Case Manager interview questions and answers
This Case Manager interview profile brings together a snapshot of what to look for in candidates with a balanced sample of suitable interview questions.
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10 good case manager interview questions
- What training or experience has prepared you to excel in this role?
- What specific interests or specialties do you have in case management, if any?
- Walk us through your typical day at work.
- What information do you need to have to create the patient’s health care plan?
- How do you manage transitions in a patient’s health care plan?
- How much negotiation do you have to do on a day-to-day basis?
- How would you rate yourself on providing necessary information to a patient’s entire care team?
- Describe a time you worked with members of a patient’s care team to achieve a significantly successful outcome.
- Described a time you communicated complex medical information to a patient in a way that was easy for them to understand.
- How would you minimize your patient’s time in the hospital?
Here are 10 essential interview questions and sample answers to help identify the best candidates for this role.
1. What training or experience has prepared you to excel in this role?
This question aims to understand the candidate’s background and how it equips them for the role of a Case Manager.
Sample answer:
“I have a Master’s degree in Social Work and have worked for five years in a healthcare setting. My experience includes coordinating care plans and working closely with medical professionals.”
2. What specific interests or specialties do you have in case management, if any?
This question seeks to identify any specialized skills or interests the candidate may have that could be beneficial to the role.
Sample answer:
“I have a particular interest in mental health. I find it rewarding to help patients navigate the complexities of mental health services.”
3. Walk us through your typical day at work.
This question aims to get an understanding of how the candidate prioritizes and manages their daily tasks.
Sample answer:
“My day usually starts with reviewing new cases, followed by team meetings to discuss ongoing cases. I then spend time updating care plans and communicating with healthcare providers.”
4. What information do you need to have to create the patient’s health care plan?
This question assesses the candidate’s understanding of the essential elements needed to create an effective healthcare plan.
Sample answer:
“I need a comprehensive medical history, current medications, and input from healthcare providers. I also consider the patient’s personal preferences and financial situation.”
5. How do you manage transitions in a patient’s health care plan?
This question evaluates the candidate’s ability to adapt and manage changes in a patient’s healthcare needs.
Sample answer:
“I regularly review care plans and consult with healthcare providers. If a transition is needed, I ensure it’s smooth and that all parties are informed.”
6. How much negotiation do you have to do on a day-to-day basis?
This question gauges the candidate’s negotiation skills and their ability to advocate for their patients.
Sample answer:
“Negotiation is a daily part of the job, whether it’s with insurance companies or healthcare providers, to ensure the best care for my patients.”
7. How would you rate yourself on providing necessary information to a patient’s entire care team?
This question assesses the candidate’s communication skills and their ability to work as part of a team.
Sample answer:
“I would rate myself as excellent in this area. Effective communication is crucial, and I make sure all team members are on the same page.”
8. Describe a time you worked with members of a patient’s care team to achieve a significantly successful outcome.
This question aims to understand the candidate’s teamwork and problem-solving skills.
Sample answer:
“I coordinated with doctors and therapists to create a holistic care plan for a patient with multiple chronic conditions. The patient’s health improved significantly.”
9. Described a time you communicated complex medical information to a patient in a way that was easy for them to understand.
This question evaluates the candidate’s ability to communicate complex information in an understandable manner.
Sample answer:
“I once had to explain a complicated treatment plan to a patient. I used simple language and visual aids to make it easier for them to understand.”
10. How would you minimize your patient’s time in the hospital?
This question assesses the candidate’s efficiency and their focus on patient-centered care.
Sample answer:
“I would work to ensure that all tests and treatments are scheduled in a timely manner, and advocate for my patient to ensure they can be discharged as soon as it’s medically safe.”
What does a good case manager candidate look like?
A strong Case Manager candidate should have excellent communication skills, a deep understanding of healthcare systems, and the ability to work well in a team. They should also be empathetic, organized, and proactive in managing care plans.
Red flags
Be cautious of candidates who lack interpersonal skills, have poor organizational abilities, or show a lack of empathy and understanding towards patients’ needs.
Case Manager Interview Questions
Case management in a healthcare setting is a cross-disciplinary practice. Your candidates will have varying specialties, and they’ll come from a variety of backgrounds including nursing, social work, medicine, workers’ compensation, and mental and behavioral health. The role will vary from company to company as well. The following questions function as a starting point, not a script. Feel free to add your own questions tailored to the exact working environment of the job.
For this position, a specific knowledge base is less important than the values demonstrated by your candidates. On top of clinical skills, compassion, empathy, patience, perseverance, caring, and advocacy are extremely important for this role. In addition, the role of a case manager increasingly calls for leadership and teamwork skills. This is crucial as case managers must be able to coordinate care with the patient’s entire care team including physicians, specialists, hospitals, families, payers, community resources and more.
These questions are written to encourage candidates to give you as much detail as possible about their relevant knowledge, training, and expertise. The most promising candidates are thoughtful and will ask you smart, spontaneous questions of their own.
Let’s summarize some of the questions and add a few more divided into specific types.
Operational and Situational questions
- What training or experience has prepared you to excel in this role?
- What specific interests or specialties do you have in case management, if any?
- Walk us through your typical day at work.
- What information do you need to have to create the patient’s health care plan?
- How do you manage transitions in a patient’s health care plan?
- How much negotiation do you have to do on a day-to-day basis?
- How would you rate yourself on providing necessary information to a patient’s entire care team?
- Describe a time you worked with members of a patient’s care team to achieve a significantly successful outcome.
- Described a time you communicated complex medical information to patient in a way that was easy for them to understand.
- How do you work with your patient to evaluate the care they received while in the hospital?
- How would you minimize your patient’s time in the hospital?
- What is your experience with helping families arrange long-term care for patients?
- Recall a time you had to manage conflicting priorities.
- In what ways have you demonstrated cultural sensitivity?
- What’s stressful about being a case manager?
- How do you demonstrate leadership in this position?