How to Answer: If a patient complains they had to wait too long to see the doctor, what will you do?
Advice and answer examples written specifically for a Dental Assistant job interview.
13. If a patient complains they had to wait too long to see the doctor, what will you do?
How to Answer
The interviewer wants to know how you handle stressful situations. As a dental assistant, you may run into a patient that is unhappy due to an unexpected wait at the office. Tell the interviewer how you would clearly and calmly explain the situation to the client.
Written by Rachelle Enns on April 1st, 2021
Entry Level
"If a patient complained to me about their wait time, I would give them an estimated time for their wait and give them the option to reschedule. There are many unforeseen circumstances in a dentists' day, and the reality is, they will run behind from time to time."
Written by Rachelle Enns on April 1st, 2021
Answer Example
"I've found that if I calmly explain the situation and apologize, the patient understands and appreciates the explanation. The key is not to ignore the patient. Keep them informed during their wait time rather than brushing it under the rug, hoping they will not notice."
Written by Rachelle Enns on April 1st, 2021
Experienced
"The office I currently work in is a well-oiled machine, and we very rarely have setbacks in our day. If this were to happen, it would be due to unseen severity with a previous patient. If a patient complained about their wait time, I would explain to them that we had an emergency and would assure them that, if it were them needing extra time and care from the dentist, we would not hesitate to provide them with the extra time needed as well."
Written by Rachelle Enns on April 1st, 2021