Medical receptionist job description and interview questions

Copy the template, ask these questions, then hear every applicant answer a patient's call.

Job description

[Practice name] is hiring a medical receptionist to be the first voice and face our patients meet. You will answer calls, book appointments, check patients in and keep the front desk calm on a busy day.

Responsibilities

Answer incoming calls, book and reschedule appointments, and return voicemails the same day
Greet patients, check them in and confirm their contact and insurance details
Verify insurance eligibility and collect copays at the time of the visit
Explain office policies clearly: hours, cancellations, referrals and what to bring
Route clinical questions to the right nurse or provider without giving medical advice
Keep patient records accurate in the scheduling and EHR system
Protect patient privacy in every conversation, on the phone and at the desk

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent
One year in a front desk, call center or customer service role
Clear, friendly speaking voice and accurate typing
Comfortable with scheduling software and learning an EHR
Reliable attendance for the posted shift

Nice to have

Experience in a medical or dental office
Working knowledge of insurance plans, copays and referrals
A second language spoken by our patients

Interview questions to ask a medical receptionist

1
A patient calls upset because she waited 40 minutes last time. What do you say?
Listen for: An apology first, then a concrete next step. No excuses about the schedule.
2
A caller asks if we take his insurance and you are not sure. What do you do?
Listen for: Checks instead of guessing, and tells the caller when they will hear back.
3
Two phone lines are ringing and a patient is standing at the desk. Walk me through it.
Listen for: A clear order, with the person in front acknowledged right away.
4
A caller describes chest pain and wants an appointment tomorrow. How do you handle it?
Listen for: Recognises an emergency and follows the escalation rule instead of booking.
5
Someone asks for a family member's test results. What do you tell them?
Listen for: Declines politely and explains what authorisation is needed.
6
Tell me about a mistake you made with a booking or a record. What happened next?
Listen for: Owns it, fixed it quickly and changed how they work.
7
How do you explain a copay to a patient who thought the visit was free?
Listen for: Plain words, no jargon, and stays calm if the patient pushes back.
8
What does a good first five minutes at the front desk look like to you?
Listen for: Thinks about the patient's experience, not just the checklist.

Answers are rehearsed. A call is not.

GreetAI plays the patient. Every applicant takes the same 5 to 10 minute call, out loud, from a link, before you spend an hour interviewing them. You get a score, a summary and the full transcript.

A patient on a Medicare Advantage plan your practice does not take

“Hi, do you take my Medicare Advantage plan? I need my annual physical before Friday, mornings only.”

A strong medical receptionist

Tells her plainly the plan is not accepted, instead of booking her anyway
Explains what she can do next
Stays warm when she asks the same question twice

Flagged for you

Booked a visit her plan will not cover
Guessed at coverage instead of checking
Shared details without confirming who was calling

Try it on this role

$99 a month for 100 applicants, or book a demo

Common questions

What should a medical receptionist job description include?

A short summary of the role, the daily responsibilities, the requirements you will really screen for, and the shift. Keep it to what a new hire does in the first month.

How do you test a medical receptionist before hiring?

Give every applicant the same realistic situation and listen to how they handle it. With GreetAI, the AI plays a patient on a Medicare Advantage plan your practice does not take, and each applicant comes back with a score, a summary and the transcript.

How much does GreetAI cost?

$99 a month for 100 applicant sessions, or $200 a month for 500. Larger volumes get a custom plan.