Three Questions You Should Ask a Healthcare Administrator Candidate
Healthcare administrators are a very big deal. These professionals are in charge of hospitals, clinics, and other care facilities, which is a lot to manage. The person leading your facility largely impacts every aspect of it, so a great deal of care must be taken when filling a position of this nature.
Since this person will oversee everything from budgets to HR issues, you need to make sure you hire someone up to the challenge. Therefore you must ask the right interview questions, to learn as much as possible about them.
Three Questions to Include in Your Next Interview
How do you make sure patient information is kept confidential?
When patients receive care at your facility, they have a right to privacy. A healthcare administrator is responsible for developing and enforcing protocols that keep this information confidential. This question will help you learn more about the candidate’s knowledge of HIPAA laws and experience enforcing them.
You want a candidate who can easily explain safeguards they’ve put in place at previous organizations to protect personal health information. Of course, there are exceptions to the rule, so you’ll also want to make sure the person is aware of conditions information can be used and disclosed without patient consent. It’s important to cover all the bases, because HIPAA violations can cause your facility to lose patient trust and incur serious fines.
Describe a time you had to deal with a difficult employee or patient?
A healthcare administrator might not have many direct reports or much day-to-day patient interaction, but when major issues arise, they have to step in. Situations elevated to this level of management can be pretty intense, so you need a candidate who can handle it. Their response should give you an idea of their ability to stay calm under pressure and help resolve difficult situations.
Whether the issue is internal — i.e., a problem with a staffer — or external — i.e., a troubled patient — it’s important to know the person in charge has it covered. Everyone doesn’t have the ability to step into tough situations and help find a resolution, so you need a candidate who is truly special.
How do you stay updated with the latest healthcare laws and regulations?
Healthcare laws and regulations are constantly changing, so you need a healthcare administrator committed to keeping up. If a candidate can easily explain their process for staying in the know, this is a sign they’re truly engaged in their job. This might involve subscribing to certain publications, belonging to professional organizations, or attending industry events on a regular basis.
Their approach will also highlight their passion for the work. A truly engaged candidate will find it interesting to stay updated with all changes impacting their industry.
Finding the right healthcare administrator for your facility is a huge task, so seek guidance from experts who know exactly where to look. To learn more about how we can help you find top behavioral health talent, contact us today at (513) 651-9500 or by email at info@psychpros.com.
