized. This is important because it can give them insight into how the receptionist works and how they might be able to improve their own methods.
Example: “I typically start my day by creating a to-do list of all the tasks I need to complete. I then prioritize the tasks by importance and urgency. Throughout the day, I refer back to my to-do list to keep myself on track. I also use a calendar to keep track of appointments and deadlines. At the end of each day, I review my to-do list and calendar to plan for the next day.”
What is your experience with handling medical insurance billing and coding?
One of the main duties of a medical office receptionist is to handle medical insurance billing and coding. This is important because it ensures that patients are billed correctly and that insurance companies are billed correctly. It is also important because it helps to keep track of medical records and ensure that they are accurate.
Example: “I have worked in medical insurance billing and coding for over 5 years. I am very familiar with the process and have a strong understanding of the various codes used. I am also experienced in working with patients to ensure that their claims are filed correctly and in a timely manner.”
Tell me about a time when you had to deal with a difficult customer or patient.
An interviewer might ask this question to a medical office receptionist to gauge their customer service skills and ability to handle difficult situations. This is important because the receptionist is often the first point of contact for patients and their families, and they need to be able to handle any inquiries or complaints in a professional and courteous manner.
Example: “I once had a patient who was extremely unhappy with the wait time to see the doctor. The waiting room was full and the receptionist before me had left for lunch, so I was the only one manning the desk. The patient became increasingly agitated, yelling and swearing at me. I did my best to stay calm and professional, apologizing for the wait and trying to diffuse the situation. Eventually, another staff member came out to help and the patient was able to see the doctor.”
Can you tell me about a time when you had to go above and beyond for a patient or customer?
The interviewer is trying to gauge the candidate's customer service skills and willingness to go above and beyond for others. This is important for a medical office receptionist because they are often the first point of contact for patients and their families, and need to be able to provide excellent customer service.
Example: “I remember one time when a patient came in who was extremely upset. She had been waiting to see the doctor for over an hour and was just about at her wit's end. I could tell that she was about to start crying, so I went over and talked to her. I calmed her down and assured her that the doctor would be with her shortly. I also offered to get her a drink or something to eat, but she declined. I stayed with her until the doctor was ready, and she ended up leaving the office much happier than when she came in.”
Tell me about a time when you had to deal with a challenging phone call.
This question allows the interviewer to gauge the Medical Office Receptionist's customer service skills. It is important for a Medical Office Receptionist to be able to handle difficult phone calls in a professional and courteous manner.
Example: “I had to deal with a challenging phone call recently when a patient called to inquire about a bill they received. The patient was upset and confused about the charges, and I had to calmly explain the situation and help them understand the bill. I was able to resolve the issue and the patient was satisfied in the end.”
What are your thoughts on multitasking? Can you give me an example of a time when you had to juggle multiple tasks at once?
An interviewer might ask this question to a medical office receptionist to better understand how the receptionist handles multiple tasks at once. This is important because the receptionist is often the first point of contact for patients and needs to be able to handle multiple tasks simultaneously.
Example: “I believe that multitasking is a necessary skill in many workplaces, especially in busy medical offices. I have had to juggle multiple tasks at once on many occasions, and I think it is important to be able to do so in order to keep the office running smoothly. For example, I might be answering phones and scheduling appointments while also checking in patients and collecting co-pays. It can be challenging at times, but I have found that it is important to stay organized and prioritize the tasks that need to be completed first.”
How do you stay calm under pressure? Can you give me an example of a time when you were feeling overwhelmed but still managed to get the job done?
The interviewer is trying to gauge the applicant's ability to stay calm under pressure and handle difficult situations. This is important for a medical office receptionist because they will often be the first point of contact for patients and will need to be able to handle difficult or irate patients calmly and efficiently.
Example: “I stay calm under pressure by taking a few deep breaths and reminding myself that the situation is not as dire as it may seem. I also try to stay positive and think about how I can solve the problem at hand. For example, if I am feeling overwhelmed with work, I will take a break to clear my head and then come back with fresh eyes to see if there is anything I can do to make the situation better.”
What experience do you have with scheduling appointments?
One of the main duties of a medical office receptionist is to schedule appointments for patients. This question allows the interviewer to gauge the candidate's experience and expertise in this area. It is important to have a receptionist who is organized and efficient in scheduling appointments, as this can help to keep the medical office running smoothly.
Example: “I have experience with scheduling appointments in a medical office setting. I am familiar with using appointment software to schedule appointments and managing calendars. I have experience dealing with patients and providing customer service. I am able to handle a high volume of calls and manage multiple tasks simultaneously.”
Are you comfortable working with computers? Can you tell me about any experience you have with using office software, such as Microsoft Office or Google Docs?
A medical office receptionist will often be responsible for using office software to schedule appointments, manage patient records, and communicate with insurance companies. It is important for the interviewer to know if the receptionist is comfortable using these tools and has experience doing so.
Example: “Yes, I am comfortable working with computers. I have experience using office software such as Microsoft Office and Google Docs. I am able to type quickly and accurately, and I have a good understanding of how to format documents correctly.”
Do you have any experience with handling medical records?
The interviewer is asking if the receptionist has experience with handling medical records because it is an important part of the job. Medical records contain confidential information and must be handled carefully. The receptionist will be responsible for filing, organizing, and keeping track of medical records. It is important that the receptionist is able to do this accurately and efficiently.
Example: “I have experience working with medical records in a few different capacities. I have worked as a medical records clerk, where my duties included organizing and filing patient records, as well as scanning and uploading records into the electronic health record system. I have also worked as a release of information specialist, where my duties included processing requests for copies of medical records and ensuring that all privacy and confidentiality laws were followed. In both of these roles, I gained a great deal of knowledge about how medical records are maintained and handled, and I am confident that I could do the same in your office.”
What are your thoughts on maintaining confidentiality of patient information?
The interviewer is asking this question to gauge the receptionist's understanding of confidentiality and HIPAA laws. It is important for medical office receptionists to maintain confidentiality of patient information in order to protect the patients' privacy and to comply with HIPAA laws.
Example: “I believe that confidentiality of patient information is of the utmost importance and should be maintained at all times. I would take any measures necessary to ensure that patient information remains confidential, including keeping all files and records secure and only sharing information with authorized individuals. I understand that confidentiality is essential to maintaining a patient’s trust and ensuring the success of their treatment, so I would always handle patient information with care and respect.”
Tell me about a time when you had to deal with a difficult or irate customer or patient.
An interviewer would ask "Tell me about a time when you had to deal with a difficult or irate customer or patient." to a medical office receptionist to gauge the receptionist's customer service skills. It is important for medical office receptionists to be able to handle difficult or irate customers or patients because they are often the first point of contact for patients and their families. Medical office receptionists need to be able to defuse difficult situations and calm down upset patients or family members.
Example: “I was working as a medical office receptionist when a patient came in who was extremely angry. He was yelling and demanding to see the doctor immediately. I tried to calm him down and explained that there was a wait, but he would not listen. I ended up calling security to escort him out of the office.”