Family Medicine Residency Mock Interview

Excel in 38 Family Medicine Residency interview questions covering patient care, continuity, and your clinical philosophy.

WRITTEN BY RYAN BRUNNER
QUESTION 2 OF 38

You and a peer are waiting on a patient's blood work. You tell the peer one of you should contact the lab and not wait. The results could make a difference overnight. It is the end of the shift; your partner says it can wait and leaves. What do you do?

Audra Kresinske
Audra Kresinske is an educator with over 7 years experience teaching English and employment readiness skills.
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question

Your interviewing team will be interested in the overall dedication to patient care that each potential resident has. This is a question about dedication and putting the patient first.

Audra Kresinske
Audra Kresinske is an educator with over 7 years experience teaching English and employment readiness skills.
Example Answer

"There are two ways to handle this. First, I could tell the new team that the labs need to be addressed and get their assurance that they'll follow up. Alternatively, I could do it myself. The only way I can be sure it gets done is by doing it myself, even if it means staying beyond my shift. Since my team ordered the test, it is my responsibility. I would also tell my peer that I expect the same level of dedication from both of us and that our team is only as good as its weakest link."

Ryan Brunner
Ryan Brunner has over ten years of experience recruiting, interviewing, and hiring candidates in the healthcare, public service, and private manufacturing/distribution industries.
How to Answer

Another team will likely be taking over at the end of the shift, but if the lab results are not dealt with right away, a lot can happen in the meantime. Let the interviewer know that you believe that any test ordered obligates the one ordering it to act upon it as soon as it is ready. You may also mention how you would handle your peer who did not wait.

Example Answer 2

"Patient safety should always come first. I would personally try to contact the lab to get the results of the patient's blood work. If the result was still not available, I would sign out the information to the overnight resident. I would emphasize that this is something important to follow up on."

Community Answers

Community answers are written by other candidates practicing this set. Reading how others frame the same question is one of the fastest ways to sharpen your own.

Anonymous Answer

If it can make the difference then it is worth calling the lab. It is ok if I stay 5 or 10 minutes on the phone after my shift.

Chad's Feedback

Great answer! The interviewer will appreciate your dedication and a strong sense of duty. Next, describe any action you would take to address your partner's lack of ethical responsibility.

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38 Family Medicine Residency Interview Questions & Answers

Jump to any question in the set.

01 You see a nurse 'pretend' to give a narcotic to your patient who is writhing in pain while her back is turned to you. Then you see the medication in her pocket. What do you do? CONFLICT 02 You and a peer are waiting on a patient's blood work. You tell the peer one of you should contact the lab and not wait. The results could make a difference overnight. It is the end of the shift; your partner says it can wait and leaves. What do you do? BEHAVIORAL 03 Medicine is changing more quickly than ever. Internet collaboration and telemedicine are now the new normal. Where do you see medicine going in the next five years, and what part do you intend to play as a Family Medicine Physician in the future? CREATIVE THINKING 04 Family Medicine is considered a primary care specialty. How would you decide when to handle a case yourself and when to refer a case to another—possibly more qualified—physician? COMPETENCY 05 Why do you feel we should choose you instead of someone whose scores are better? DIRECT 06 What do you feel is your greatest non-medical strength you can bring to this Family Practice? COMPETENCY 07 As you know Family Medicine is an important specialty treating patients from all walks of life throughout different stages of life. Is there a specific area of Family Medicine that interests you? CAREER GOALS 08 Physicians are very busy people. Do you feel you can assure your patients you'll always be available to them as a Family Medicine Resident? COMMUNICATION 09 What made you choose Family Medicine? CAREER GOALS 10 Are you interested in conducting any quality improvement projects during your residency? CAREER GOALS 11 First impressions are important. What would you do about a scheduler who you discovered was being rude to a patient? BEHAVIORAL 12 What would you do about a patient who was rude to your receptionist? BEHAVIORAL 13 You are being interviewed by a prospective patient couple who want to know your views on pregnancy termination before agreeing to come to you. How would you respond? BEHAVIORAL 14 What do you feel is your greatest weakness, and how would you correct it during your time with us? DISCOVERY 15 Tell me about a time during medical school where you had a setback or failure? How did you respond to that setback? BEHAVIORAL 16 What has been your biggest ethical challenge thus far in medicine? CONFLICT 17 Are there any procedures you would like to focus on learning during your time as a Family Medicine Resident? CAREER GOALS 18 Following Family Medicine Residency training, do you foresee yourself practicing in an urban or rural setting? CAREER GOALS 19 Do you have any desire to engage in research as a Family Medicine Resident? How about as you get into practice post-residency training? CAREER GOALS 20 Have you put any thought into the elective rotations you would like to pursue during your Family Medicine Residency training? CAREER GOALS 21 Tell us about the most interesting case you were exposed to while attending medical school. EDUCATION 22 What do you wish to gain through training in our Family Medicine Residency program? CAREER GOALS 23 How would you like to see the delivery of healthcare evolve in the family practice setting? CREATIVE THINKING 24 What do you think is the biggest difference between the U.S healthcare system and that of another developed country? CREATIVE THINKING 25 Have you completed all ECFMG (Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates) requirements to start a residency? EDUCATION 26 We would like to know you on a more personal level. Outside of medicine, what are your interests? DISCOVERY 27 Are you considering any other Family Medicine Residency programs? DISCOVERY 28 Who in your life has been the biggest mentor or inspiration to you? DISCOVERY 29 How would you stay on top of trends and changes in the medical industry as a resident? EDUCATION 30 If being a Family Medicine Physician was not an option, what career path would you have chosen outside of medicine? DISCOVERY 31 How will you manage the high amounts of day to day stress that are a part of being a Family Medicine Resident? STRESS 32 How would you invest in your personal development as a resident with our program? EDUCATION 33 Would you have any issues relocating to join our Family Medicine Residency program? DISCOVERY 34 What do you believe is the greatest challenge Family Medicine physicians will face in the coming years? CREATIVE THINKING 35 Anyone that matches into our Family Medicine Residency must pass a criminal record check and education verification. Is there any reason you would not be comfortable with this? DISCOVERY 36 In a family practice setting, communication skills are essential. How would you describe your communication skills? COMMUNICATION 37 How will you work effectively and collaboratively as part of a larger care team as a Family Medicine Resident with our program? TEAMWORK 38 As a new Family Medicine Resident, would you be able to handle direct patient care with little supervision? COMPETENCY
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Ryan Brunner
38 QUESTIONS & ANSWERS · FAMILY MEDICINE RESIDENCY
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