17 Admitting Representative Interview Questions and Answers

Admitting representatives are responsible for greeting and registering patients who are seeking medical care at a hospital. They are also responsible for providing information about the hospital and its services, as well as collecting payments and insurance information.

If you’re interviewing for an admitting representative position, you can expect to be asked a range of questions about your customer service skills, your experience working with insurance companies and patients, and your knowledge of the hospital’s services. To help you prepare for your interview, we’ve put together a list of sample questions and answers.

Are you familiar with the admitting process?

The interviewer may ask this question to see if you have experience with the admissions process. If you are interviewing for an entry-level position, they may want to know that you can learn the process quickly. If you’re applying for a higher level position, they may be looking for someone who has already mastered the process. In either case, it’s important to answer honestly and highlight any relevant experience you have.

Example: “I’ve worked in healthcare since I graduated college, so I’m familiar with the admitting process. However, I would like to continue learning more about how our hospital handles patients as I work here. I am excited to get started on my career path of becoming an administrator.”

What are some of the most important things to look for when admitting a patient?

This question can help the interviewer understand your knowledge of proper procedures when admitting patients. It can also show them how you prioritize tasks and make decisions under pressure.

Example: “I always look for a patient’s name, date of birth, insurance information and any allergies they may have before I start my paperwork. Then, I check to see if there are any restrictions on their visiting hours or who they can have visit them. After that, I verify whether they have any medical conditions that require special attention. Finally, I ask them what brought them in today.”

How would you handle a situation where a patient is hostile or upset about being admitted?

Interviewers may ask this question to assess your interpersonal skills and ability to diffuse a situation. In your answer, try to demonstrate that you can remain calm under pressure and use active listening techniques to help patients feel heard.

Example: “I would first make sure the patient is safe by ensuring they are in a private area with no objects nearby that could be used as weapons or other dangerous items. Then, I would listen carefully to what they have to say and acknowledge their feelings. If they’re upset about being admitted, I might explain why it’s necessary for their safety and comfort. If they’re angry at another hospital staff member, I would let them know that I’m not involved in that interaction but will do my best to find out more information.”

What is your experience with working with insurance companies and other financial institutions?

The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your experience working with outside organizations and how you handle these relationships. Use examples from past experiences to show the interviewer that you can work well with others, collaborate and communicate effectively.

Example: “In my last role as an admissions representative, I worked closely with our insurance company to ensure we met all of their requirements for coverage. This included submitting monthly reports on patient demographics and any changes in our facility’s operations. The insurance company also required us to submit claims within 30 days of service, so I developed a system where our staff could easily upload information into the company’s online portal.”

Provide an example of a time when you had to help a patient and their family through a difficult situation.

This question can help the interviewer understand how you handle stressful situations and make difficult decisions. Use examples from your experience that show you have strong communication skills, empathy and compassion for others.

Example: “In my previous role as an admissions representative, I had a patient who was admitted to the hospital with a serious illness. The family of this patient was very concerned about their loved one’s prognosis and asked me many questions about his condition. I explained everything I knew about the situation to them and answered all of their questions in detail. They were grateful for my honesty and openness.”

If a patient is admitted but the doctor decides they need to stay longer, how would you handle the situation?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you would handle a challenging situation. It’s important to show that you’re willing to work with your team and communicate effectively when handling these situations.

Example: “If this happened, I would first speak with my patient about their current condition and what they think is best for them. Then, I would call the doctor on duty and ask if there was any way we could extend their stay. If not, I would make sure all of the necessary paperwork was filed so the patient could be discharged as soon as possible.”

What would you do if you were working with a patient and their family but the doctor wasn’t available to explain their diagnosis?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you work with others and your ability to communicate effectively. Use examples from previous experiences where you had to explain a diagnosis or procedure to a patient’s family member or friend, or when you helped someone else interpret medical terminology.

Example: “If I was working with a patient and their family but the doctor wasn’t available to explain their diagnosis, I would ask if they have any questions about the diagnosis and then refer them to another staff member who could answer their questions. If no one else on staff could answer their questions, I would do my best to explain the diagnosis in layman’s terms so that the patient and their family could understand what is happening.”

How well do you perform under pressure?

Admitting representatives often work with a lot of information at once. They need to be able to prioritize tasks and make decisions quickly, so it’s important that they can perform under pressure. When answering this question, you should show the interviewer that you are capable of handling stressful situations.

Example: “I am very organized, which helps me stay calm when I’m working on multiple projects at once. In my previous role as an admissions representative, I was responsible for scheduling interviews, reviewing applications and communicating with students. There were many things going on at once, but I always made sure to prioritize tasks according to urgency. This helped me manage my time well and ensured that everything got done.”

Do you have experience working with a team of medical professionals to coordinate a patient’s care?

The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your interpersonal skills and ability to collaborate with others. Give examples of how you worked as part of a team in the past, and explain what made it successful.

Example: “In my previous role, I was responsible for coordinating patient care between multiple medical professionals including physicians, nurses, social workers and other support staff. For example, if a patient needed an appointment with their primary physician but also had questions for their nurse, I would contact both parties to schedule appointments at the same time so they could discuss any concerns together. This helped ensure that patients received all of their questions answered and were able to get the care they needed.”

When is it appropriate to call a patient’s family members to inform them of a diagnosis?

This question can help the interviewer determine your knowledge of HIPAA regulations and how you would handle a sensitive situation. When answering this question, it can be helpful to provide an example of when you called family members in the past and what the outcome was.

Example: “I have had experience with calling family members about patients’ diagnoses before, but I only do so if the patient has given me permission or if they are unable to make decisions for themselves. In my previous role, I had a patient who was admitted to the hospital after experiencing some symptoms that concerned us. After running several tests, we determined that the patient had cancer. The patient told me that he wanted his wife to know about his diagnosis, so I informed her of the news. She came to visit him at the hospital and helped him through the rest of his treatment.

We want to improve our discharge process. Tell me about a strategy you would use to improve our current process.

The interviewer may ask you this question to see how you would apply your skills and knowledge to improve the hospital’s current processes. Use examples from your experience that show you can analyze a process, develop solutions and implement them effectively.

Example: “I would first assess the current discharge process by interviewing staff members who work in the department. I would then create an improvement plan based on their feedback. For example, if they said there were too many patients for the number of nurses available, I would suggest hiring more nurses or increasing the number of hours the existing ones worked. If they said the paperwork was overwhelming, I would recommend implementing electronic medical records so the staff could enter information once and have it automatically populate other documents.”

Describe your experience with working with people from diverse cultural backgrounds.

An admissions representative may need to work with students from a variety of backgrounds. Employers ask this question to make sure you have experience working with people who are different than you. Use your answer to explain how you’ve helped diverse groups of people in the past. Share an example of how you helped someone overcome challenges because of their background.

Example: “I grew up in a small town, so I understand what it’s like to be the only person from your group at school. In my last position as an admissions representative, I worked with a student whose parents were undocumented immigrants. The student was worried about telling his friends and teachers that his family might be deported. I talked with him about his fears and reassured him that we would do everything we could to keep his family safe.”

What makes you an ideal candidate for this position?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your qualifications and how you can contribute to their team. Before your interview, make a list of all the skills and experiences that relate to this position. Think about what makes you unique compared to other candidates.

Example: “I am an ideal candidate for this position because I have experience working in a similar role at my current job. In my previous role, I helped screen applicants and determine which ones were qualified for our open positions. I also had to work with hiring managers to ensure we hired the right people for each position. This experience has given me valuable insight into what employers are looking for in new hires.”

Which admission processes are you most familiar with?

This question is a great way to see how much experience the candidate has in the field. It also allows you to gauge their level of expertise and determine if they are qualified for the position. When answering this question, it can be beneficial to list all the processes you have experience with and then highlight which ones you’re most familiar with.

Example: “I’ve worked as an admissions representative at two different colleges, so I’m quite familiar with both the application process and the enrollment process. However, I find that I am more experienced with the enrollment process because I have been doing it longer. I feel confident in my ability to perform well in either situation.”

What do you think is the most important aspect of admitting patients?

This question can help the interviewer understand your priorities and how you would prioritize tasks as an admitting representative. Your answer should show that you value patients’ experiences, especially when they are new to a facility.

Example: “I think it’s important to make sure all of our patients feel welcome and comfortable during their first visit. I always try to greet them with a smile and introduce myself before they check in. This helps put them at ease and shows them we care about their experience. If there is anything else I can do to make their stay more enjoyable, I am happy to accommodate.”

How often do you think you should update your knowledge of medical terminology?

This question can help the interviewer determine how much you value continuing your education. It also helps them understand what kind of commitment you have to your career and whether or not you’re likely to stay with their organization for a long time. Your answer should show that you are dedicated to learning new things, but it’s important to be realistic about how often you can do so.

Example: “I think I should update my knowledge of medical terminology at least once per year. This is because there are always new terms being created in medicine, and I want to make sure I’m familiar with all of them. However, I know that sometimes this isn’t possible due to work constraints. In those cases, I try to learn as many new terms as I can when I have free time.”

There is a miscommunication between a patient and their family. How do you handle it?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you handle conflict and resolve it. It also shows them your communication skills, problem-solving abilities and interpersonal skills.

Example: “I would first make sure that I understood what each party was saying to me. Then, I would speak with the patient alone to get their side of the story. Afterward, I would speak with the family member alone to hear their version of events. Once I have all the facts, I would explain to both parties why they need to work together and compromise on a solution. If either party refuses to cooperate, I will call security to remove them from the premises.”