Resources
Post a Job

Medical Records Clerk Interview Questions

Edited by Indeed Employer Content Team
Our mission

Indeed’s Employer Resource Library helps businesses grow and manage their workforce. With over 15,000 articles in 6 languages, we offer tactical advice, how-tos and best practices to help businesses hire and retain great employees.

Read our editorial guidelines

Whether you are preparing to interview a candidate or applying for a job, review our list of top Medical Records Clerk interview questions and answers.

  1. What do you think is the key to maintaining accurate health records? See answer
  2. Have you ever been part of an audit of a medical records department? If so, describe your role in it. See answer
  3. What do you think the key is to preventing duplicate medical records? See answer
  4. What is your method for keeping medical files confidential and safe? See answer
  5. Have you worked with electronic health information software before? If so, describe your experience with it. See answer
  6. If a patient came to you with an emergency, how would you assist them? See answer
  7. Imagine that a patient has requested to view their medical records. What process do you follow? See answer
  8. What would you do if you received feedback about errors in your records? See answer
  9. How would you improve the speed and efficiency of medical record collection? See answer
  10. Can you explain what data retrieval is and when you may have to perform one? See answer
  11. Can you describe a time when you demonstrated leadership and initiative in your career? See answer
  12. Tell me about your experience with patient data security. See answer
  13. Can you explain a moment when you have handled a challenging patient? How did you do it? See answer
  14. Do you see yourself still in the position of medical records clerk in the next five years? See answer
  15. As medical records clerk’s requirements are constantly changing, what have you done recently to stay up to date with your field?
Show more questions Show fewer questions

Hire your next Medical Records Clerk today.

Post a job

Hire your next Medical Records Clerk today.

Post a job
Our mission

Indeed’s Employer Resource Library helps businesses grow and manage their workforce. With over 15,000 articles in 6 languages, we offer tactical advice, how-tos and best practices to help businesses hire and retain great employees.

Read our editorial guidelines

15 Medical Records Clerk Interview Questions and Answers

What do you think is the key to maintaining accurate health records?

The goal of this question is to assess the candidate's ability to enter data accurately, a crucial skill in keeping medical health records. Those in this role need strong attention to detail in order to document patient information and update it properly. Doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals rely on accurate patient data to provide proper treatment. What to look for in an answer:

  • Ability to maintain consistency in data entry
  • Past experience with data entry
  • Understanding of the importance of data accuracy in healthcare

Example:

"I think the key to maintaining accurate health records is to compare the values you enter into a data management system with the external data at least three times. I always do this because I know accurate patient information is critical to positive health outcomes."

Have you ever been part of an audit of a medical records department? If so, describe your role in it.

The goal of this question is to assess the candidate's familiarity with the auditing process, as audits of record-keeping systems are common in the medical field. Ideal candidates can describe how they prepare for audits, send reports of their data, and coordinate with auditing offers. What to look for in an answer:

  • Description of their duties in the audit
  • Proper methods for preparing for audits
  • Past experience with audits

Example:

"I've taken part in various audit requests in previous roles. Auditing is important for ensuring the accuracy and efficiency of record-keeping processes. In one case, I was responsible for creating medical reports on all medical tests. I ensured the audits officers had all the information they needed on time."

What do you think the key is to preventing duplicate medical records?

The goal of this question is to assess the candidate's ability to prevent duplicate information, which is a common error in data collection. Excellent candidates use different approaches to detect and fix matching information, ensuring each patient has a singular, comprehensive profile. This allows doctors to understand a patient's health background. What to look for in an answer:

  • Understanding that duplicate data is a big issue in data retrieval 
  • Ways of detecting and resolving matching content
  • Care for the accuracy of patient profiles

Example:

"The key to preventing this issue is using data management systems to check for duplicate entries automatically. I also find time to check each entry manually for any redundancies the system may have missed."

What is your method for keeping medical files confidential and safe?

The goal of this question is to assess the candidate's ability to maintain patient confidentiality. The privacy of patients' records is crucial and helps companies adhere to legal regulations and avoid liability. What to look for in an answer:

  • Knowledge of who can see patient information
  • Methods to keep confidential information secure 
  • Strategies for preventing confidentiality breaches

Example:

"I always follow the stipulated guidelines of the company I'm working for to ensure only authorised individuals have access to patient's information. In the case of a confidentiality breach, I make sure the right department or leader is aware of it immediately."

Have you worked with electronic health information software before? If so, describe your experience with it.

The goal of this question is to assess the candidate's expertise with electronic health information systems. This software allows clerks to enter large amounts of data with ease and accuracy, so it's important they can know how to use it. What to look for in an answer:

  • Past experience with digital health information systems
  • Opinions on the functionality of a specific system
  • Adaptability to new systems

Example:

"I have previously worked with the Azalea Health electronic information system. I appreciated that since it's Cloud-based, I could access it from anywhere and any time. However, I enjoy learning new systems, too, and I'm a quick learner."

If a patient came to you with an emergency, how would you assist them?

The goal of this question is to assess the candidate's ability to stay calm under pressure. Anyone working in a health facility may need to help patients in crisis. What to look for in an answer:

  • Past experience of interacting with patients
  • Willingness to follow emergency protocols
  • Readiness to alert supervisors

Example:

"At a past job, a patient approached me with an injury. While remaining calm, I alerted the head nurse immediately. I think it's important to follow the emergency protocols of the facility in these types of situations."

Imagine that a patient has requested to view their medical records. What process do you follow?

The goal of this question is to assess the candidate's adherence to confidentiality protocols. While each patient has a right to access their medical records, it's important they do so according to a facility's procedures. What to look for in an answer:

  • Adherence to procedures and regulations
  • Interpersonal skills
  • Acknowledgement of patients' rights

Example:

"In previous situations where patients have requested their records, I have guided them in following the right steps. This may involve protocols like confirming their identification and filling out forms."

What would you do if you received feedback about errors in your records?

The goal of this question is to assess the candidate's ability to welcome feedback and reflect on the ways they can improve. This skill is important to employees, as it helps them collabourate well and complete their tasks properly. What to look for in an answer:

  • A positive reaction to feedback
  • Steps an applicant takes after receiving feedback
  • Experience receiving feedback

Example:

"I have been successful in my career as a medical records clerk because I have continuously welcomed and asked for feedback from different people. Regardless of how the feedback is given and who gives it, I have always used it to improve my performance."

How would you improve the speed and efficiency of medical record collection?

The goal of this question is to assess the candidate's expertise in collecting and recording data quickly. This kind of efficiency can both support the work of nurses and doctors and help patients. What to look for in an answer:

  • Ideas for improving record collection processes
  • Methods they've used to increase speed
  • Ways they measure efficiency

Example:

"As a medical records clerk, one of my primary goals is to collect data efficiently. I have used various data management tools to make that possible, and I frequently assess my performance and speed to ensure it meets expectations."

Can you explain what data retrieval is and when you may have to perform one?

The goal of this question is to assess the candidate's experience with data retrieval. This process may require proper authorization and adherence to protocols, as it involves sensitive patient information. What to look for in an answer:

  • Knowledge of the retrieval process
  • Understanding of when it's necessary to retrieve patient data
  • Willingness to follow protocols

Example:

"Data retrieval is the process of finding specific health information. Doctors may need clerks to perform this task if they want to check a patient's background. When retrieving patient data, I make sure to get the right authorization and follow protocols properly."

Can you describe a time when you demonstrated leadership and initiative in your career?

The goal of this question is to assess the candidate's ability to take initiative as a team member in a healthcare setting. While clerks typically have routine tasks, they may be responsible for training and supporting others. What to look for in an answer:

  • The ability to guide others
  • The ability to work independently
  • Willingness to take initiative when necessary

Example:

"I'm happy to have led my colleagues at my past jobs to complete different projects. For example, I once initiated a project where our digitised 100 pages of old, paper records."

Tell me about your experience with patient data security.

The goal of this question is to assess the candidate's experience with data protection. Ideal candidates can follow legal guidelines for data security and privacy to ensure compliance of healthcare institutions. What to look for in an answer:

  • Knowledge of government data protection laws
  • Ability to apply these laws
  • A proper response in the case of a data breach

Example:

"I continually update my knowledge on data security. For the last three years, I have attended different workshops and taken different courses to improve my knowledge of patient data security. I know it's important to adhere to security regulations so hospitals and other facilities can protect patients and avoid liability."

Can you explain a moment when you have handled a challenging patient? How did you do it?

The goal of this question is to assess the candidate's experience with communicating with patients. Pay attention to the candidate's ability to behave professionally in various situations. What to look for in an answer:

  • Experience with talking with patients
  • Ability to handle stress well
  • Recommendations for helping patients

Example:

"I have experience handling challenging patients, and I think the most important key to resolving these situations is remaining calm. For example, once a patient approached me asking to see their records. When I told them about the protocol we must follow, they became angry. I made sure to stay calm and explain the protocol to them so they could understand it better."

As medical records clerk's requirements are constantly changing, what have you done recently to stay up to date with your field?

The goal of this question is to assess the candidate's willingness to continue learning and improving in their field. The requirements of different roles in the health industry are changing every day, so candidates who stay up to date can often perform better in their roles. What to look for in an answer:

  • Certifications the candidate has earned
  • Willingness to continue acquiring knowledge 
  • Understanding of the importance of industry advancements

Example:

"In order to grow professionally and personally, I've taken different medical records courses and have attended different healthcare workshops. I have always managed to accomplish this while performing my duties as usual. I think it's important to stay up to date with new techniques and technologies in the industry so I can collect data in the best way possible." 

Do you see yourself still in the position of medical records clerk in the next five years?

The goal of this question is to assess the candidate's goals for the future and the likelihood they'll stay at your company over time. As hiring employees can be an investment, it's important to hire candidates that you can retain in the long term. What to look for in an answer:

  • Short- and long-term career goals
  • Alignment of goals to your company's needs
  • Ability to plan ahead

Example:

"After performing various roles in the healthcare industry, I think I like being a medical records clerk the most. For this reason, I plan to continue working in this field and trying to build my skills."

Three individuals are sitting at a table with a laptop, a disposable coffee cup, notebooks, and a phone visible. Two are facing each other, while the third’s back is to the camera. The setting appears to be a bright room with large windows.

Hire your next Medical Records Clerk today

Post a Job

Explore Interview Questions by Title

No search results found

    Related Articles

    Best Practices for Virtual Interviews
    Read article
    12 Interview Questions Not to Ask to Avoid Getting in Hot Water
    Read article
    How to Conduct a Second Interview (with 5 Example Questions)
    Read article