You are a supervisor in the Health Information Services Department of a facility with 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. Because you addressed the issue of secondary employment in the coder’s entrance interview, she comes to you now seeking advice. How do you respond?
due on monday feb-01
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Introduction:
As a medical professional, it is essential to maintain ethical practices at all times. This includes ensuring that there are no conflicts of interest and abiding by workplace policies. In the case presented, an employee who is a coder in the Health Information Services Department has been offered a second job at a doctor’s office. However, the facility has a policy prohibiting secondary employment with a competitor. As a supervisor, providing advice to the employee is crucial in maintaining professional and ethical conduct.
Answer:
As a supervisor, it is important to advise the employee that the facility’s policy prohibits secondary employment with a competitor. The doctor’s office where the employee has been offered a position could potentially be considered a competitor to the facility. Therefore, it would not be advisable to take on this job as it may create a conflict of interest and breach the facility’s policy.
It is additionally essential to remind the employee that they were informed of this policy in their entrance interview and should have disclosed any potential conflicts of interest at the time. The employee should weigh the potential consequences of accepting this job, which could include disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment.
Furthermore, it may be necessary to advise the employee to explore alternative options such as consulting with the facility’s Human Resources Department to understand whether there are other jobs that they are eligible to take on. In this way, the employee can help defray their expenses without risking their current employment status.
In summary, as a supervisor, it is crucial to guide the employee to maintain professional and ethical standards. Explaining the facility’s policies, advising them of potential conflicts of interest, and encouraging them to explore alternative options are key steps in managing this situation.