Why this matters:
As technology helps enhance a physician assistant’s role, asking this question gauges your candidate’s aptitude for learning new technologies and applying them to the practice. Today’s medical professionals need flexibility to adapt to innovation. A candidate’s experiences with technology will be invaluable, indicating a readiness to work on Day 1 without significant training requirements.
What to listen for:
- Prior use of hemoglobin machines, blood chemistry analyzers, and EKG machines
- Comfort with entering and maintaining electronic health records
- Interest in learning about and incorporating newer technologies like telemedicine
Why this matters:
While all PAs should be able to provide surgical assistance, diagnoses, patient recommendations, and other essential medical services, it’s common to have one or more areas of specialization. This question helps ascertain whether the candidate has treatment expertise related to general surgery, emergency medicine, internal medicine, dermatology, orthopedics, or OB-GYN care.
What to listen for:
- Technical knowledge of biology, anatomy, and physiology
- Competency in key duties and responsibilities required on a daily basis
- Relevant experience in one or more subspecialties used in your practice
Why this matters:
Candidates with robust analytical skills will be able to walk you through an organized process for diagnosing illnesses based on general symptoms. While answering, candidates may describe tools and resources they’ve used to develop a hypothesis. Experienced medical practitioners will stand out by sharing knowledge of the most common causes and specific questions to rule conditions in or out.
What to listen for:
- Knowledge of how to take patient histories and perform medical examinations
- Experience asking questions, looking up information, and ordering tests to learn more
- Organization, attention to detail, and critical thinking skills
Why this matters:
Asking about experience with complex test interpretations gives candidates the chance to demonstrate interpersonal skills, which are just as necessary for the role as medical proficiency. Patients rely on physician assistants to understand their illness or injury and share information to help them cope with a new diagnosis. Bedside manners are paramount, so it’s important to evaluate a candidate’s communication skills.
What to listen for:
- Experience reading X-rays, metabolic panels, blood work, or other test results
- A warm, gentle, matter-of-fact manner when explaining the implications of a diagnosis
- Willingness to tailor messaging to a patient’s baseline knowledge or anxiety level
Why this matters:
PAs work on teams alongside doctors, surgeons, and nursing staff. This question encourages candidates to reflect on their work ethic, sense of compassion, and teamwork. Medical care can be a stressful, “all hands on deck” environment. It’s important to have dedicated team members others can rely upon to fill in an extra shift, assist with a patient emergency, or simply to listen when frustration levels run high.
What to listen for:
- Conveyance of interpersonal skills like empathy, active listening, and compassion
- Strong work ethic, flexibility, and willingness to pick up extra slack
- Experience working as part of a dedicated team and getting along well with others
Why this matters:
You’ll want a candidate who places utmost value and importance on patient safety. Ready ideas and experience working toward greater safety initiatives can increase the potential value a candidate brings to your organization. Answers will showcase creative brainstorming, communication, and leadership abilities.
What to listen for:
- Emphasis on strong team dynamics to share the load and improve collaboration
- Experiences proposing and implementing changes to work practices
- Attention to detail, commitment to higher standards, and interest in adding value
Why this matters:
This question explores a candidate’s ability to think on their feet, handle workplace challenges, and manage day-to-day stress. Answers may touch upon organization, communication, and coping skills, as well as tasks the individual finds particularly taxing. Candidates should use this opportunity to reflect upon larger issues impacting the field as a whole and offer proactive solutions to help your practice succeed.
What to listen for:
- Experience dealing with regulations, workplace hazards, shortages, and high demand
- Personal anecdotes that help you understand the candidate’s work preferences
- Knowledge of modern physician assistant challenges and potential solutions
Why this matters:
Time management is not only required for practice efficiency but is also one of the keys to reducing stress and burnout. Candidates should be able to describe how they spend their time at work, whether the day is busy or slow. Those who can demonstrate organizational skills and a structured process for maximizing productivity will offer the greatest value.
What to listen for:
- The use of goal-setting, task lists, and activity clustering for maximum productivity
- Budgeting for delays, unexpected demand, staff shortages, and emergency situations
- Realistic assessments of workplace requirements and daily duties
Why this matters:
Candidates with strong answers reveal that they spend adequate time with their patients and gain satisfaction from successful interactions. Traits like empathy, compassion, and active listening may be evident in the response — all of which can be beneficial to your practice. You will also learn more about a candidate’s unique experience, personality, values, and motivations.
What to listen for:
- Experience working with the types of patients your practice sees
- Demonstrated interpersonal, relationship-building skills
- Personal commitment to learning and improving the lives of others
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