How to Answer: What patient population do you think that those working in the healthcare field may find the most difficult to work with?
Advice and answer examples written specifically for a Medical Assistant job interview.
18. What patient population do you think that those working in the healthcare field may find the most difficult to work with?
How to Answer
Being a medical assistant means that you are caring for people, often at their worst. Diseases and disabling conditions often cause a change in their personality and outlook on life. The interviewer doesn't just want to know that a particular patient is difficult, but how you approach giving effective care to that patient.
Written by Ryan Brown on May 5th, 2021
Entry Level
"Some days are easier than others, no matter what type of patient I am caring for. I think one of the most difficult to work with are those who have suffered some kind of injury or illness that has left them paralyzed or unable to speak. It is difficult because it is obvious that these patients want to do for themselves, but some part of their body doesn't allow them to. I try to be encouraging and offer assistance as needed."
Written by Darby Faubion on January 22nd, 2019
Answer Example
"Some of the most difficult patients to work with are often those who have the middle or latter stages of Alzheimer's disease. It's not that I don't know how to care for them. The difficulty comes with seeing the changes that occur in these patients. Many of them have no memory of people they knew and loved. In the end, they lose their ability to care for themselves at all. It is a very disheartening condition to see someone affected by."
Written by Ryan Brown on May 5th, 2021