17 Hospital Unit Clerk Interview Questions and Answers

A hospital unit clerk is responsible for a wide range of administrative tasks in a hospital or other medical facility. They may be responsible for anything from answering phones and scheduling appointments to keeping medical records and billing insurance companies.

No matter what their specific duties are, all hospital unit clerks need to have excellent customer service skills and be able to handle a wide range of tasks simultaneously. They also need to be able to work well under pressure and be comfortable with a fast-paced work environment.

If you’re applying for a hospital unit clerk position, you can expect to be asked a variety of questions about your customer service skills, your ability to multitask, and your experience with medical terminology. We’ve compiled a list of some of the most common hospital unit clerk interview questions and answers to help you prepare for your interview.

Are you familiar with the most common medical abbreviations used in hospitals?

Interviewers may ask this question to see if you have experience working in a hospital setting. They want to know that you can quickly understand abbreviations and acronyms commonly used by medical professionals. In your answer, explain which abbreviations you are familiar with and how often you use them.

Example: “I am very familiar with the most common abbreviations used in hospitals because I’ve worked as a unit clerk for over five years now. I regularly communicate with doctors and nurses about patients’ conditions using these abbreviations. For example, when a doctor orders an MRI scan, I will write down the abbreviation ‘MRI’ on the patient’s chart so other staff members know what needs to be done.”

What are some of the most important qualities for a successful hospital unit clerk?

This question can help interviewers determine if you have the skills and abilities to succeed in this role. When answering, it can be helpful to mention qualities that are important for any healthcare professional, such as compassion, communication skills and attention to detail.

Example: “I believe some of the most important qualities for a successful hospital unit clerk include organization, attention to detail and strong communication skills. These skills allow me to keep track of patient information and communicate with other members of the healthcare team about patients’ needs and progress. I also think empathy is an important quality because it allows me to understand what patients may be feeling and how best to support them.”

How would you handle a situation where you have a patient who does not speak English as their primary language?

Interviewers may ask this question to assess your ability to communicate with patients who do not speak English. In your answer, demonstrate that you can use a translator or other resources to help the patient understand what is happening and how they can best care for themselves while in the hospital.

Example: “I would first try to find someone on the unit who speaks their language so I could have them translate for me. If no one was available, I would call upon my high school Spanish classes and attempt to communicate with the patient using Google Translate. I would also make sure to write down everything I said so the patient could refer back to it later.”

What is your experience with using medical software?

This question can help the interviewer determine your comfort level with using software that is specific to a hospital unit. If you have experience using medical software, describe how it helped you complete your job duties. If you don’t have experience using this type of software, explain what other types of software you are familiar with and how they relate to working in a hospital setting.

Example: “I’ve worked as a hospital unit clerk for five years now, and I’ve used various forms of software during my tenure. In my previous position, we used an electronic health record system that allowed us to enter patient information into our database quickly. This made it easier for me to find important information about patients when needed. I also use Microsoft Office on a daily basis, which helps me organize data and create reports.”

Provide an example of a time when you had to handle a patient who was disruptive or angry.

Interviewers may ask this question to assess your ability to handle challenging patients. They want to know that you can remain calm and focused in these situations, as they are likely to occur at some point during your career. In your answer, try to demonstrate how you used your communication skills to diffuse the situation or help the patient feel more comfortable.

Example: “I once had a patient who was very upset about their diagnosis. I tried my best to listen to them and empathize with their concerns. Eventually, we were able to talk through all of their questions and concerns. By the end of our conversation, they seemed much calmer and ready to begin treatment.”

If you could change one thing about the way medical records are currently handled, what would it be?

This question is a great way to see how you can improve processes and procedures in an organization. When answering this question, it’s important to be specific about what you would change and why.

Example: “I think the biggest issue with medical records right now is that they’re not easily accessible by patients. I believe that if all medical records were digitalized and available online for patients to view at any time, it would make things much easier on everyone involved. Patients could access their own information whenever they needed to, doctors wouldn’t have to spend as much time explaining test results or diagnoses and hospitals could save money by reducing paper usage.”

What would you do if you noticed a mistake in a patient’s medical record?

This question can help interviewers assess your attention to detail and ability to work independently. In your answer, explain how you would correct the mistake and what steps you would take to ensure it doesn’t happen again.

Example: “If I noticed a mistake in a patient’s medical record, I would immediately report it to my supervisor so they could fix it before any other hospital staff members entered the information into their records system. Then, I would make sure that all of the necessary documents were available for the new entry. This helps prevent mistakes from happening again because there is no confusion about which documents are accurate.”

How well do you perform under pressure?

Working as a hospital unit clerk can be stressful, especially when you have to meet tight deadlines. Employers ask this question to make sure you are able to handle stress well and perform your job duties in a timely manner. In your answer, explain that you know working under pressure is part of the job. Share that you will do everything you can to complete tasks on time while maintaining accuracy.

Example: “I understand that working as a hospital unit clerk means I may have to work under pressure at times. While I am aware it’s not always possible to meet all deadlines, I will do my best to get things done quickly and accurately. I have experience working in high-pressure environments before, so I feel prepared for this role.”

Do you have experience working with confidential information?

Hospital units often handle sensitive information, such as medical records and insurance details. Employers ask this question to make sure you understand the importance of keeping this information private. In your answer, explain that you take confidentiality seriously. Explain that you would never share confidential information with anyone outside of work.

Example: “I have worked in healthcare for many years now, so I am very familiar with handling confidential information. I know how important it is to keep patient information private. If I ever had any questions about what information I can or cannot release, I would always check with my supervisor first. I also understand that HIPAA laws are in place to protect patients’ privacy. I would never violate these laws.”

When a patient is admitted to the hospital, who are the people they should contact first and why?

This question is an opportunity to show your interpersonal skills and ability to work with patients. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention a specific time you helped a patient contact the right people in their care plan.

Example: “When a patient is admitted to the hospital, they should first speak with me or another unit clerk about who they should contact for updates on their condition. I have found that many patients are unsure of who to call when they want to check up on how their loved one is doing. In my previous role as a unit clerk, I would give each patient a list of phone numbers they could use to reach out to family members, friends and other important contacts.”

We want to improve our communication with patients and their families. Describe the steps you would take to improve our current system.

This question is an opportunity to show your problem-solving skills and ability to make improvements in the workplace. When answering this question, think about how you would improve communication with patients and their families.

Example: “I would start by having a meeting with all of the hospital unit clerks to discuss what we can do to improve our current system. I would also ask for feedback from patients and their families on how they feel about our current communication methods. After gathering information from everyone involved, I would create a survey that asks questions about the current communication methods and possible solutions. Then, I would implement the changes based on the results.”

Describe your experience with administering medications.

This question can help the interviewer determine your experience with a specific task that is important to their role. If you have previous experience administering medications, describe how you did it and what steps you took to ensure accuracy. If you do not have any experience, explain why this is the case and what other tasks you performed in place of administering medications.

Example: “In my last position as a hospital unit clerk, I administered medications to patients on a daily basis. To ensure accuracy, I always double-checked all orders before administering them to patients. This helped me avoid mistakes and ensured that patients received the correct medication at the right time.”

What makes you stand out from other candidates for this position?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your qualifications and how you can contribute to their team. When answering this question, it can be helpful to highlight a skill or experience that makes you unique from other candidates. You may also want to mention any skills you have that are relevant to the job.

Example: “I am passionate about helping others, which is why I became a medical assistant in the first place. In my previous role as a hospital unit clerk, I helped patients understand their diagnosis and treatment plans by providing them with clear instructions on what they needed to do next. This made me feel like I was making a difference in someone’s life, and I hope to continue doing so in this position.”

Which computer programs or software have you used in the past for your job?

This question can help the interviewer determine your computer skills and how familiar you are with their hospital’s software. If they ask this, it is likely that they will also want to know about your experience using other programs or applications in a healthcare setting.

Example: “I have used several different types of medical record keeping software in my past jobs. I am most comfortable with Meditech because it is easy to use and has many features for tracking patient information. However, I have also worked with EpicCare and EMRs before.”

What do you think is the most important aspect of customer service?

Hospital unit clerks often interact with patients and their families, so employers ask this question to make sure you understand the importance of providing good customer service. When answering this question, think about what makes a positive experience for you as a patient or family member. Try to describe how your own experiences have shaped your views on customer service.

Example: “I think the most important aspect of customer service is making sure that everyone feels heard. As a patient myself, I know it can be stressful when things don’t go according to plan. If something goes wrong, I want to reassure people that we will do our best to fix it. It’s also important to me to listen carefully to what they are saying. This helps me learn more about them and find ways to improve my interactions with them in the future.”

How often do you perform patient rounds?

This question can help interviewers understand your experience with hospital unit clerical work. They may ask this question to see if you have any previous experience working as a hospital unit clerk and how often you perform rounds. If you do not have prior experience, you can explain that you are willing to learn the process of performing patient rounds.

Example: “In my current role as a hospital unit clerk, I perform patient rounds once every two hours. This allows me to check in on each patient’s status and ensure they’re receiving proper care. I also use this time to update patients’ charts and make sure all information is accurate.”

There is a patient who needs to be monitored closely, but the doctor isn’t available. What do you do?

This question is a great way to test your problem-solving skills. It also shows the interviewer that you are willing to take on responsibility and act independently when necessary. In your answer, explain how you would handle this situation and what steps you would take to ensure the patient’s safety.

Example: “If I was monitoring a patient who needed close observation but the doctor wasn’t available, I would call the doctor immediately. If they were unavailable, I would ask another member of the medical team for help. If no one else was available, I would monitor the patient closely until someone could assist me.”