4 Questions to Ask When Interviewing Locums Tenens Physicians

General.

Health facilities must continually balance optimal quality of care for patients while also preserving their bottom line. One of the best ways to do this is by hiring locum tenens physicians to fill in gaps in coverage or meet unexpected surges in demand without sacrificing patient satisfaction or safety.

But, as with permanent staff, you must assess each candidate’s hard and soft skills and behavioral intelligence during the interview process to see if they are a good fit for your facility. Therefore, it’s important to be intentional about the questions you ask while interviewing locum tenens physicians.

The interview assessment

Finding and interviewing new employees can be a daunting task. But planning the questions you want to ask during an interview can make the process easier and help you find the best candidate for the job.

Interview questions can help gauge how well a candidate understands the role and what they’re looking for in a position. Conversely, asking the wrong questions can lead to wrong hiring decisions and wasted time and money.

It’s critical to ask a potential candidate the right questions to get a sense of their motivations, interests, and personality to be sure they’re a good match for your team.

You must identify their medical knowledge, skills, and abilities as they relate to the needs of the role. You should also leverage behavioral interview questions to get to know the physician behind the resume. These questions encourage the candidate to dig into their background and give specific examples and details from their experience. The answers allow you to use past behavior to predict future success, and the details allow you to make strong hiring decisions.

Lastly, you’ll need to evaluate soft skills during applicant screening to determine if the candidate has specific personality traits, such as communication, decision-making, teamwork, and time management. These factors shouldn’t be overlooked as they’re necessary for cultural fit and are good predictors of future job performance.

So, what are the key questions to ask during an interview? Here are some examples:

What steps do you take to prevent medical malpractice?

This question probes into the physician’s understanding of medical malpractice and their approach to risk management.

Malpractice risk is an ever-present reality for healthcare providers. From pre-visit planning to post-discharge follow-up, the entire process of patient care can be rife with potential for mistakes and can have serious and costly consequences.

A physician’s approach to risk management can provide insights into how they think about patient safety and their willingness to take necessary precautions to avoid potential harm and malpractice claims.

They should mention the importance of establishing trust with patients and referring them to other physicians or specialists as appropriate. Additionally, a good physician should understand the value of plans that minimize malpractice risk, such as using checklists, following standard protocols, and documentation.

Describe the last medical emergency you handled

Medical emergencies can happen at any time and in any setting, so it’s important to know that your potential hire is comfortable and capable of handling these critical situations.

The answer to this question should give you an idea of the physician’s experience level and how they react under pressure.

Did they rapidly analyze the patient and potential outcomes? Did they stay calm and take charge? Did they work well with other medical professionals on the team to get the patient the necessary care?

Strong candidates have a history of managing difficult medical emergencies and can share stories that reflect their competence and professionalism.

How do you practice empathy and compassion in the workplace?

Patients need to feel understood and cared for, and the best physicians can show empathy and compassion in their interactions with patients and their families. It also allows them to build strong working relationships with their fellow team members.

Ideal doctors can demonstrate a history of blending technical skills with an empathetic nature.

How do you present complicated information or instructions to patients?

The ability to provide clear, concise instructions and information in a straightforward manner is a critical skill for any physician because patients need to understand these details to make informed decisions about their care.

How the candidate answers this question provides insight into how well they communicate and handle potentially difficult conversations with patients. Physicians should show that they can explain complex medical information in a way that’s easy to digest and comprehend and should encourage patients to voice any concerns or requests for further information.