In interviews, potential candidates typically focus only on the questions that they will be asked by the clinic administrators. However, during the interview process, physician candidates have the opportunity to ask potential clinics or hospitals important questions as well. As heath care administrators and potential candidates become busier, video interviews are quickly becoming more common, and this type of exchange should not sway a physician from asking pertinent questions. These suggested questions are intended to assist a physician find and accept the right clinic position for him or her. These questions are designed to be open-ended and to allow the health care administrator conducting the interview an opportunity to explain the views and procedures at the clinic. By considering the answers to the following questions, a physician should be more capable of selecting a clinic that aligns most favorably with his or her values. 1. Does the clinic have a mission statement? If so, what is it? Learning whether or not the clinic has a mission statement is your first clue to the personality of the clinic and its administration. Those without a mission statement may have fewer goals and guidelines that lead it. For those clinics that do have a mission statement, listen carefully to the main aspects of the declaration. Pick out the key words that will help to paint a picture of the tenets important to your potential place of employment, and be sure that those main points match your personal views. 2. What are the goals of this clinic? Like the mission statement, this will give you more of an idea about the areas that the clinic and its administration find the most important. For example, a clinic with goals for scientific exploration and cutting-edge treatment may not fit with your desires for personalized patient care. You want to be sure that your goals match those of the clinic where you will be employed. 3. How would you describe the clinic's overall financial health? While this could potentially be a sensitive subject for struggling clinics, it is in your best interest to know the financial outlook for your possible place of employment. Clinics that are doing well, with a margin of profit, are typically more desirable workplaces because you will not have to deal with overworked staff members, supply shortages, or the possibility of staff reductions. 4. What is the business plan for the next five to ten years? This is an excellent follow-up question for clinics that may be facing an economic deficit or that may be breaking even in their finances. If a monetarily troubled clinic has a solid business plan for the next five to ten years, it may make you feel better about that location. Clinics that can demonstrate short- and long-term financial plans show initiative and an intention to improve. These could be positive reasons to choose a workplace, even if the current financial situation is not especially positive. 5. Are you aware of any plans for improvements or expansions in the next couple of years? It could benefit you to know whether the clinic is planning to build an addition or to expand a particular area of expertise. For example, a clinic that is planning to add an MRI machine in the next three years would be significantly more beneficial than a clinic without the machine or without any plans to add one. Similarly, discovering that your potential workplace is planning to add several more staff members and more beds to the clinic in a short amount of time could highly impact your professional decision. 6. Is this clinic currently utilizing computerized records? This question will help you determine how comfortable you may be on a day-to-day basis. If you are accustomed to keeping records electronically, it may be easier for you to transition to a workplace with computerized reports. Similarly, if you are not trained to take computerized records, you can use this information to decide whether you would like to learn the process by accepting a position with a clinic that uses electronic records. This question could also help you determine the level of technology used regularly in this clinic. 7. Do physicians at this clinic receive feedback concerning patient satisfaction? If you are interested in learning about your performance, ways to improve, and overall patient satisfaction, this could be a very important question. Many clinics do not take the time to question outgoing patients about their care, while others make the effort to request patient feedback. 8. Are physicians required to conduct performance reviews for other staff members? This question is designed to give you a more complete picture of your main responsibilities. If you are more interested in handling patient care than in conducting performance reviews for other staff members, you will definitely want to know the answer to this question. Clinics that require you to perform these reviews will expect observations and written reports that will detract from your time spent on other medical matters. 9. Is there an office manager hired for this particular clinic, or is the office manager in a centralized location? An office manager could be an essential element to your work in the clinic. An on-location office manager handles the day-to-day tasks of the clinic, including patient questions and complaints, scheduling, and supply orders. In contrast, a centralized office manager will not be available for these daily tasks, and the other staff members may be required to cover some of the necessary duties. 10. Is there any reimbursement for continuing medical education? Physicians are in need of constant medical education as medical information and technical procedures continually change and evolve. You will be required to keep up with these changes, and it may be of interest to you whether or not this clinic will assist in paying for or in reimbursing you for your continuing education costs. While these interview questions are intended to provide some educational responses regarding your potential new workplace, they are not designed to provide all-inclusive answers. When seriously considering a particular location for employment, be sure to speak to other physicians, nurses, and office staff members in addition to the administrator conducting your interview for a more complete picture of the clinic. Now that you have some of the right tools to nail the interview, it is a good time to look at the CompHealth physician opportunities and determine the best position for you.