20 athenahealth Interview Questions and Answers

When it comes to interviews, athenahealth is looking for candidates who are passionate about their work and have the skills to back it up. In order to assess whether a candidate has what it takes to be a part of the athenahealth team, interviewers will ask a mix of general and company-specific questions.

To help you prepare, we’ve compiled a list of some of the most common athenahealth interview questions, along with sample answers to give you an idea of what the interviewer is looking for.

athenahealth Interview Process

The interview process at athenahealth is relatively long, taking an average of six weeks from start to finish. However, the difficulty level of the interviews themselves is not particularly high, with most candidates reporting that they felt well-prepared for the questions asked. Overall, the experience is generally positive, with many candidates finding the staff to be friendly and helpful throughout the process.

1. How do you think athenahealth will change healthcare?

This question is a great way to show your knowledge of the company and how you can contribute to its success. When answering this question, it’s important to be honest about what you know about athenahealth and how you think it will change healthcare.

Example: “I believe that athenahealth has the potential to revolutionize healthcare by making medical practices more efficient and helping doctors provide better care for their patients. I’ve heard from many people who work in the industry that athenahealth is one of the most innovative companies in the space, so I’m excited to join such an exciting team.”

2. Can you explain what your role was in a previous project?

This question is a great way to show your experience and knowledge of the industry. When answering this question, it can be helpful to explain what you did in that role and how it helped the company or organization.

Example: “In my last position as an IT specialist at a hospital, I was tasked with creating a new system for patient records. This project took several months to complete, but once we implemented the new system, it streamlined our workflow and improved communication between departments.”

3. What are some of the ethical issues surrounding software development and data management?

The interviewer may ask you this question to assess your understanding of the ethical standards and regulations that apply to software development. Use examples from your past experience or research to explain how you would handle these situations if they arose in your new role.

Example: “I have worked with many clients who are highly regulated by HIPAA, so I am familiar with the importance of maintaining client data security and privacy. In my last position, I developed a system for a hospital where we had to ensure all data was encrypted before it left the facility’s network. We also implemented several layers of authentication to protect patient information as well as two-factor authentication for all employees accessing the system.”

4. What is something that you would like to see improved or changed about athenahealth’s products?

This question can help an interviewer understand your critical thinking skills and how you might approach a problem or challenge. It also helps them determine if you have the necessary technical knowledge to work for their company. When answering this question, it’s important to be honest about what you would change while still showing that you respect the products they currently offer.

Example: “I think athenahealth has some of the best software in the industry, however I would like to see more integration with other medical software providers. This could allow doctors to access all of their patient information from one place.”

5. Tell me about a time when you had to overcome a challenge, how did you handle it?

This question is a great way to show your problem-solving skills and ability to adapt. When answering this question, it can be helpful to talk about a time you overcame a challenge that was unique or challenging.

Example: “When I first started working as an IT professional, I had the opportunity to work on a project for a large hospital. The hospital’s network was very outdated, which made my job more difficult than usual. However, I used my knowledge of networking and troubleshooting to find solutions to all of the problems we encountered during the project.”

6. What steps do you take when prioritizing tasks?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you approach your work and determine which tasks are most important. Use examples from previous experience to explain how you decide what needs to be done first, second or last.

Example: “I always start by looking at my calendar for the day and week ahead. This helps me see what appointments I have scheduled with patients and when I need to complete certain tasks. For example, if I have a patient coming in for an appointment in 30 minutes, I will prioritize that task over others so I can get it completed before the appointment starts. If I don’t have any immediate tasks due, I’ll look at my long-term goals and projects to decide which ones I want to focus on.”

7. What strategies have you used to manage multiple projects at one time?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you prioritize your time and manage competing deadlines. Use examples from your experience to highlight your ability to multitask, meet deadlines and communicate with others about project status.

Example: “In my last role as a senior software developer, I was responsible for managing multiple projects at once. For example, one week I would work on developing new features for our patient portal while also working on automating billing processes. In both cases, I used project management tools like Trello and JIRA to organize tasks by priority and due date. This helped me stay organized and ensure that all of my projects were completed on time.”

8. Why should we hire you instead of someone else?

This question is a great way to show your confidence and passion for the job. It’s also an opportunity to highlight any unique skills or experiences that make you stand out from other candidates.

Example: “I am passionate about healthcare, and I believe my background in customer service makes me uniquely qualified for this role. My previous experience as a medical receptionist has given me valuable insight into how patients interact with their doctors’ offices. This knowledge helps me understand what patients need when they call or visit the office.”

9. Describe for us an instance where you were given a requirement and found ways to improve on it.

This question is a great way to show your problem-solving skills and ability to innovate. When answering this question, it can be helpful to provide specific details about the requirement you were given and how you improved upon it.

Example: “In my last role as an IT specialist, I was tasked with creating a new system for tracking patient information. The company wanted a system that would allow patients to view their medical records online. However, I knew there were many security risks associated with allowing patients access to their own data. So instead of implementing a full online portal, I suggested we create a mobile app where patients could enter their unique code into the app to view their medical record.”

10. What kind of work environment do you prefer? Fast-paced or slow-paced?

The interviewer may ask this question to determine if you would be a good fit for the culture of athenahealth. It’s important to show that you can adapt to different work environments and thrive in them.

Example: “I prefer a fast-paced environment where I have plenty of opportunities to learn new things and make mistakes without being criticized. I find that when I’m working in an environment like this, I am more motivated to do my best work because I want to impress my colleagues and managers. In my last job, I was part of a team that worked on developing software for a client. We had a tight deadline, but we were all very motivated to get it done well.”

11. Have you ever been in a situation where you disagreed with your coworkers? How did you handle it?

This question can help an interviewer understand how you work with others and your ability to communicate effectively. Use examples from previous experiences where you disagreed with a coworker, but were able to resolve the issue in a professional manner.

Example: “In my last position as a nurse manager, I had a disagreement with one of my nurses about her patient care techniques. She was new to the hospital, so I took some time to explain why we do things a certain way. After our conversation, she understood my reasoning and followed through on providing quality care for her patients.”

12. How many years do you plan on working here?

This question is a great way to determine how long you plan on staying with the company. It also shows that they are looking for employees who want to be there for the long term. When answering this question, make sure to show your commitment and enthusiasm for the job.

Example: “I am planning on working here until I retire. This is an amazing place to work, and I love what we do. I feel like I have found my dream job, and I can’t wait to see where it takes me.”

13. If I called your previous company right now and asked them why they fired you, what would they say?

This question is a way for the interviewer to assess your interpersonal skills and ability to work with others. It’s important to answer this question honestly, but also in a way that shows you have learned from any mistakes you may have made.

Example: “If I were fired from my last job, it would be because of my inability to meet deadlines and complete projects on time. However, since then, I’ve taken steps to improve my organizational skills and learn how to manage my time more effectively.”

14. What do you know about our mission statement?

The interviewer may ask this question to assess your understanding of the company’s values and goals. To answer, you can read through Athenahealth’s mission statement and discuss how it relates to your own career goals or experiences in healthcare IT.

Example: “I’ve always been passionate about providing quality care for patients, so I was excited to learn more about Athenahealth when I saw that the company is dedicated to improving patient outcomes. As a result, I feel like my skills as an IT professional would be well-suited to working here.”

15. Do you have any experience training other employees?

This question can help the interviewer understand your leadership skills and how you might fit into their organization. If you have experience training others, share a specific example of how you helped someone learn something new or improved their performance on the job.

Example: “In my last position as an IT specialist, I was responsible for training other employees in our company’s technology policies and procedures. This included helping them set up computers and mobile devices, troubleshooting technical issues and answering questions about software applications. I enjoyed this role because it gave me the opportunity to work with different people and develop my communication and problem-solving skills.”

16. Would you be comfortable traveling for this position?

Traveling is a common part of many healthcare positions, and the interviewer may want to know if you have experience with it. If you do not, they may also be interested in knowing how comfortable you would be with getting started.

Example: “I am very comfortable traveling for work. I’ve done so for several years now, and I find that it’s an important part of my job as a nurse. I enjoy meeting new people and learning about different places, so I think I’d really enjoy this aspect of the position.”

17. In what way do you stay up-to-date on changes within the healthcare industry?

The healthcare industry is constantly changing, and it’s important for employees to stay up-to-date on the latest developments. This question helps employers understand how you’ll fit into their organization as it grows and evolves.

Example: “I have a passion for learning, so I make sure to read articles from reputable sources about new medical breakthroughs and technological advancements in the field. I also subscribe to newsletters that provide updates on changes within the industry.”

18. Are you prepared for potentially competing against companies with more resources than ours?

This question can help the interviewer determine your confidence and ability to succeed in a challenging environment. Use examples from previous experiences where you were able to overcome challenges with limited resources or competing against larger companies.

Example: “I’ve worked for smaller companies my entire career, so I’m used to having to compete against larger organizations. In fact, it’s often been a motivator for me to work harder because I know that if we do our best work, we can be successful despite being smaller than other companies. In my last role as an IT manager, we competed against a much larger company for a contract with a hospital. We won the contract by providing excellent customer service and demonstrating how our software could improve patient care.”

19. Do you prefer working independently or as part of a team?

This question can help an interviewer determine how you might fit into the company culture. When answering, consider what type of work environment the company has and try to align your answer with that.

Example: “I enjoy working both independently and as part of a team. I find that when working alone, I am able to focus on my tasks without distraction and complete them more efficiently. However, I also value collaboration and teamwork because it allows me to learn from others and share my own knowledge. In fact, I have found that by collaborating with others, we are able to solve problems more effectively.”

20. Tell me about a time where you showed initiative.

This question is a great way to show your potential employer that you are willing to take on new challenges and responsibilities. When answering this question, it can be helpful to think of an example where you took initiative in a work or school setting.

Example: “In my last position as a medical records technician, I noticed that the hospital was missing some patient information. I brought up my concerns with my supervisor, who then asked me to research how we could improve our record keeping system. After researching several different options, I recommended that the hospital implement a digital health record system. My supervisor approved my recommendation, and I helped train other employees on using the new software.”