Multiple Mini Interview Questions

Practice 30 Multiple Mini Interview questions covering ethical scenarios, time management, and communication under pressure.

Question 1 of 30

If you were given the opportunity to change one thing about the healthcare system, what would you choose to do?

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Rachelle Enns

Rachelle Enns is an interview coach and job search expert. She works with candidates to perform their best in employment, medical, and post-secondary admission interviews.

Another policy-based question, this query also looks for your professional perspective. The panel wants to see that you are knowledgable on the healthcare system in your region, showing a keen understanding of the challenges you might face as a medical provider. It is easy to spend time picking apart the healthcare system; however, this question also urges you to take time for reflection and give your perspective and ideas on how to create positive change. Pick your topic of choice and be ready to provide a balanced view of what you would do to create change.

Rachelle Enns

Rachelle Enns is an interview coach and job search expert. She works with candidates to perform their best in employment, medical, and post-secondary admission interviews.

"I believe that the biggest opportunity for change with the US-based healthcare system is the unequal access to healthcare benefits. People who are not provided coverage through an employer, students, new immigrants - many people cannot afford the hundreds of dollars per month that it can cost to purchase individual health insurance. This issue leaves many people who are in a healthcare crisis feeling lost and desperate. If I could make changes to repair this issue, I would begin by looking at other government structures where access to healthcare is much better. For instance, in the Netherlands, most people have easy access to primary care centers. Health insurance is mandatory; however, it is much more affordable and accessible than the choices we have here in the USA. All in all, if I could make a change, I would entertain an offering similar to that in the Netherlands or even Switzerland, which includes universal coverage through mandatory yet affordable private insurance."

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Anonymous Answer

While many issues are present, I believe it is necessary to shift to a system that reimburses based on outcome rather than based on the fact that a procedure was formed. While I do knw the prevalence of the issue, I do understand that sometimes people are designated for procedures or medications that are medically unnecessary. In such instances where the procedures are unnecessary, there is the risk of both physical and financial harm to patients. Regarding financial harm, the price of insurance for other patients may increase due to higher than necessary expenditures by insurance companies. Regarding prescriptions, sometimes medications that are significantly more expensive may be prescribed without having palpably higher efficacy than cheaper meds.

By switching to results-oriented reimbursement, we can deter the prescription of unnecessary procedures and medications. We will also incentivize medical decision making that puts the patient's wellness first. The primary downside for results-oriented reimbursement is that sometimes a procedure or medical decision is contested amongst professionals, and therefore determining whether the result was optimal relative to other procedures or patients can become subjective. Additionally, sometimes difficult decisions need to be made with urgency and may not allow for ideal preparations and option weighing, though the patient would still benefit from such procedures relative to no medical treatment in those instances. Additionally, hospitals could become strained if they are to receive fewer finances for procedures performed. However, the benefit of placing a priority on patient wellness makes this the one thing I would change in healthcare, and with proper legislation, this could be implemented effectively to improve patient outcomes and reduce the financial strain on patients.

Margarita's Feedback

You seem to have a lot of knowledge about the healthcare system, that's great! However, if your answer is too wordy, it can tire out the interviewer, and they will eventually stop reading. Try to keep your answer at 2-3 sentences max. You discussed a couple of points; 1. basis of reimbursement, 2. cost of medication, 3. decision making for procedures, 4. the effect on hospitals. Hone in on one point so you can answer the question with focus. Lastly, in the second sentence, you used the word shortcut "knw". Although this is ok for informal texting, be sure to write out all your words to keep it professional.

Anonymous Answer

I think if I could change one thing about the healthcare system, I would try to contribute to a change from a treatment system to a prevention-based system in regards to the United States healthcare. Healthcare spending is increasing in the US at an unsustainable rate, outpacing GDP growth. One of the reasons is the rise in chronic health conditions, which can be costly to treat. I would try to increase access to healthcare so that patients can address their health issues sooner from a more prevention standpoint rather than later from a treatment standpoint. While working in my parents' post office, I saw many Vietnamese immigrants that spoke little or no English. Although I am not fluent in Vietnamese, the amount I knew helped ease their confusion about shipping. There is a large Vietnamese immigrant community where I live, and the doctors are filled with Vietnamese patients. I want to increase my community's access to healthcare, improving the Vietnamese along the way to better communicate with Vietnamese patients. Language barriers can be a significant barrier to healthcare, and I want to alleviate that problem.

Kevin's Feedback

Prevention is a crucial factor to consider. Your response shows a lot of thought and a firm understanding of treatment approaches vs. prevention approaches. I felt a bit lost when you started to discuss your experiences at the post office. I recommend reworking the last half of your response by making a more immediate connection between language barriers and a prevention-based system.

Chronic health conditions are on the rise, which are costly to treat. Healthcare spending is increasing in the US at an unsustainable rate, outpacing GDP growth. Therefore, I think if I could change one thing about the healthcare system, I would try to contribute to a change from a treatment system to a prevention-based system regarding the United States healthcare. I would try to increase access to healthcare so that patients can address their health issues sooner from a more prevention standpoint rather than later from a treatment standpoint.

Additionally, there is a large Vietnamese immigrant community where I live, and the doctors in my community are primarily treating Vietnamese patients. Many of these Vietnamese immigrants speak little to no English. I am far from fluent, but the little Vietnamese I can speak helped ease their confusion when dealing with aspects of our society they were trying to navigate. Language barriers can be a significant barrier to healthcare, and I want to alleviate that problem. I want to increase my community’s access to healthcare, improving the Vietnamese along the way to better communicate with Vietnamese patients.

Anonymous Answer

I would increase access to affordable healthcare. The availability and quality of healthcare that a person receives should not be dependent on their level of income. We can find the money in our tax system to provide quality care for every citizen of the United States. PAs play an integral role in increasing healthcare access and lowering costs.

Marcie's Feedback

This is definitely a noble wish! It might be a bit more complex than just finding the money in our tax system, however. :) Consider researching the topic a bit more so you can talk about several of the ways this might one day be accomplished (e.g., expanding insurance, extending telehealth services, investing in mobile clinics, and so on.) Good job!

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30Multiple Mini Interview Questions & Answers

1.If you were given the opportunity to change one thing about the healthcare system, what would you choose to do?

2.Is it ethical for healthcare workers to go on strike? Why or why not?

3.Do you believe a family doctor is obligated to report their patients' infectious disease to their public health agency? Why or why not?

4.Which would you choose: To travel 1,000 years into the past or 1,000 years into the future? Choose your preference and discuss.

5.You have two patients who need a kidney transplant. One patient is an elderly physician with kidney failure; the other is a 20-year-old high school dropout brought in again for binge drinking. You have only one kidney. Who do you give the kidney to?

6.Which is more important to you; changing behavior to prevent disease or working harder to treat existing disease?

7.Talk to me about one crucial healthcare issue that is unique to your region.

8.How does the American healthcare system differ from the Canadian healthcare system?

9.Talk about physician-assisted death. When is this an appropriate solution?

10.A fellow medical student often shows up on rotation hung-over and smelling like alcohol. You decide to talk to them in private. Enter the room and have this conversation.

11.One of your patients asks for a doctors' note to excuse them from a work conference. You do not see any symptoms of illness. Talk to the patient about your decision to provide or not provide them with a doctors' note.

12.How do you feel about stem cell research using fetal tissue?

13.Discuss the Human Genome Project.

14.Discuss the pros and cons of legalizing marijuana. Would you ever prescribe or encourage the use of legal cannabis? Why or why not?

15.Under what circumstances would you recommend a homeopathic approach to treatment?

16.After noticing bruises and burns on a patient, they disclose their spouse is physically abusing them. The patient begs you not to tell anyone. What do you do next?

17.What experiences and qualities lead you to believe that you will be an excellent physician?

18.Hippocrates said, 'Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.' What does this quote mean to you as you pursue a career in healthcare?

19.As a physician, do you feel a responsibility to be a healthy role model for your patients, or is your medical training and knowledge more than enough when it comes to counseling your patients on lifestyle changes?

20.If an alternative treatment existed for a terminal illness, would you recommend it to a patient, even if there were no scientific evidence to support its efficacy?

21.If you could have any superpower, what would it be? What is the very first thing you would do with this superpower?

22.You witness a group of male colleagues speaking inappropriately about a female colleague. What do you do?

23.Pharmaceutical companies largely influence the medical profession through lobbying. What do you believe is the impact?

24.An underage patient asks you for a birth control prescription but asks that you not tell her parents. What do you do?

25.What would you do if your mother decided to rely only on alternative medicine to treat a critical illness?

26.Your sister brings her new boyfriend home for the holidays. You recognize him as a patient you treated for herpes simplex type 2. What do you do?

27.An emergency room patient will die without a blood transfusion. The patients' medical records state refusal of blood transfusions due to religious reasons. What do you decide to do?

Multiple Mini Interview Questions

If you were given the opportunity to change one thing about the healthcare system, what would you choose to do?

30Multiple Mini Interview Questions & Answers

1.If you were given the opportunity to change one thing about the healthcare system, what would you choose to do?

2.Is it ethical for healthcare workers to go on strike? Why or why not?

3.Do you believe a family doctor is obligated to report their patients' infectious disease to their public health agency? Why or why not?

4.Which would you choose: To travel 1,000 years into the past or 1,000 years into the future? Choose your preference and discuss.

5.You have two patients who need a kidney transplant. One patient is an elderly physician with kidney failure; the other is a 20-year-old high school dropout brought in again for binge drinking. You have only one kidney. Who do you give the kidney to?

6.Which is more important to you; changing behavior to prevent disease or working harder to treat existing disease?

7.Talk to me about one crucial healthcare issue that is unique to your region.

8.How does the American healthcare system differ from the Canadian healthcare system?

9.Talk about physician-assisted death. When is this an appropriate solution?

10.A fellow medical student often shows up on rotation hung-over and smelling like alcohol. You decide to talk to them in private. Enter the room and have this conversation.

11.One of your patients asks for a doctors' note to excuse them from a work conference. You do not see any symptoms of illness. Talk to the patient about your decision to provide or not provide them with a doctors' note.

12.How do you feel about stem cell research using fetal tissue?

13.Discuss the Human Genome Project.

14.Discuss the pros and cons of legalizing marijuana. Would you ever prescribe or encourage the use of legal cannabis? Why or why not?

15.Under what circumstances would you recommend a homeopathic approach to treatment?

16.After noticing bruises and burns on a patient, they disclose their spouse is physically abusing them. The patient begs you not to tell anyone. What do you do next?

17.What experiences and qualities lead you to believe that you will be an excellent physician?

18.Hippocrates said, 'Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.' What does this quote mean to you as you pursue a career in healthcare?

19.As a physician, do you feel a responsibility to be a healthy role model for your patients, or is your medical training and knowledge more than enough when it comes to counseling your patients on lifestyle changes?

20.If an alternative treatment existed for a terminal illness, would you recommend it to a patient, even if there were no scientific evidence to support its efficacy?

21.If you could have any superpower, what would it be? What is the very first thing you would do with this superpower?

22.You witness a group of male colleagues speaking inappropriately about a female colleague. What do you do?

23.Pharmaceutical companies largely influence the medical profession through lobbying. What do you believe is the impact?

24.An underage patient asks you for a birth control prescription but asks that you not tell her parents. What do you do?

25.What would you do if your mother decided to rely only on alternative medicine to treat a critical illness?

26.Your sister brings her new boyfriend home for the holidays. You recognize him as a patient you treated for herpes simplex type 2. What do you do?

27.An emergency room patient will die without a blood transfusion. The patients' medical records state refusal of blood transfusions due to religious reasons. What do you decide to do?

28.In 2019, the Reproductive Health Act expanded abortion rights. What were these changes, and how do you feel about them?

29.Many pediatric associations recommended that male circumcisions no longer be routinely performed. Do you agree with this recommendation?

30.Share your thoughts on gender selection and the topic of family balancing in the in vetro fertilization process.