17 Urgent Care Physician Interview Questions and Answers

Urgent care physicians are medical doctors who provide medical treatment for non-life-threatening injuries and illnesses on a walk-in basis. Urgent care centers are usually open seven days a week, with extended hours, to provide care for patients who can’t or don’t want to wait for a regular appointment with their primary care physician.

If you’re a medical doctor who’s interested in working in urgent care, you may be wondering what kind of questions you’ll be asked in an interview. To help you prepare, we’ve compiled a list of common urgent care physician interview questions and answers.

Are you comfortable working in a fast-paced environment where you may have multiple patients to see at once?

Urgent care facilities often have a high volume of patients, so employers ask this question to make sure you’re comfortable working in such an environment. In your answer, explain that you enjoy multitasking and can work quickly while still providing quality care to each patient.

Example: “I am very comfortable working in a fast-paced environment because I’m used to it from my previous job. At my last facility, we had multiple patients at once, which meant I was constantly moving between rooms seeing different patients. I find that I can provide the best care when I’m not rushed, but I also know how to balance being efficient with taking care of each patient.”

What are some of the most important qualities that an urgent care physician should have?

This question can help the interviewer determine if you possess the skills and abilities that are most important for this role. When answering, it can be helpful to mention a few of these qualities and explain why they’re important.

Example: “The most important quality an urgent care physician should have is compassion. This job requires us to work with patients who may be in pain or experiencing other difficult situations. Having empathy and being able to put yourself in their shoes can make all the difference when trying to provide them with comfort and support. Another important quality is communication. Urgent care physicians must be able to clearly communicate with both patients and staff members. I find that practicing active listening techniques can help me understand what my patients need from me.”

How would you treat a patient who came in with a severe case of the flu during the height of flu season?

The interviewer may ask you a question like this to assess your critical thinking skills and how you would handle a challenging situation. In your answer, demonstrate that you can think critically and use your problem-solving skills to find the best solution for patients.

Example: “If I had a patient who came in with a severe case of the flu during flu season, I would first take their temperature and check their vital signs. If they were running a high fever or showing other symptoms of an infection, I would prescribe them antiviral medication to reduce their symptoms and prevent the flu from worsening. If they didn’t have any other health conditions, I would also recommend plenty of rest and fluids.”

What is your process for treating a patient who has a severe allergic reaction and is unresponsive?

Urgent care physicians often treat patients with severe allergic reactions. This question helps the interviewer understand how you would respond to a life-threatening situation and whether your approach aligns with their protocols. In your answer, describe what steps you take when treating this type of patient and how you ensure that you’re following any specific guidelines or procedures.

Example: “If I have ever encountered a patient who is unresponsive due to an allergic reaction, my first step is always to administer epinephrine through an auto-injector. If they are still unresponsive after receiving the epinephrine, I will then perform rescue breathing until the patient regains consciousness. Once they regain consciousness, I will assess them for any other symptoms and if necessary, administer additional medications.”

Provide an example of a time when you had to use your critical thinking skills to solve a problem for a patient.

Urgent care physicians often need to use their critical thinking skills to solve problems for patients. This question allows you to show the interviewer how you can apply your problem-solving skills in a medical setting.

Example: “When I was working as an urgent care physician, I had a patient who came into the clinic with a fever and flu symptoms. The patient told me that they were feeling better than usual, but I still wanted to run some tests on them to ensure there weren’t any underlying issues. After running several tests, I found out that the patient had contracted the flu from another patient. By using my critical thinking skills, I was able to diagnose the patient’s illness and treat it accordingly.”

If a patient came in with a broken arm, but was very upset and said they fell off their bike when they were riding, how would you handle this?

This question is a great way to test your problem-solving skills and ability to handle challenging situations. When answering this question, it can be helpful to give an example of how you would approach the situation and what steps you would take to help the patient feel more comfortable and get them the care they need.

Example: “If a patient came in with a broken arm but said they fell off their bike when riding, I would first ask them if they remember exactly what happened. If they don’t remember or are unsure, I would try to find out as much information about the accident as possible. Then, I would explain that we have to do some tests to make sure there isn’t any other damage to their body. I would also let them know that I am here to support them and answer any questions they may have.”

What would you do if you saw multiple patients with similar symptoms, but you weren’t sure what the diagnosis was?

This question can help the interviewer determine how you approach a problem and whether your decision-making process is effective. In your answer, describe what steps you would take to diagnose the patients’ symptoms and come up with an appropriate treatment plan.

Example: “If I saw multiple patients with similar symptoms, I would first try to narrow down the diagnosis by asking questions about their medical history and performing physical examinations. If I still wasn’t sure of the diagnosis after that, I would order diagnostic tests for each patient to see if there were any similarities between them. Once I had enough information, I would be able to make a more informed diagnosis and develop individualized treatment plans for each patient.”

How well do you perform your duties when you’re under pressure to see a high volume of patients?

Urgent care physicians often have to see a large number of patients in a short period of time. Employers ask this question to make sure you can handle the high volume of work that comes with being an urgent care physician. In your answer, explain how you stay calm and focused when you’re under pressure. Share some strategies you use to manage stress and prioritize tasks.

Example: “I am used to seeing a lot of patients at once because I worked as a nurse for many years. During my nursing career, I learned how to multitask effectively. This skill has helped me become more efficient at my job. When I feel overwhelmed by the amount of work I have to do, I take a few deep breaths to relax myself. Then, I focus on one task at a time until all of my duties are complete.”

Do you have experience working with patients of all ages?

Urgent care physicians often treat patients of all ages, so the interviewer wants to make sure you have experience working with a variety of people. Use your answer to highlight any specific skills or experiences that help you work with different types of patients.

Example: “I’ve worked in urgent care for five years now and I’ve seen patients of all ages during that time. In my previous position, I was responsible for managing the entire urgent care facility, including hiring new staff members. One of the things I did when interviewing potential employees was ask them about their experience working with patients of all ages. This helped me find employees who were comfortable working with children, teenagers and older adults.”

When is it appropriate to refer a patient to a hospital?

An interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your decision-making process and how you communicate with patients. Use examples from your experience to explain the factors that influence your referral decisions.

Example: “In my last position, I had a patient who came in for an ankle sprain. After examining him, I determined he would need crutches for at least two weeks. He told me he was leaving on vacation in three days and asked if there was anything I could do to help him avoid using crutches. I explained that it’s always best to follow up with a physician after any injury because they can sometimes take longer than expected to heal. However, I also offered to write a prescription for a boot that he could use while walking around his resort.”

We want to improve our wait times. How would you approach this as a physician?

Urgent care centers often have long wait times, and employers want to know how you would help reduce them. Your answer should include a specific plan for reducing the time patients spend in the waiting room.

Example: “I would implement an online check-in system that allows patients to fill out their paperwork before they arrive at the center. This will allow me to review their information before they see me, which can cut down on my initial intake time. I would also encourage patients who are waiting to use our Wi-Fi so they can occupy themselves with work or entertainment while they’re waiting.”

Describe your process for getting a complete medical history from a new patient.

The interviewer may ask you this question to gauge your interpersonal skills and ability to communicate with patients. Your answer should include a step-by-step process for getting the information you need from a patient, including how you encourage them to provide details about their medical history.

Example: “I begin by asking my patient what brings them in today. I then take notes as they tell me about their symptoms and any other relevant information. If they have been to the urgent care facility before, I ask if they remember what they told me last time. If not, I go through a series of questions that help me get all the necessary information.”

What makes you an excellent urgent care physician?

This question is an opportunity to show the interviewer that you have a strong work ethic and are passionate about your career. When answering this question, it can be helpful to highlight some of your most important skills or abilities as they relate to the job.

Example: “I am an excellent urgent care physician because I am highly organized and detail-oriented. These skills help me stay on top of my patient’s medical records and ensure that I’m following up with them at appropriate times. My organizational skills also allow me to multitask effectively, which helps me see more patients in a day than many other physicians.”

Which medical software programs are you most familiar with using?

The interviewer may ask this question to determine your level of comfort with the software programs they use in their urgent care facility. If you are not familiar with any of the ones they use, consider researching them before your interview so that you can answer confidently and honestly.

Example: “I am most comfortable using EMRs (electronic medical records) because I have used them for several years now. However, I also know how to use other types of medical software such as practice management systems and scheduling applications.”

What do you think is the most important thing to remember when treating a patient?

This question can help the interviewer get a sense of your bedside manner and interpersonal skills. It’s important to remember that you’re not just treating a patient, but also helping them feel comfortable and safe during their visit.

Example: “I think it’s most important to remember that I’m not only treating a patient, but also a person. When I was in medical school, we had a class on humanism, which taught us how to treat patients as people rather than illnesses. This is something I’ve always remembered when working with patients, and I try my best to make sure they know I care about them and want to help them.”

How often do you see patients with the same condition or issue?

This question can help the interviewer determine how much experience you have with treating patients with similar conditions. It can also show them whether or not you are able to treat a variety of illnesses and injuries. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention that you enjoy learning about new medical issues and treatments.

Example: “I’ve been working in urgent care for five years now, so I see many different types of patients every day. However, there are some common issues that I see regularly. For example, I often treat children who have broken bones or sprains. I also frequently diagnose strep throat and other common colds. While I do see these issues quite often, I am always happy to learn more about new ways to treat my patients.”

There is a conflict between two patients. How would you handle this?

This question is an opportunity to show your conflict resolution skills. It’s important for urgent care physicians to be able to resolve conflicts between patients and their families, as well as among staff members. When answering this question, it can be helpful to provide specific examples of how you’ve handled similar situations in the past.

Example: “In my experience, there are often times when two patients or family members have different opinions about a treatment plan. I try to listen to both sides and explain why we’re making certain decisions. If one patient or family member is being disruptive, I will ask them to leave so that we can continue our work without distractions.”