Asking a candidate about their experience is a great way to ease into the interview. It also makes it easier to determine if you'll need to provide on-the-job training. Listen for phrases related to your job description, such as rooming patients, entering physician orders, updating medical charts and taking vital signs. If necessary, ask follow-up questions to determine if a candidate is comfortable performing a wide range of duties. What to look for:

• Medical assistant experience
• Communication skills
• Fit for your company

Many companies prefer to employ medical assistants who have experience with electronic health records (EHR) software. Ask candidates to name the software packages they've used and explain the extent of their experience using each one. Follow up by asking if they are familiar with your company's system. What to look for:

• Experience with EHR software
• Experience recording patient medical history
• Computer skills

It's important for medical assistants to understand the HIPAA regulations and how they protect patient privacy. Asking this question helps ensure each candidate has a full grasp of the importance of HIPAA and knows how to follow the regulations in their day-to-day work. What to look for:

• Knowledge of HIPAA regulations
• Proper training in HIPAA regulations
• Experience with implementing standard regulations

Like other medical assistant interview questions, this one helps you determine if a candidate has the skills to excel in the role. Taking accurate vital signs is essential for success as a medical assistant, so listen for candidates to discuss positioning patients properly, calibrating equipment as needed and taking a second reading to confirm any unexpected results. What to look for: What to look for:

• Experience taking patients' vitals
• Knowledge of how to enter vitals in patient charts
• Basic medical assistant skills

The concept of bedside manner is crucial for anyone working in a medical environment. Having medical procedures can be stressful or upsetting for many patients, and it is the medical professional's responsibility to put them at ease and demonstrate tact when providing care. The candidate's response to this question can help you determine who has the soft skills to succeed as a medical assistant. What to look for:

• The different factors that contribute to someone's bedside manner
• An example of positive patient interactions
• Adaptability and perceptiveness

It's common to have medical assistants draw blood and collect urine samples. If you need someone to perform these tasks, asking this medical assistant interview question can help you find someone with the required skills. Listen closely as the candidate describes their training, as their answer may help you determine how confident they are with performing venipuncture and labeling specimens. What to look for:

• Phlebotomy training
• Comfort with taking blood
• Knowledge of universal precautions to prevent infections

A medical assistant should feel comfortable responding to any emergencies that occur in a hospital, clinic or other medical setting. This is one of the best interview questions for a medical assistant because it helps you determine if a candidate responds well under pressure. It's also a good way to assess a person's knowledge of emergency medical procedures. What to look for:

• Emergency response knowledge
• Ability to work well under pressure
• Strong sense of initiative

Many medical assistants perform a combination of clinical and clerical duties. This is one of the best medical assistant interview questions because it helps you assess what type of experience a candidate has. A good answer helps you understand the candidate's ability to make a positive impression on patients and perform clerical tasks with a high degree of accuracy. What to look for:

• Knowledge of medical office procedures
• Experience handling a multiline phone system
• Willingness to serve as the face of your organization

In many facilities, medical assistants perform some of the same duties as customer service agents. You need to know that a new hire is capable of putting patients at ease and maintaining your organization's reputation. A good answer demonstrates that a candidate has excellent conflict-resolution skills. What to look for:

• Ability to put patients at ease
• Conflict-resolution skills
• Knowledge of best practices in customer service

The medical field changes rapidly, so you need medical assistants capable of adapting. The answer to this question tells you a lot about how much ambition a candidate has. It can also help you determine if a candidate is likely to fit with your long-term plans for the role. What to look for:

• Long-term planning
• Desire to gain new knowledge and skills
• Understanding of industry trends