General questions

Many hiring managers begin interviews by asking a series of general questions designed to get to know your personality. Review these commonly asked preliminary questions before your next interview:

• What do you see yourself doing in five years?

• Why do you want to work for this company?

• How did you become interested in working as a medical scribe?

• How would your previous colleagues or classmates describe you?

• What are your hobbies?

• What are your strengths?

• In what areas are you hoping to improve?

• What do you know about our organization?

• What are your hours of availability? Are you able to work evenings, nights and weekends?

• What are your long-term career goals?

Questions about experience and background

Medical scribes must have certain training and experience to perform their role effectively. Hiring managers often ask questions related to education and qualifications to determine if you're the right person for the role. Here are some common questions about experience and background:

• How many words per minute can you type?

• How is your typing accuracy?

• Where did you go to school?

• Are you familiar with shorthand?

• What professional development are you interested in pursuing?

• How is your spelling? Do you struggle to accurately record any medical terminology?

• Do you have experience working as a medical scribe?

• What skills do you have that qualify you to work as a medical scribe?

• Do you have particular training or interest in a medical specialty?

• What do you hope to learn from your time as a medical scribe?

In-depth questions

Medical scribes should be ready to multitask and handle time-sensitive information and situations in the course of their work. Hiring managers usually ask problem-solving questions related to the responsibilities of a medical scribe to see how you handle challenges. Consider these in-depth questions:

• How would you handle the loss of a patient on the job?

• Define a few of the most common medical terms you encounter in your role.

• Your patient vomits or begins bleeding during your work duties. How do you handle the situation?

• Please spell hyperglycemia.

• Do you understand HIPAA laws? How do they impact your work?

• What healthcare software are you familiar with?

• Your computer malfunctions while taking notes for a doctor. What do you do?

• What do you think is most challenging about working as a medical scribe?

• Why is professionalism so important for medical scribes?

• Describe how you would write notes for a doctor during an examination.

• Describe the relationship between the attending physician and the medical scribe.

Interview questions with sample answers

Hiring managers often ask medical scribe candidates a series of predictable questions during the interview. Knowing why they're asking the question and how to answer it can help you respond confidently and accurately. Here are a few common interview questions with explanations and sample answers to help you prepare:

• How would you handle the situation if your attending physician finds an error in your notes?

• What questions would you ask when intaking a new patient to get their medical background?

• What do you know about the requirements of the position?

• How do you handle stress?

• How important is patient communication for you?

How would you handle the situation if your attending physician finds an error in your notes?

Working as a medical scribe often entails substantial focus and attention to detail with patients dealing with physical or emotional pain and time pressure. Mistakes can happen during note-taking, so hiring managers want to know how you'll handle these situations in advance of making a hiring decision.

Example: "I take extreme care when scribing for physicians during high-pressure examinations or treatment. I know that mistakes can still happen.

Should a physician find an error in my notes, I would want to know what type of error it was—whether it be spelling, grammar, incorrect information or something else—so I can remedy the situation in the future. I would apologize for my mistake and ask if there's anything I can do to improve for my next assignment."

What questions would you ask when intaking a new patient to get their medical background?

Some medical scribes meet with patients for routine visits before the doctor to take a medical history. Hiring managers want to ensure that you know what questions to ask and how to ask them to maintain a positive relationship with the patient.

Example: "If I needed to take a patient's medical history, I would first check to see why they were visiting the office. Usually, the questions we ask are somewhat related to the visit. Regardless of the reason for the visit, I would ask for their name, date of birth and if they had any current pain. I would ask about previous surgeries or conditions and family history that might be relevant to their care."

What do you know about the requirements of the position?

A medical scribe's duties can vary tremendously depending on the office or organization. Hiring managers might ask you what you know about the position to see what research you did before the interview and to gauge your understanding of what a medical scribe generally does.

Example: "I understand that this medical scribe position is for the emergency room. I'm prepared to work any shifts necessary, including nights and weekends. I know my doctor might task me with a variety of responsibilities, from patient intake to assisting with exam or procedure note-taking. I'm ready to work in a fast-paced environment and multitask as needed."

How do you handle stress?

Medical scribes might work with patients facing pain or confusion or in high-pressure, time-sensitive situations, all of which can increase stress. Hiring managers will want to be sure you're aware of the possible stressors of the position and know how to handle these situations should they arise.

Example: "I know that there can be moments of high stress when working as a medical scribe. Since I've worked in the position before, I feel confident I can manage stressful situations with a few coping strategies. First, I use deep breathing to slow my heart rate and help me focus on the task at hand. I ask for assistance when I need it to ensure I'm getting all the necessary information recorded. Finally, I stay aware of my surroundings so that if an emergency arises I can quickly get myself and my equipment out of the way to support patient care."

How important is patient communication for you?

Medical scribes may or may not communicate directly with patients, depending on the specifics of their role. However, hiring managers want to ensure you'll respect and listen to patients whenever you're in proximity to them.

Example: "It's imperative that patients feel comfortable and heard while in a medical facility. I'll do my best to answer questions and reassure patients as needed during their time with me."