Top Medical Scribe Interview Questions with Example Answers [2022]

Prepare for your Medical Scribe interview by going through these most asked Medical Scribe interview questions. Additionally, get access to sample answers and interviewer's expectations.

Interview Practice

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  • Question: How has your previous experiences lead to your interest in the medical field?
  • Question Overview: This question is a good way to learn more about the candidate's motivations for applying for a medical scribe position. If they have no experience in the medical field, you can ask them about their interest in the field and how they plan to pursue it.

    Sample Answer: I've always been interested in medicine, and I've worked as a medical assistant for several years. I'm excited to learn more about the field from a different perspective.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Desire to work in a medical environment
    • - Interest in the medical field
    • - Experience working with patients

  • Question: Tell me about your self.
  • Question Overview: This question is a great way to learn about the candidate's personality and interests. It's also a good way to find out if they're a good fit for your agency and the job.

    Sample Answer: I like to read, play video games, and spend time with my friends.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Sense of humor
    • - Interests outside of work
    • - Personality traits that will make them a good fit for your agency

  • Question: Tell me about a time when you felt overwhelmed and how did you overcome that?
  • Question Overview: This question is designed to see how the candidate reacts to stressful situations. Medical scribes often have to deal with a lot of information and a lot of people in a short amount of time. This question will help you determine if the candidate can handle the stress of the job and if they're able to work well under pressure.

    Sample Answer: I was working with a doctor who was very demanding and kept changing his mind about what he wanted me to do. I just kept reminding myself that I was there to help him and that he was just having a bad day. After a while, he calmed down and we were able to get back on track.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Ability to stay calm in stressful situations
    • - Confidence in ability to handle pressure
    • - Quick thinking that shows problem-solving skills

  • Question: How do you react to criticism?
  • Question Overview: This question is a good way to assess how well the candidate will respond to criticism from a supervisor or doctor. You want to hire someone who can take criticism and use it to improve their work.

    Sample Answer: I like to think of criticism as a way to improve my work. I try to learn from my mistakes and use that feedback to do better in the future.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Positive attitude toward criticism
    • - Willingness to learn from mistakes and improve
    • - Ability to take direction and work on a team

  • Question: Why is it important to have a note taker?
  • Question Overview: This question is a great way to gauge the candidate's understanding of the role of a medical scribe. It's important for them to understand that the job is not just about typing, but also about observing and recording the interactions between doctors and patients.

    Sample Answer: It's important to have a scribe because it helps doctors focus on their patients instead of on writing down notes.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Understanding of the importance of note taking
    • - Ability to explain why note taking is important
    • - Ability to explain how note taking helps doctors and patients

  • Question: Tell me about a time when you went above and beyond in patient care/customer service.
  • Question Overview: This question is designed to assess the candidate's work ethic and commitment to the job. You want to hire someone who is willing to go above and beyond the call of duty to help your patients and their families.

    Sample Answer: I've always been a people person, so I love interacting with patients and their families. I've volunteered as a mentor for kids with cancer, and I've helped out with fundraising events for the American Cancer Society.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Examples of going above and beyond
    • - Commitment to customer service
    • - Willingness to do whatever it takes to help a patient

  • Question: What are your thoughts about working from home?
  • Question Overview: This question is more about your applicant's personal preferences than it is about their ability to do the job. You can use this question to find out if they're willing to work from home or if they prefer to be in an office setting. If you're hiring a remote scribe, you'll want to make sure they have a quiet place to work and a reliable internet connection.

    Sample Answer: I prefer working from home, so I'd be happy to do that.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Willingness to work from home
    • - Desire for an office setting

  • Question: How will you contribute to the company?
  • Question Overview: This question is designed to get a sense of the candidate's personality and work ethic. You want to hire someone who will be a good fit for your team and contribute to the overall success of your business.

    Sample Answer: I'm a hard worker who's always willing to learn new things. I'm excited about the opportunity to work with your team.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Examples of past contributions to a team
    • - Desire to contribute to the company's success
    • - Willingness to work hard and learn new skills

  • Question: What is your experience working with a difficult coworker?
  • Question Overview: This question helps you to understand how the candidate will respond to a difficult situation with a coworker. You want to hire someone who can work well with others and who will not cause problems in the office.

    Sample Answer: I've never had a problem with a coworker, but I'm always willing to help out when someone needs it.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Positive attitude toward coworkers
    • - Willingness to work with others
    • - Ability to resolve conflicts

  • Question: What would you do if a patient dies?
  • Question Overview: This question is a bit morbid, but it's important to know how your potential hire will react to the unexpected. Medical scribes are often the first point of contact for a family in crisis, and you need to know that your applicant will be able to handle the emotional stress of such a situation.

    Sample Answer: I'd ask the family if they needed any help or if there was anything I could do for them. Then, I'd make sure the family had all of the information they needed about the patient's death and what would happen next.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Ability to remain calm and collected in stressful situations
    • - Willingness to help families in need
    • - Confidence in ability to handle unexpected situations

  • Question: How do you handle stressful situations?
  • Question Overview: This question is a good way to find out how the candidate handles pressure. Medical scribes are often in stressful situations, and you need to make sure your applicant can handle the pressure of working in a clinical setting.

    Sample Answer: I'm pretty good at staying calm and focused on the task at hand. I've never had a problem with stress.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Ability to remain calm and focused
    • - Confidence in ability to handle stressful situations

  • Question: How many words per minute can you type?
  • Question Overview: This is a simple question that will give you a good idea of how fast the candidate can type. It's important to know how quickly they can type because medical scribes are often tasked with typing notes at a rapid pace.

    Sample Answer: I type about 60 words per minute.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Average typing speed
    • - Ability to type quickly
    • - Confidence in typing speed

  • Question: If hepatomegaly is enlargement of the liver, what is cardiomegaly?
  • Question Overview: This question is a good way to assess the candidate's understanding of medical terminology. It's also a good way to see how well they can think on their feet. You can ask about any medical terms you're unfamiliar with and see how well they can explain the meaning.

    Sample Answer: Cardiomegaly is enlargement of the heart.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Knowledge of medical terminology
    • - Ability to think quickly and respond confidently

  • Question: Why do you want to work with us?
  • Question Overview: This question is a great way to learn about the candidate's interest in your agency and their desire to work with you specifically. It's also a good way to see if they've done their research and know anything about your company.

    Sample Answer: I've heard great things about your company, and I'm really interested in working with you.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Familiarity with your company
    • - Desire to work for you specifically
    • - Interest in the work you do

  • Question: How would you deal with the people who are coming with a negative view from the first moment?
  • Question Overview: This question is designed to help you understand how the candidate will handle difficult situations with patients and their families. You can use this question to see how the candidate will react to a patient who is upset or angry, or a family member who is rude or uncooperative. This question will help you determine whether the candidate is capable of maintaining a positive attitude in the face of adversity.

    Sample Answer: I'd try to find out what was bothering them, and then I'd try to help them feel better about their situation.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Positive attitude
    • - Willingness to work with difficult patients
    • - Ability to remain calm and professional in stressful situations

  • Question: What organs are we concerned with if we are checking the right upper quadrant?
  • Question Overview: This question is a great way to assess the candidate's knowledge of anatomy and physiology. Medical scribes need to know the names of organs and their functions, and this question is a good way to see if they have a solid understanding of the basics.

    Sample Answer: The right upper quadrant is where we find the liver, gallbladder, and pancreas.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Knowledge of organ names and functions
    • - Ability to quickly recall organ names
    • - Confidence when talking about anatomy and physiology

  • Question: What is your keystroke per minute?
  • Question Overview: This question is a simple way to assess the candidate's typing speed. It's important to make sure that your scribe can type quickly and accurately, so this is a good question to ask early in the interview.

    Sample Answer: I type about 70 words per minute.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Ability to type quickly and accurately
    • - Confidence when talking about typing skills

  • Question: How would you react to a situation where someone close to you dies?
  • Question Overview: This question is a bit of a curveball, but it's a good way to see how the candidate handles stressful situations. You may not be able to predict when a medical scribe will be faced with a death in the family, but it's important to know that they're able to handle it professionally.

    Sample Answer: I would take some time off work and spend time with my family.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Ability to remain calm and focused in stressful situations
    • - Capacity to maintain professionalism in difficult circumstances

  • Question: What is a piece of constructive feedback you have received?
  • Question Overview: This question is a good way to see how the candidate reacts to criticism. You want to hire someone who can take constructive criticism and use it to improve their work. The answer to this question will also give you some insight into the candidate's past work experience and how they've dealt with difficult situations in the past.

    Sample Answer: I've been told that I need to be more aware of my body language and facial expressions when I'm interacting with patients.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Ability to take criticism without becoming defensive
    • - Willingness to improve on weaknesses
    • - Experience working in a team environment

  • Question: What does hepatomegaly mean?
  • Question Overview: This question is designed to assess the candidate's ability to understand medical terminology. It's a good way to see if they have a basic understanding of medical terminology and can use it in a sentence.

    Sample Answer: Hepatomegaly is an enlargement of the liver.

      What the interviewer is looking for:
    • - Ability to understand medical terminology
    • - Ability to use medical terminology in a sentence