Why this matters:
A medical scribe’s primary responsibility is to maintain documentation for doctors and nurses. Their education may offer partial familiarity, but you may want to find out what additional knowledge they’ve learned on the job. The candidate’s response to this question indicates their experience and aptitude for the role.
What to listen for:
- Familiarity with most common medical terms
- Command of medical shorthand abbreviations
- Expansive experience in hospital settings
Why this matters:
Patient confidentiality and other compliance are key values to be instilled in medical professionals, regardless of their role. Familiarity with the laws governing confidentiality doesn’t just demonstrate a candidate’s professionalism: it will be an asset for candidates who seek to further pursue medical careers — as many medical scribes do.
What to listen for:
- Understanding of HIPAA regulations
- Respecting patient confidentiality
- Knowing proper procedures for HIPAA authorization
Why this matters:
The modern hospital takes full advantage of advances in technology. That includes making use of the latest software to enhance the work of medical scribes. Some candidates may have encountered this software before, and their prior experience will enable them to adjust to a variety of emergency room environments.
What to listen for:
- Citing software commonly used by medical scribes
- Demonstrating ability to use software features
- Capacity to integrate new software into work if needed
Why this matters:
Medical practices are high-pressure environments. At times, staff need to provide each other with substantial support to help them get through high-stress situations. As they are often subordinate to doctors and nurses, medical scribes may be under greater pressure than those in other roles, and the ability to handle stress is an asset to them.
What to listen for:
- Supporting fellow medical staff practically and emotionally
- Maintaining calm under pressure
- Paying attention to procedure and expectations
Why this matters:
Patients with active healthcare issues may understandably be upset or frustrated. Difficult patients may pose problems for medical scribes trying to get an accurate record of their condition, but because having these accurate records is so important to care, candidates must be able to navigate such situations.
What to listen for:
- Respectful and conciliatory attitude
- Addressing patient concerns when possible
- Communicating between patient and doctor
Why this matters:
As many times as you may study a textbook, you won’t always have a 100% grasp from the outset on what confronts you daily on the job. That goes for doctors and medical scribes alike. Since medical scribes are responsible for documentation, their ability to keep accurate records even when facing unfamiliar situations is vital to enabling doctors to do their best work.
What to listen for:
- Asking questions when necessary or possible
- Providing as much information as needed to ensure clarity
- Resourcefulness and dependability
Why this matters:
Patient care is about more than direct treatment of the illness or injury: it also requires direct interaction with patients to make sure they understand what treatment they’re receiving and their prognosis. For medical scribes, this also entails being able to talk to the patients to get an accurate record of their symptoms and what led to them seeking medical attention.
What to listen for:
- Bedside manner and sensitivity
- Clear communication regarding condition and treatment
- Supportive attitude representing best of practice
Why this matters:
Given the highly stressful nature of their work, it’s only to be expected that doctors will occasionally get frustrated. When medical scribes make mistakes, that frustration may be aggravated. Resilience in the face of criticism doesn’t just make working as a medical scribe easier — it also builds inner resources which will offer benefits in any medical professional role.
What to listen for:
- Resilience and a calm demeanor
- Learning from past mistakes and accepting constructive criticism
- Putting aside personal feelings for the sake of the job
Why this matters:
To deliver the best possible care while on the job, medical professionals must learn to care for themselves while off the job. They may also use this time to improve their professional skills and demeanor. Making the best use of downtime indicates commitment to work and understanding of the challenges involved in the role.
What to listen for:
- Reviewing medical terminology
- Discussions with more experienced scribes and staff
- Self-care to ensure consistent performance
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