25 Ophthalmology Interview Questions & Answers
1. 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.
How to Answer
This is a test of your willingness to comply with policy. Most physicians have dismissed patients from their practice for failure to pay or a failure in compliance. If you're fulfilling an obligatory role and a dismissed patient is assigned care by you, you have to accept it.
Answer Example
"Although I would not choose to see this patient electively, I would follow policy and accept him or her without any personal asides to the patient. If the patient chose not to accept me as his or her doctor for this episode, I would call the Patient Advocate and arrange a consultation with the patient to remedy the conflict."
2. If you are treating a patient who is experiencing a rocky course and you fear a likely lawsuit, would you still treat him/her if continuity of care were requested?
How to Answer
This is just a question to see how you think on your feet when presented with uncomfortable situations. The interviewer wants to know your dedication to continuity of care, even when things are their worst or adversarial.
Answer Example
"I would treat any patient who wanted to continue using me, unless I felt someone could address the situation better. At that point, I would offer transfer or co-management, and explain to the patient why this would offer his/her best chance of remedy in the current crisis. I would never base my decision to treat or accept a patient because of what might happen, medicolegally."
3. Do you have any personal feelings for or against optometrists?
How to Answer
There might seem to be a traditional antagonism between MDs and other credentialed practitioners who do some of the same things, such as optometrists. At the hospital or large group level, it is no longer a philosophical issue, however, but purely financial. As these providers co-exist in the health care marketplace, you have to present yourself as being open-minded.
Answer Example
"I see myself partnering with such practitioners so that I can practice more exclusively within my interests in ophthalmology. In fact, I may even have an optometrist in my office as part of my team. However, legitimacy of the health disciplines is not my job. That is left to authorizing and credentialing authorities. If such providers are so entitled to practice, this is not a conflict for me."
4. Medicare is increasingly basing reimbursement on 'best practices,' which is often nothing more than evidence-based medicine. Do you agree this is the best way to practice?
How to Answer
This is a trick question. The catch? that medicine is an art will always apply when judgement is necessary, not to mention the impact of a particular skill of a diagnostician or the technical prowess of someone doing procedures. But it is true that 'evidence-based medicine' is probably here to stay. Since Medicare is heavily invested in it as part of a 'best practices' modality, the same prior authorization constraints will be applied by the other third-party payers. Nowhere is this more obvious than in ophthalmology, where overhead keeps going up and reimbursements, down. Unfortunately, evidence-based medicine is Gaussian and doesn't take into account the 'outliers' of the bell curve, for which thinking outside of the curve is indicated--the 'zebras' in medicine. You need to include something about that in your answer.
Answer Example
"Evidence-based medicine is supported by the literature and being current with the literature should be your expectation of me. However, for the outliers under the bell curve, any thinking physician must not be afraid of using "
5. Do you have any hesitation referring to a glaucoma specialist, subspecialist surgeon, or other ophthalmological subspecialty?
How to Answer
This is a question that asks if you plan to practice out of some comfort zone, i.e., appropriately. Your answer should be centered on what is best for your patient, not winning some turf battle.
Answer Example
"I certainly plan to practice along the lines of general ophthalmology, but with a special interest in aspects of it. Complex eye pathology should make liberal use of consultation, and I always do this for the best health impact on my patients. If someone does something better or is more qualified from a regulatory standpoint, I will willingly defer to, or partner with, him or her in the case at hand."
6. Do you accept Medicare assignment?
How to Answer
This is really no business of theirs, unless there is a policy that you must be a 'participating doctor,' accepting Medicare assignment. If it's a group, this might be so; if it's a hospital, it only applies to those employed by the hospital, not independent staff. Nevertheless, a specialty geared toward the elderly, like ophthalmology is, probably requires you to accept assignment for financial reasons.
Answer Example
"Yes, I am a participating doctor in accepting Medicare assignment.
Alternatively,
I accept Medicare but am a non-participating doctor for accepting assignment.
Alternatively,
I do not accept Medicare and have opted out. (This is likely incompatible with having a successful Ophthalmology practice.)"
7. How is your attendance at general staff and department meetings?
How to Answer
Running a group or a hospital, unfortunately, requires a significant bureaucracy. The doctors are needed to make that run, which means a responsibility to the clerical drudgery involved. This means meetings--lots of meetings. And they're always at night or--worse--during office hours that can cut into your income. Note that the question doesn't ask whether your attendance will be good, but how it has been in the past. This implies that your answer may be verified by a phone call or two, so tell the truth. (Most likely, no one will be checking up on your answer, so even if you've been truant in the past, pledge to do better.)
Our Sample Answer is of someone who has not been in regular attendance in the past.
Answer Example
"I may have missed meetings from time to time--usually due to my being occupied in clinical duties or vacation. However, I realize how important the business of the hospital (or group) is and will make every effort to improve my attendance."
8. 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?
How to Answer
A no-brainer question. Of course, you would respond. It is tempting to assume that certainly someone else would be there to respond, and that it typically true, but you don't want to be seen as the type of person who would need to hear the code called repeatedly before you responded. Nevertheless, your speciality is not typically involved in life-and-death crises.
Answer Example
"Unless managing a clinically unstable situation or in the middle of a procedure, I would respond, and then only drop out if there were those there who I felt were more qualified to attend the code. This would probably include any surgical or medical specialties or primary care specialists, although I keep up with my certifications in advanced life support and resuscitation."
9. Would you be willing to serve on a committee investigating an issue with one of your colleagues?
How to Answer
Internal affairs and investigation are just necessary. Things happen, and when patient care is affected or jeopardized, they must be explored and dispositions made so that they don't recur. Besides Joint Commission accreditation and insurance reimbursements, a public reputation is jeopardized by uncorrected omissions or errors in care. The interviewer wants to know if you'll have the courage to step up and do what's right.
Answer Example
"There is no easy answer for this, only a difficult one: yes, I would have an obligation to do what's right when it comes to patient care and safety, even if that means making an enemy if a disposition were resented by a colleague. If it were a close personal friend being targeted by the investigation, I would ask to recuse myself, but I would be prepared for that not to be granted. The only thing I would want is to not be the only one making a judgement--having more than one investigator, I feel, is necessary to take politics out of such an inquiry and give it additional objective credibility."
10. 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?
How to Answer
This type of suspension is not a 'hard' suspension, per se: it doesn't mean there are any deficiencies in your medical care or expertise. Most physicians get a little behind from time to time, the only thing lighting a fire under them to get these clerical loose ends tied up being suspension. However, although this is frowned upon but not necessarily condemned, it does impact the hospital or group's bottom line, so the question is one of fiscal importance.
Answer Example
"lthough I've been occasionally remiss in keeping all signoffs and dictations current, I feel it is important for me to be diligent in keeping current. It is not lost on me how reimbursement by third-party payors can be affected by incomplete charts; just as important--to me--is the need for accuracy and trying to remember specifics from a procedure or rounds can become spotty if too much time has passed. For these reasons, I agree that keeping current is important and strive to do that."
11. If you were to receive a communication from the Executive Committee about a practice issue of yours that it feels could have clinical repercussions, how would you address the members when you went to the meeting with them?
How to Answer
This is more than just hospital policy, but a challenge to your clinical authority, which is traditionally up to the physician alone. Therefore, it can be upsetting. This is a question of how you handle personal challenges to your privileges. Even if you're right and the Executive Committee is wrong, you have to show them you're willing to be a good sport about the whole thing.
Answer Example
"Prior to my meeting, I would research the literature about what I was doing in this particular practice, be it off-label prescribing or using protocols not considered to be evidence-based in a strict sense. Ophthalmology is a discipline which is constantly and rapidly evolving, both in the science and the technology, so my authority allows for some latitude. If in researching this I discover a serious problem that justifies their concern, I would report that I have learned from this and will not be repeating the practice(s) of concern. If I found that I can defend what I'm doing from my research, I would make my case but tell them I will abide by their decision on this."
12. 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?
How to Answer
This pits you against the hospital for a solution to everyone's benefit. UR actions are usually based on dollar issues, protecting the hospital bottom line from insurance denials.
Answer Example
"If I felt it would be dangerous to send a patient home, I would write a note of necessity for continued admission, on medical grounds, so that UR could submit it for approval from a third-party payer. If the patient just wanted to stay out of convenience, I would explain that he or she has satisfied criteria for discharge, but I would also offer home health follow-up if the patient desired and it were allowed/authorized."
13. Would you be willing to accept whatever electronic medical record process is in use here?
How to Answer
Another test of your willingness to comply with policy, so you should agree.
Answer Example
"Of course. If I am part of this, I want to be 'all in' in my compliance to all the protocols."
14. Would you please tell me a little about yourself?
How to Answer
This should be answered briefly and succinctly, and it should include why you want this position and the circumstances behind your leaving your current situation (they will want to know--and will ask if you don't say why).
Answer Example
"I come here a few years delayed as medicine wasn't my initial goal--I had gotten another degree. So I had to go back to acquire some of the pre-requisites for application to med school. However, once begun, I have been on track. I am married with one child. After finishing my residency, I joined the staff of the school for a year until I could decide where I wanted to go next. That brings me here."
15. Are there any substance abuse, domestic violence, or other background items that could impact the integrity of our hospital (or group)?
How to Answer
Such situations are a reason for running away from a current situation. If there is such a damaging component in your history, own it and explain the steps you took to eliminate the risk of it recurring, i.e., rehab, successfully completed therapy, etc. Let the interviewer know you are comfortable with a probationary period or supervision if deemed necessary.
The most likely (and desirable) answer, of course, is 'No.' However, for the sake of example, our sample answer is of someone with a DUI history.
Answer Example
"I have a DUI arrest in my past as a teenager. I do not have a problem with abuse, but my arrest required I partake in prevention programs, which I completed successfully."
16. Are you going to be doing any chronic pain care?
How to Answer
This answer is simple if you don't plan on managing chronic pain, but if you do, your interviewer will want to know to what extent. The opioid crisis makes for bad press from overdoses, and institutions and groups want to steer clear of the whole controversy--not to mention scrutiny from the DEA and your state board. Before your interview, you need to know that you are being asked this to see if you're overstepping into controversial practices.
Answer Example
"As an ophthalmologist, I know that I have a responsibility to believe my patient's report of pain, especially with eye trauma or postoperatively. In such an acute setting, I plan on prescribing according to my patient's need, implementing safeguards when indicated. With chronic pain, since this is rarely something that isn't remedied by treating the cause, I feel it best to otherwise refer the patient to a rheumatologist, physiatrist, anesthesiologist, or other pain management specialist."
17. How do you feel about telemedicine?
How to Answer
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, telemedicine is probably here to stay, and everyone--including hospitals and groups--are looking for ways to incorporate it in a fiscally prudent way. You should be seen as ready to embrace it; not blindly, but thoughtfully within the parameters of what is considered good medical care.
Answer Example
"To me, the difference between telemedicine being appropriate or not is a function of Signs-vs-Symptoms. That is, I require a patient's physical presence and an exam to document signs that are applicable to the chief complaint, but symptoms are a different matter. If the patient is established with me and I am familiar with his or her case, I can discuss and manage symptoms or medications via telemedicine. If the patient is seeking an initial appointment with me or wanting care for a new problem, I would need to see him or her before relegating appropriately to telemedicine protocols."
18. What invasive procedures are you planning to do?
How to Answer
This is a matter of what exact privileges you're seeking in this position. They don't want 'mavericks' who are seeking privileges beyond their training.
Answer Example
"My invasive procedure complication rate is within acceptable standards, and I follow my specialty to satisfy all criteria for such procedures, qualifying both the need for the patient and supporting my ability to perform them. I can cite the actual complication rates when I apply for the specific invasive procedures as part of your vetting process."
19. If you were to see a peer doing or saying something inappropriate, how would you respond?
How to Answer
This isn't your problem to fix. You can't go wrong answering this question by saying you would go up the chain of command. A hospital or group wants something like this handled a certain way, and their best assurance that this will happen (when you're involved) is to pledge yourself to that chain of command, i.e., up the ranks to department chairman, Executive Committee, administrator, etc.
Answer Example
"First, I would make sure I saw or heard correctly. Depending on the transgression, I would either confront him or her discretely to resolve it vs report it up the chain of command. I would report up if I felt it compromised patient care, would reflect poorly on the hospital (group), or be unethical, immoral, or illegal."
20. Do you have any personal problems with our seeing or our assigning you indigent or 'charity' cases?
How to Answer
Before you interview, you should learn the demographics of this group or hospital. You should be comfortable with the demographic distribution because that will determine the type of practice you will have or how you will interact with this demographic. Regardless of whether they take care of such patients, you should always state you have no personal problems seeing anyone who needs you--you just can't go wrong saying this! Many groups and hospitals are required, for example, to have a 'life-and-limb' list of doctors who rotate turns seeing uninsured emergency patients. If a hospital, for example, accepts any federal funds (Medicare or Medicaid), no patient can be refused in their Emergency Department. If your practice does not accept patients under a federal or state program, if you're doing your duty serving on a 'life-and-limb' ED rotation, you will still be required to see such patients as well as provide follow-up in your office, regardless of your practice preferences. Of course, in Ophthalmology, it is assumed you accept Medicare.
Answer Example
"Having issues with seeing anyone would go against my own values--I will see anyone who needs my services. I know that the demographic here includes the elderly, which is a sizeable part of my patient base, so taking care of them would be my obligation if I am presented such a scenario, whether it were a patient of mine or not."
21. If you're not available, due to illness or vacation, for example, how will your patients be cared for?
How to Answer
This is a straightforward question whose answer is always part of the by-laws of any institution. In other words, if you're on staff, your patient should never go without care if you have not made arrangements for coverage. If you're not new to the area, you should identify others on staff with whom you expect to have a reciprocal on-call relationship; if you're new to the area, you should state you intend to be full-time responsible until you can establish such reciprocal relationships. An extra overture would be to say you plan to serve on many committees in order to meet others in your specialty.
Answer Example
"I plan to serve on committees within your department so that I can enter into some reciprocal call agreements with other staff members as soon as possible. However, I won't be taking much time off as I build my practice, because the low numbers will not be too taxing before it gets built up over time."
22. Here we have a policy of [STIPULATED]. Do you have a problem with that?
How to Answer
You should never have a problem with any policy of the place to which you're applying. A good example is a Catholic hospital that won't provide pregnancy termination counseling. Before you interview, you should decide whether you can practice under such constraints. Luckily, seldom are there any stipulations that will ruin your life.
Answer Example
"I wouldn't seek a position here if I had a problem with [STIPULATED]. My only professional stipulation is that I can treat any person who needs my services and be allowed to do what is best for him or her."
23. Do you have any lawsuits currently or in the past, including any settlements?
How to Answer
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 dealbreaker; many are just filed against you for the purpose of initiating and accomplishing discovery to see if there really is merit to a case (for the plaintiff attorney!). 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.
What do you do 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 due to overt malpractice, this is something any hospital administrator will understand.
Answer Example
"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 postop retinal detachment due to intraocular hemorrhage. After discovery, I expect all three to prescribe without incident or settlement."
24. What can you bring to [OUR ENTITY OR GROUP]?
How to Answer
You don't just want to say that you're an expert or have a lot of experience, but be a little bold here by stating that, although you find it very impressive here, you have noticed that there are some gaps in the total picture of care rendered and that you feel you can fill these gaps. This is a way of saying that selecting you will not only get this hospital or group what it needs, but even exceed its needs. You can further state that you can bring to this hospital or group additional resources that most hospitals don't have, which would make this organization stand out above the rest. (These are the offerings that will make you particularly attractive, where you tout your 'special interests'; special interests are specific aspects of one's specialization that do not have the bureaucratic designation of certification by a board.) For example, you may be board certified or board eligible in Ophthalmology, or even further trained (for example, in retinology), but you might say you have a special interest in macular degeneration, as an example; this would sound very fortuitous to a hospital with a sizeable geriatric population.
Answer Example
"The whole reason I want to be here is the pursuit of excellence and state-of-the-art medicine you're known for. Also, your continuing education fits in well with my needs for growth and my interest in teaching. It makes an excellent foundation for my special interest in retinology, especially with the macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy, both with the rising incidence due to your geriatric demographic."
25. What is it about [ENTITY REPRESENTED BY INTERVIEWER] that makes you want to be a part of it?
How to Answer
You must assume the interviewer thinks his or her hospital or group is absolutely wonderful...or potentially wonderful with the addition of the right person. This is--hopefully--you. You can stroke the corporate ego and begin endearing yourself to the interviewer by invoking the Mission Statement and/or Vision of the hospital or group. Most hospitals will have these, prominently displayed on the landing pages of their websites; they are brief and easy to imbue into your interview strategy. You can tell the interviewer that you find those values you saw in the Mission Statement and/or Vision Statement align with your personal views of how you want to lead your professional life.
Don't actually refer to the 'Mission Statement' and 'Vision' when you answer; just state that you find this group's values align with yours, and you can paraphrase the ones you saw displayed.
Answer Example
"I know that here the values align with my own. I have done a lot of research and I especially like your dedication to community interaction, your embracing diversity, and always putting the patient and his or her family first. I think I'd be very happy here with the professional mindset and I'd be a good fit."