17 Health System Specialist Interview Questions and Answers

The health system specialist is responsible for the overall coordination and management of patient care within a healthcare facility. This position oversees the work of nurses, doctors, and other medical staff. They also work with insurance companies and government agencies to ensure that patients receive the best possible care.

If you’re looking for a job in the healthcare industry, you’ll likely need to go through a job interview. One of the best ways to prepare for a healthcare job interview is to know what questions you might be asked. In this guide, we’ll provide you with a list of common healthcare job interview questions and answers.

Are you familiar with the Healthcare Information Technology Standards?

The interviewer may ask this question to assess your knowledge of the standards that govern how health systems store and manage patient information. Your answer should show that you understand the importance of these standards and can apply them in your work.

Example: “Yes, I am familiar with the Healthcare Information Technology Standards. In fact, I have used them as a guide for my work at previous jobs. The standards are important because they ensure that all healthcare providers use compatible software and hardware so patients’ medical records can be easily accessed by doctors and other staff members. These standards also help protect sensitive patient data from cyberattacks.”

What are some of the most important qualities for a healthcare systems specialist to have?

This question can help the interviewer determine if you have the necessary skills and abilities to succeed in this role. When answering, it can be helpful to mention a few of your own personal qualities that relate to those mentioned by the interviewer.

Example: “I believe some of the most important qualities for a healthcare systems specialist are attention to detail, problem-solving skills and communication skills. These skills allow me to ensure all information is accurate, solve any issues that may arise and communicate effectively with my team members and other professionals.”

How would you deal with a situation in which multiple departments are arguing about the best way to handle a patient’s care?

This question can help the interviewer assess your ability to work with other departments and make decisions that benefit patients. Use examples from past experience where you successfully collaborated with other teams to solve problems or implement solutions.

Example: “In my last role, I worked with multiple departments on a daily basis. One of my favorite aspects of this job was collaborating with different specialists to provide the best care for our patients. In one instance, two departments were arguing about how to handle a patient’s treatment plan. I listened to both sides of the argument and then suggested a compromise that would allow us to meet the needs of the patient while also allowing each department to follow their protocols. The compromise was accepted by both parties, and we were able to continue providing quality care to the patient.”

What is your process for identifying and resolving system bottlenecks?

Bottlenecks are areas where the system is slowing down or causing errors. Your answer should show that you know how to identify and resolve bottlenecks in a timely manner.

Example: “I first start by reviewing all of the logs for the last 24 hours, looking for any issues with the system. If I find an issue, I will check the error log to see what caused it. Then, I’ll restart the server and run diagnostics on each component to ensure there aren’t any hardware issues. After resolving the bottleneck, I will monitor the system closely for at least two weeks to make sure there aren’t any other issues.”

Provide an example of a time when you identified a problem with a patient’s care and implemented a solution to fix it.

This question is an opportunity to show your problem-solving skills and ability to work with a team. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention the steps you took to solve the issue and how your actions benefited the patient or other members of the health care team.

Example: “When I was working as a medical records specialist at a hospital, I noticed that one of my patients had been discharged before they were ready. This meant that they would have to return to the hospital for treatment, which could lead to more complications. I immediately notified the physician who had released the patient so they could assess the situation. They realized their mistake and returned the patient to the hospital where they received the proper care.”

If a patient’s medical records were lost, how would you go about locating them?

This question is an opportunity to show your problem-solving skills and ability to work under pressure. Your answer should include a step-by-step process of how you would locate the records, including any technology or software that may be used in the process.

Example: “If I lost a patient’s medical records, my first step would be to speak with the patient about what information they remember from their visit. If the patient remembers nothing, I would then check our electronic health record system for any notes made by other staff members who have seen the patient recently. If there are no notes, I would contact all doctors on staff to see if they had any information regarding the missing records. If none of these steps were successful, I would call the state department of health to report the issue and request assistance locating the records.

What would you do if you noticed that doctors and nurses were consistently using outdated procedures to care for patients?

This question can help interviewers assess your ability to implement change and improve processes. Use examples from your experience implementing new procedures or helping others do so.

Example: “In my last role, I noticed that some nurses were using outdated methods for administering medication to patients. For example, they would use paper-based systems instead of electronic ones. This was a concern because it could lead to errors in dosage or timing. So, I met with the nurses who used these methods most often and explained why electronic systems are better. They agreed to start using them more frequently. After two weeks, we saw an improvement in patient outcomes.”

How well do you perform under pressure?

Working in a hospital setting can be stressful, and employers ask this question to make sure you have the ability to perform well under pressure. When answering this question, it can be helpful to talk about a time when you were working on a project or task that required you to meet a deadline. Explain how you managed your stress and delivered the work successfully.

Example: “I am someone who thrives under pressure. In my last role as a health system specialist, I was tasked with creating an annual report for our department. The due date was only two weeks away, but I knew there was so much information to gather before I could complete the report. Instead of panicking, I broke down the project into smaller tasks and set aside specific times each day to work on the report. By the end of the week, I had completed all of the tasks and submitted the report.”

Do you have any experience working with large data sets?

This question can help the interviewer determine your experience with a specific type of work. If you have relevant experience, share it in your answer. If you don’t have any experience working with large data sets, explain what types of projects you’ve worked on that required you to use complex data analysis tools and processes.

Example: “In my last role as a health system specialist, I was responsible for managing all patient records within the organization’s electronic medical record software. This included creating reports based on patients’ demographics, diagnoses, treatment plans and other important information. While I didn’t work specifically with large data sets, I did need to understand how to sort through large amounts of data to find the most relevant information.”

When performing system audits, what areas do you typically focus on?

The interviewer may ask you this question to understand how you prioritize your work and determine which areas of a system need the most attention. Use your answer to explain that you focus on all aspects of a health system, including its hardware, software, network and data storage systems.

Example: “I perform audits on all parts of a healthcare system because even one weak link can cause problems for the entire system. For example, if I notice an outdated operating system or insufficient memory in a server, it could lead to issues with other components like the network or backup storage. In my last role, I performed regular system audits to ensure we were using the best equipment and technology.”

We want to improve our patient satisfaction rates. What strategies would you use to improve our patient satisfaction scores?

Interviewers ask this question to see if you have experience improving patient satisfaction scores. Use your answer to highlight a specific strategy or two that helped improve the satisfaction of patients in the past and how it benefited the health system.

Example: “I would start by making sure all staff members are aware of what makes for good customer service. I find that many times, poor satisfaction rates come from employees who aren’t properly trained on how to interact with patients. I would also make sure we’re providing quality care to our patients. If there’s something preventing us from doing so, I’d work to resolve those issues as soon as possible.”

Describe your experience with system design.

This question can help the interviewer determine your experience with designing and implementing health information systems. Use examples from previous work to describe how you developed a system, what challenges you faced and how you overcame them.

Example: “In my last role as an IT specialist for a large hospital, I was responsible for developing new software that would integrate patient records across departments. This project required me to collaborate with other specialists in order to understand their roles and develop a system that could support all of our needs. We started by identifying the most important features we needed the system to have before creating wireframes and prototypes. After testing these designs, we made changes based on feedback from staff members.”

What makes you the best candidate for this position?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your qualifications and how you can contribute to their organization. Before your interview, make a list of all the skills and experiences that make you an ideal candidate for this role. Focus on highlighting your most relevant skills and abilities while also showing enthusiasm for the position.

Example: “I am passionate about helping others, which is why I became a health system specialist in the first place. Throughout my career, I have developed strong communication and problem-solving skills, as well as excellent time management and organizational skills. These skills have helped me work efficiently and effectively, allowing me to provide quality care to patients and support staff members.”

Which computer programming languages are you most proficient in?

This question can help the interviewer determine your level of expertise in computer programming. If you have experience working as a health system specialist, it’s likely that you’ve used some form of computer programming to complete tasks. Consider mentioning any languages you’re familiar with and how they helped you perform your job duties.

Example: “I am proficient in several computer programming languages including C++, Java and Python. In my previous role as a health system specialist, I primarily used these languages to create databases for patient records and other important documents. These programs allowed me to store large amounts of information within the database so I could access it later.”

What do you think is the most important aspect of healthcare systems work?

This question is an opportunity to show your interviewer that you understand the importance of this role and how it impacts a health system. Your answer should demonstrate your knowledge of the field, as well as your passion for helping others.

Example: “I think the most important aspect of healthcare systems work is ensuring that patients receive quality care in a timely manner. I know from experience that when there are bottlenecks or other issues with workflow, it can impact patient care. That’s why I always make sure my team members have everything they need to do their jobs effectively so we can provide excellent service to our patients.”

How often do you perform system audits?

Audits are an important part of maintaining a health system. The interviewer wants to know how often you perform audits and what your process is for conducting them. Use examples from your previous experience to show the interviewer that you have the skills necessary to conduct effective audits.

Example: “I perform regular audits on all systems within my department at least once per month. I also perform quarterly audits on each major system, such as our electronic medical record system and pharmacy management software. These larger audits help me identify any issues or concerns with these systems before they become more serious problems.”

There is a bug in the system that is causing problems for patients. What is your process for identifying and fixing the problem?

This question is an opportunity to show your problem-solving skills and ability to work with a team. Your answer should include the steps you would take to identify the bug, communicate with other specialists and fix the issue as quickly as possible.

Example: “I would first try to replicate the bug by testing it on myself. If I was able to experience the same issues as patients, then I would know that there is a real problem in the system. Next, I would immediately contact my supervisor so they can help me determine what resources we have available to fix the problem. We would also need to decide whether or not we should shut down the system for repairs.”