As an employer of healthcare workers, focusing on soft skills is an important part of hiring a medical assistant. Along with a professional degree, clinical skills, and hands-on training, you need to look for personal attributes that influence how a medical assistant relates to patients, their families, and coworkers. Because patients’ perceptions of the care they receive from staff members determine whether they remain loyal to your healthcare facility, you want a medical assistant who can positively influence patient care.
Look for these five soft skills when interviewing a medical assistant.
1. Communication
A medical assistant must routinely speak with patients, their families, and coworkers to do their work. Clear communication encourages patients to follow through with medical recommendations, self-manage a chronic medical condition, and exhibit preventative health behaviors. The quality of interactions with a medical assistant and other team members affects patients’ beliefs about the quality of healthcare they receive. As a result, strong communication skills are important for effective patient care and satisfaction.
2. Teamwork
A medical assistant has to be a team player. With many professionals contributing to patient care, a medical assistant has to collaborate in ways that benefit the patient. Because higher team functioning is associated with better patient outcomes, cohesive teamwork is vital.
3. Stress Management
A medical assistant requires proper stress-management techniques. They need to thrive on handling the pressures of maintaining patients’ lives. If a medical assistant doesn’t properly manage their stress level, they face a higher risk of long-term exhaustion, diminished interest in work, and greater burnout rate.
4. Work Ethic
A medical assistant needs a strong work ethic. Their values have to include professionalism, punctuality, and a positive attitude. Belief in the moral benefit and importance of work and the ability to strengthen character is important. Since a medical assistant typically works long hours in a demanding field, they must be driven to succeed.
5. Confidence
A medical assistant has to be confident when talking with patients. The level of confidence shown strongly influences communication with patients and affects their experience. As a result, the more confidence shown, the higher a medical assistant scores on patient evaluations after treatment.
Methods to Identify Soft Skills
Be sure all interviewers are trained to uncover a medical assistant’s soft skills. Prioritize focus on soft skills that affect patient interactions and patient satisfaction. Use the same behavior-based questions for each candidate. These may include “Tell me about a situation when…,” “How did that make you feel?” and “What was your reaction?” When calling references, ask related questions to uncover a candidate’s past behavior. This strongly indicates what future behavior may be like.
Let Us Find You a Medical Assistant
Let KNF&T Staffing Resources send medical assistant candidates your way. Because our recruiting efforts focus on specialized industries, we provide highly qualified candidates for your open role. Partner with us today.
About KNF&T Staffing Resources
Since 1983, KNF&T Staffing Resources has been a leading provider of staffing and recruiting services to enterprise clientele throughout the Greater Boston markets. KNF&T provides talented professionals, on a temporary and direct-hire basis, to organizations in the Healthcare, Higher Education, Financial Services, and Non-profit sectors.
Learn more and search jobs at https://www.knft.com