You are the HIM supervisor in the Health Information Services Department of Good Morning Hospital. Your facility has a policy prohibiting secondary employment with a competitor. One of the employees you supervise is a coder who has just begun the process of repaying student loan debt. The coder has decided that she needs a second job to help defray expenses. She has been offered a position as a coder for one eight-hour shift per weekend at a doctor's office This doctor is a member of your facility's medical staff.

The coder comes to you seeking advice.

1. How do you respond as her supervisor?
2. How did you reach this decision? How is your decision justified?
3. Based on your decision, do you think that the coder has violated the AHIMA Code of Ethics? The Standards for Ethical Coding?
4. How would you resolve the issue?