Why this matters:
Communication is critical to healthcare. Doctors must be able to gather and share information successfully to facilitate accurate diagnoses, give therapeutic instructions, and establish caring relationships with patients. This should include an understanding of when and how to break down complex medical terminology and concepts to ensure comprehension.
What to listen for:
- Discussion of regulating patients’ emotions, facilitating comprehension, and managing expectations
- Signs that the candidate will encourage patients to voice their concerns and request more information
Why this matters:
Malpractice risks surround physicians every day, from alleged diagnostic errors to inadequate follow-up. Without due care and attention, these risks can result in lawsuits and other unwanted consequences. By recognizing risk, physicians can create and implement formal policies and procedures to protect their practices and ensure the highest quality care for their patients.
What to listen for:
- Evidence the candidate takes steps to establish trusting and open relationships with patients
- Mentions of consulting with other physicians about treatment or referring to specialists when outside of scope
Why this matters:
Preventing serious drug-drug interactions or drug-disease contraindications is essential to ensuring patient safety. To treat conditions and symptoms in the safest and most effective way possible, doctors must possess a thorough understanding of the various types and doses of medications each patient takes, and how these medications interact with one another.
What to listen for:
- Knowledge of the potential for adverse drug reactions
- A clear process for ensuring balanced prescribing, including asking patients about any other medications (prescription or otherwise) that they may be taking
Why this matters:
Even the most experienced and thoughtful doctors can struggle with issues that arise while caring for terminally ill patients. For example, some patients prefer their doctor to take over decision-making, while in other cases, family members may have strong opinions about what should be done. It’s important to know how a candidate will handle medical choices in an emotional climate.
What to listen for:
- A compassionate tone with an emphasis on helping patients retain their dignity and remain as comfortable as possible throughout their care
- Evidence of proven experience developing a reasonable and thoughtful plan for end-of-life care
Why this matters:
Doctors may encounter various medical emergencies in general practice. They’re rarely anticipated, and when every second counts, it can be difficult to know the right action to take. Your candidate’s answer will show their ability to quickly analyze patient information, evaluate potential results, and determine the best solution.
What to listen for:
- Signs that the candidate has an understanding of when to handle emergencies themselves and when to refer patients to a hospital
- Mention of the importance of communication with the patient or family members to gain essential information fast
Why this matters:
Accountability is critical in healthcare, so it’s important to know that your candidate can own up to and learn from their mistakes. The best doctors are always working to enhance their skills and understanding to improve patient care, so they should recognize what they can do differently next time. But they should also take extreme care to avoid unnecessary mistakes whenever possible.
What to listen for:
- Signs that the candidate recognizes the potentially life-threatening consequences of medical mistakes and puts appropriate checks and balances in place to avoid them
- Potential red flags, such as particularly serious or careless errors, or vague answers
Why this matters:
Doctors must remain current with the state of the healthcare industry to provide the best possible patient care. New developments in medicine are constantly being tested and rolled out, so what a doctor learned in medical school will only take them so far. As such, the desire to constantly deliver the most relevant care is one of the most important qualities to look for in a potential hire.
What to listen for:
- Examples of specific websites, journals, conferences, and professional bodies that the candidate follows
- Bonus: a proven ability to adopt a new process or technology, or adapt their approach in response to new findings
Why this matters:
Doctors should dispense the healthcare they would want to receive, so a candidate’s positive experiences with healthcare professionals will shed light on their deepest beliefs about patient care. It’s likely that the scenarios and physicians they describe will have shaped their own approach to medicine, whether it was a doctor who treated them personally or a mentor they particularly admire.
What to listen for:
- Signs that the candidate aligns with your organization’s mission, values, and approach to patient care
- An emphasis on trust, honesty, and listening to patients
Why this matters:
Doctors have a high-pressure job, but it’s crucial that they approach even the toughest situations with empathy, understanding, and compassion. This allows them to keep patients calm, reassure worried family members, and build strong working relationships with the rest of their medical team. You want a doctor who has a demonstrated history of blending technical skill with an empathetic nature.
What to listen for:
- A clear understanding of the role empathy plays in healthcare environments
- Self-description as an ethicist, meaning they believe it’s important to maintain a professional distance from patients — this is OK so long as it aligns with your organization’s culture
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