Dermatologist Mock Interview

Master 25 Dermatologist interview questions covering clinical cases, procedural skills, and patient care scenarios.

WRITTEN BY AUDRA KRESINSKE
QUESTION 4 OF 25

Do you have any lawsuits currently or in the past, including any settlements?

This is a straightforward question. No one wants someone certain to lose them money or jeopardize their reputation. However, it is a truism that all physicians are at risk for malpractice suits, whether these actually come to pass or not. The interviewer will not dismiss you for lawsuits--he or she just doesn't want someone who is sued so frequently, as to suggest there's a problem. That being said, not all suits come to pass, and a lawsuit filed is not a deal breaker; many are just filed against you for the purpose of initiating and accomplishing discovery to see if there really is merit to a case. If there aren't really any substantial missteps on your part, these go away or prescribe, and your interviewer will know this. A settlement, on the other hand, can be just as bad as a lawsuit you lose, because most settlements are made to mitigate the damage of a likely unfavorable outcome.
If there are suits, losses, or settlements, be truthful, but half of the truth is your side of the story, so make sure you give it. Do not blame your previous institution or group--that just looks bad for you. Take ownership, but if you can explain why a lawsuit occurred due to a complication and not overt malpractice, this is something any hospital administrator will understand.

"I have three lawsuits, each one of them is due to a complication--one an allergic reaction to a dressing, another due to side effect of a medication, and another for a revision after an infection associated with a Mohs surgery. After discovery, I expect all three to prescribe without incident or settlement."

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25 Dermatologist Interview Questions & Answers

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01 Tell me about yourself. ~DERMATOLOGIST 02 What is it about this group/hospital that makes you want to be a part of it? ~DERMATOLOGIST 03 What can you bring to our group/hospital? ~DERMATOLOGIST 04 Do you have any lawsuits currently or in the past, including any settlements? ~DERMATOLOGIST 05 Here we have a policy of _______. Do you have a problem with that? ~DERMATOLOGIST 06 If you’re not available, due to illness or vacation, for example, how will your patients be cared for? ~DERMATOLOGIST 07 Do you have any personal problems with our seeing or assigning you indigent or “charity” cases? ~EXPERIENCE 08 If you were to see a peer doing or saying something inappropriate, how would you respond? ~DERMATOLOGIST 09 What invasive procedures are you planning to do? ~DERMATOLOGIST 10 How do you feel about telemedicine? ~COMPETENCY 11 Are you going to be doing any chronic pain care? ~DERMATOLOGIST 12 Are there any substance abuse, domestic violence, or other background items that could impact the integrity of our hospital/group? ~DERMATOLOGIST 13 If you’re on a rotational call for indigent patients or patients without a doctor, how would you feel about having to see a patient in the ED whom you had dismissed from your practice? ~EXPERIENCE 14 Would you be willing to accept whatever electronic medical record process is in use here? ~DERMATOLOGIST 15 How would you handle a problem in which Utilization Review wants you to discharge a patient who you feel isn’t medically ready for discharge? ~DERMATOLOGIST 16 If you were to receive a communication from the Executive Committee about a practice issue of yours that it seems could have clinical repercussions, how would you address the members when meeting with them? ~DERMATOLOGIST 17 How timely is your practice to sign off on chart entries and make all of your dictations current? Have you ever been suspended from a staff for failure to do these? ~DERMATOLOGIST 18 Would you be willing to serve on a committee investigating an issue with one of your colleagues? ~DERMATOLOGIST 19 What would be your response to hearing a code being called in the middle of the night as you’re getting ready to go home after attending a patient? ~DERMATOLOGIST 20 How is your attendance at general staff and department meetings? ~DERMATOLOGIST 21 Do you accept Medicare assignment? ~DERMATOLOGIST 22 Do you have any hesitation referring to another specialty? ~DERMATOLOGIST 23 Many cosmetic surgeons and gynecologists have an aesthetician and offer the same topical services you may, such as prescription meds, IPL, or laser therapy. Do you have any personal feelings about such ancillary staff that could constitute competition? ~DERMATOLOGIST 24 Are there any other types of specialties with whom you plan to work with on a routine basis? ~DERMATOLOGIST 25 If you are treating a patient for whom a skin condition was diagnosed and treatment given, but the result had failed, and the patient then stated he/she had lost faith in you, what would you do? ~DERMATOLOGIST
Audra Kresinske
25 QUESTIONS & ANSWERS · DERMATOLOGIST
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