20 Henry Ford Health System Interview Questions and Answers

Henry Ford Health System is one of the nation’s leading comprehensive, integrated health systems. With over 6,000 employees, 20 hospitals, and 60 outpatient facilities, HFHS provides a wide range of health care services to patients in the Detroit area and beyond.

If you’re interviewing for a position at HFHS, you can expect to be asked questions about your experience in the health care industry, your knowledge of the Henry Ford Health System, and your ability to provide quality patient care. To help you prepare for your interview, we’ve compiled a list of sample HFHS interview questions and answers.

Henry Ford Health System Interview Process

The interview process at Henry Ford Health System is generally quick and easy. Most positions only require one or two interviews, and the questions asked are usually straightforward. However, some positions (such as Registered Nurse) may require more interviews and/or more difficult questions. Overall, the experience is generally positive, with most interviewers being friendly and welcoming.

1. Why do you want to work at Henry Ford Health System?

This question is an opportunity to show your interest in the organization and its values. It’s also a chance to demonstrate that you have done some research about HFHS, including what it does and who it serves.

Example: “I am passionate about working with underserved populations, so I was excited to learn that Henry Ford Health System has a strong commitment to providing care for vulnerable patients. I would love to be part of a team that provides compassionate care while also conducting innovative research into new treatment methods.”

2. Do you have any experience as a medical assistant or nurse?

If you have experience as a medical assistant or nurse, this can be an excellent way to show the interviewer that you are familiar with the role and responsibilities of a medical assistant. If you do not have any experience in these roles, it is still important to understand what they entail so you can answer questions about them accurately.

Example: “I worked as a medical assistant for two years at my previous job. I assisted doctors by taking vital signs, administering medications and preparing patients for procedures. I also helped nurses with their duties such as changing linens and cleaning rooms.”

3. What were your responsibilities and duties in your past role as a medical assistant or nurse?

This question is a great way to show your interviewer that you have experience in the medical field. It’s also an opportunity for you to explain how your past experiences prepared you for this role.

Example: “In my previous position as a medical assistant, I was responsible for answering phones and greeting patients when they arrived at the office. I also assisted with scheduling appointments, filing paperwork and maintaining patient records. As a nurse, I worked closely with physicians and other nurses to provide care to patients. I also administered medications and monitored vital signs of patients.”

4. Describe a time when you had to deal with an upset customer, how did you handle the situation?

An interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your customer service skills. They want to know how you would handle a situation that could potentially occur in their organization. In your answer, try to show the interviewer that you have excellent communication and problem-solving skills.

Example: “I once had an upset patient who was waiting for me at my office when I arrived one morning. She told me she was unhappy with her care because it took so long to get an appointment. I apologized for any inconvenience and explained that we were short-staffed due to some employees being out sick. I offered to reschedule her appointment or give her a refund if she wanted to leave. She decided to stay and I scheduled her for another appointment as soon as possible.”

5. Tell me about a time where you went above and beyond for a patient.

This question is a great way to show your dedication and compassion for the job. When answering this question, it can be helpful to think of a specific situation where you went above and beyond for a patient or their family.

Example: “When I was working as an ER nurse, there was a young boy who came in with his mother after he fell off his bike. He had scrapes all over his arms and legs, but luckily, nothing serious. His mother was very worried about him, so I took extra time to explain what happened and how we were going to treat him. She seemed much more at ease once she understood everything that was happening.”

6. Are you comfortable working with children?

HFHS has a pediatric unit that provides care for children from birth to age 18. The interviewer wants to make sure you are comfortable working with this population and have experience in the field if you do not.

Example: “I worked as an emergency room nurse at a hospital that had a pediatric unit, so I am very familiar with caring for children. In my current role, I work on a team of nurses who provide care for newborns through adolescents. We have a lot of fun together, but we also take our jobs seriously because we know how important it is to keep our patients safe and healthy.”

7. What is your leadership style like?

Henry Ford Health System is looking for a leader who can inspire and motivate their team to achieve the organization’s goals. When answering this question, it can be helpful to describe your leadership style in detail and provide an example of how you used that style to help others succeed.

Example: “I believe my leadership style is collaborative. I like to involve everyone on my team in decision-making processes so they feel invested in the final outcome. For instance, when I was working as a nurse manager at St. Mary’s Hospital, we were short-staffed one night due to illness. I asked each nurse what they thought would be best for the patients and staff, and then I made a plan based on their input. The nurses felt more involved in the process, which helped them feel more confident in their roles.”

8. How would you describe your communication skills?

This question is an opportunity to show the interviewer that you are a strong communicator. When answering this question, it can be helpful to provide examples of how you have used your communication skills in previous roles.

Example: “I believe my communication skills are one of my greatest strengths. I am always sure to communicate with my team members and patients so they understand what’s happening during their care. In my last role as a nurse practitioner, I was responsible for managing a large patient population. To ensure all of my patients were receiving the best care possible, I would regularly hold group meetings where I could answer questions from patients and discuss any changes or updates to their treatment plans.”

9. When was the last time you made a mistake on the job, what happened?

This question is a great way to learn more about how you respond to challenges. It can also help the interviewer understand your level of self-awareness and ability to take responsibility for your actions. When answering this question, it’s important to be honest and show that you are willing to learn from your mistakes.

Example: “I once made an error in my calculations during a patient visit. I was so focused on getting through the list of questions that I forgot to double check my work. Luckily, I caught my mistake before giving any medical advice or prescriptions. I apologized to the patient and explained what happened. They were understanding and we rescheduled their appointment. I learned to always triple check my work and make sure I am fully prepared for each patient visit.”

10. Can you tell me about a time where you disagreed with a doctor’s treatment plan?

This question can help interviewers understand how you approach disagreements and challenges in the workplace. When answering, it can be helpful to mention a specific example of when you disagreed with a doctor’s treatment plan but still followed their instructions.

Example: “I once had a patient who was prescribed an antibiotic for her illness. I noticed that she was allergic to one of the ingredients in the medication, so I spoke with the doctor about this. He told me that he knew about the allergy and that she would only need to take the medicine for two days. After speaking with him further, I realized that there were other medications that could treat her illness without causing any side effects. I explained my concerns to the doctor, and we decided together that it would be best if she took those medications instead. She ended up feeling better after just one day on the new prescription.”

11. Have you ever been responsible for managing other employees?

This question is an opportunity to show your leadership skills and ability to work with a team. If you have experience managing others, explain what motivated you to do so and how it benefited the organization or company.

Example: “I’ve been fortunate enough to be promoted several times in my career, which has given me the opportunity to manage other employees. I enjoy working with a team of people who are all committed to achieving the same goals. In my last position as director of operations for a small business, I was responsible for hiring new employees and training them on their job duties. This helped our company grow from five employees to 20 within two years.”

12. What are your long term career goals, where would you like to be in 5 years?

This question is a great way to show your interviewer that you are motivated and have goals. It also gives them insight into how long you plan on staying with the company if they hire you. When answering this question, be sure to mention what steps you will take to achieve these goals.

Example: “My goal is to become an emergency room physician. I am currently working toward my medical degree at Wayne State University. Once I finish my undergraduate studies, I plan on applying for their medical school program. If hired by HFHS, I would like to work here until I graduate from medical school.”

13. What qualities make up a good leader?

Henry Ford Health System is a large organization with many departments and employees. As such, it’s important that the person who fills this role has strong leadership skills. When answering this question, you can discuss your own personal qualities as well as what makes a good leader in general.

Example: “A good leader should be someone who is empathetic to others but also confident enough to make decisions when needed. They should have excellent communication skills and be able to inspire their team members to do their best work. I believe these are all qualities that I possess, which is why I would be an effective leader for Henry Ford Health System.”

14. Do you have any experience working with electronic health records?

The Henry Ford Health System uses Epic, a leading electronic health record (EHR) system. This question is an opportunity to show your knowledge of the EHR and how you would use it in this role.

Example: “I have worked with several different EHR systems during my career. I am familiar with Epic’s software and can easily learn new features or functions as needed. In my last position, I was responsible for entering patient information into the EHR, including demographic data, medical history and current medications. I also used the EHR to document all clinical notes and orders.”

15. Tell us about your experience with using computerized information systems.

The healthcare industry is increasingly using computerized information systems to manage patient records, medical histories and other important data. When answering this question, it can be helpful to discuss your experience with these systems and how you have used them in the past.

Example: “In my previous role as a nurse, I was responsible for entering patients’ vital signs into their electronic health record (EHR) system every time I took a reading. This helped me keep track of each patient’s progress throughout their hospital stay and ensured that all of their information was available to the right people at the right times.”

16. What is your knowledge of HIPAA and its regulations?

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is a federal law that protects the privacy of an individual’s medical records. It also ensures that individuals can keep their health insurance when they change jobs. The interviewer may ask you this question to make sure you understand how important it is to protect patient information. In your answer, explain why you are committed to keeping patients’ information confidential.

Example: “I am very familiar with HIPAA regulations because I worked in a hospital setting for five years. During my time there, I learned that protecting patient information is one of the most important things we do as healthcare professionals. I always followed HIPAA guidelines when handling patient information. I would never share any private information without getting written consent from the patient first.”

17. Tell me about a time that you didn’t agree with something that a manager wanted you to do, what did you do?

This question is a great way to show your problem-solving skills and ability to work with others. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention that you were able to come to an agreement with the manager or explain how you would have done so if you didn’t agree with their request.

Example: “At my previous job, I was asked to stay late one night to help finish some projects. While I wanted to do everything I could to help out, I had plans later in the evening and couldn’t stay any longer than I already had. I explained to my manager that I would love to help but needed to leave at the time we previously discussed. She understood and told me she would find someone else to help her.”

18. If hired, who would you report to?

This question is an opportunity to show your knowledge of the organizational structure and hierarchy. It also gives you a chance to demonstrate that you have researched HFHS’s leadership team. When answering this question, it can be helpful to refer to the organization’s website or other publicly available information about its management structure.

Example: “I would report directly to the chief medical officer (CMO). I understand that Dr. David M. Calhoun is currently serving in this role. He has been practicing medicine for over 30 years and has extensive experience as a CMO. I am confident that he will provide me with valuable mentorship and guidance throughout my career at Henry Ford Health System.”

19. What kinds of questions do patients ask you most frequently?

This question can help interviewers understand how you interact with patients and what kinds of questions they may have about their health. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention a specific example or two from your experience that shows the interviewer how you would answer these types of questions.

Example: “Patients often ask me about their symptoms and how long they should expect them to last. I always explain that there are many factors that affect recovery time, so it’s hard to give an exact answer. However, I do my best to provide as much information as possible to help them feel more comfortable.”

20. How would you respond if a patient complained that they were not receiving adequate care?

This question is designed to assess your interpersonal skills and ability to resolve conflict. It also shows the interviewer how you would handle a challenging situation in the workplace. In your answer, demonstrate that you can remain calm under pressure and use problem-solving techniques to find solutions for patients and their families.

Example: “I would first listen to what they had to say and ask them to explain their concerns in more detail. I would then check my notes to see if there was anything I missed during the patient’s initial assessment. If it appears that I did not provide adequate care, I would apologize and offer to make amends by providing additional treatment or referring them to another healthcare professional.”