Since the emergency wards had just been established, there was no cleaner yet and hygiene was currently maintained by cleaners seconded from other departments. If Old Chief Physician Pan could put in a good word, this issue could be easily resolved.
Chang Yue had troubled Zheng Ren too many times, and her conscience demanded she handle this matter herself.
However, despite easily becoming as close as family to patients, she would instantly put on an indifferent and cold expression when speaking with her superiors. He had no idea if she had a rare personality disorder.
Following the intramuscular injection of metoclopramide, Zheng Ren once again examined the dressing around the puncture site to ensure the absence of bleeding. In addition, a salt bag had been placed atop the pressure bandage to speed up hemostasis and would be removed in six hours.
After everything was complete, Zheng Ren returned to his office for revision. As he approached, he saw two strange men in worn clothes waiting at its doorstep.
Chapter 160 - White… Pills
"Doctor, is Doctor Fang here?" asked the taller man politely.
From his accent, he was likely from a nearby suburb.
The man was tall and his back slightly hunched, with dust and dirt-smeared all across his face.
"There is no Doctor Fang here," replied Zheng Ren.
"..." Both men looked confused.
They were somewhat timid, especially when facing doctors in white coats, to the extent that they started stuttering in fright.
Perhaps, to them, white-clad doctors were not angels, and not in the sense of Western mythology, either.
They had a simple belief that all doctors possessed the ability to decide a person's time in the human realm or exile to the netherworld, which was the basis of their natural fear of medical practitioners.
Their impression could also be described as "awe".
After noticing that words were failing to leave their quivering lips, Zheng Ren immediately put on a warm smile and said, "Relax. Come in and we'll have a chat. Who sent you here?"
The two men followed Zheng Ren into the office.
The bright and clean room made them feel more uncomfortable as they feared accidentally messing the place up.
After Zheng Ren repeated his question, the tall man replied, "Doctor Zhou of the orthopedic department asked us to consult Doctor Fang here."
It was a messy answer that was not of much help, but Doctor Zhou of the orthopedic department…
Zheng Ren took out his phone and made a call.
"Brother Zhou, this is Zheng Ren.
"Yes, there are two patients here claiming that they're looking for Doctor Fang.
"Oh, alright. What's the diagnosis?"
After the simple conversation, Zheng Ren hung up, still not knowing how to react to this situation.
Doctor Zhou had actually asked them to look for Zheng Ren, but they had probably misheard the name in their stress.
'Can the words "Zheng" and "Fang" be so easily confused?' Zheng Ren grumbled internally.
Whenever patients arrived at the hospital, they usually experienced stressors such as anxiety from their own conditions or simply awe at the hospital.
Thus, it was common for them to mishear information or remember something incorrectly. It was not a big deal, though.
"Please sit down. Doctor Zhou asked you to look for me. My surname is Zheng, and my name is Zheng Ren." Zheng Ren tried to use his gentle smile to soothe their emotions, but… It remained ineffective.
He decided to cut straight to the point. "Doctor Zhou mentioned stage one avascular necrosis of the femoral head? Who is the patient?"
"Me," the shorter man replied, "When winter began, I started feeling pain in my hip, aggravated by movement and relieved by rest."
"Do you have any imaging films?" Although Zheng Ren had been told the patient's condition through the System panel on the upper right corner of his vision, he still had to take medical history and read imaging films as well. After all, this was a hospital, and he had no d.e.s.i.r.e to make himself look like a witch doctor.
"Yes, I do." The tall man produced a rolled-up plastic bag and carefully retrieved the films.
'Another guy who keeps the films in this way,' Zheng Ren thought helplessly.
Imaging films were best stored flat in a cool, unlit area.
It was more convenient to keep the films rolled-up, but it would be extremely difficult to read them on a radiographic film viewer.
Zheng Ren decided to keep this to himself as they were already consumed with anxiety. If he pointed out their mistakes, he would have a harder time taking medical history later.
"Hadyou experienced any pain before this?" asked Zheng Ren.
"No, the pain started only during cat winter."
Cat winter, an old idiom in the Northeast, referred to a winter so cold that one could only hole up in a house like a cat.
Zheng Ren, who knew little about orthopedic nuclear magnetic resonance imaging, managed to locate the abnormalities after looking at the films.
There were indeed signs of avascular necrosis of the femoral head, but it was not yet severe.
Chief Zhou of the orthopedic department had said that surgery was not required for stage one of avascular necrosis of the femoral head as not only was replacement of the hip joint unnecessary, it would also cost the patient a fortune. He had just returned from studying abroad and claimed that hospitals in Imperial Capital usually treated this condition with interventional radiology.
He also knew that Zheng Ren had successfully performed two interventional surgeries for pelvic fracture hemorrhaging.
As the orthopedic department lacked the necessary equipment to effectively deal with the patient's condition, he had referred the case to Zheng Ren.
"Have you been injured?"
"No."
"Have you always leaned to your left?"
"No."
"Have you taken any medicine?"
"No."
"That's not true. Brother, didn't you take white pills while you were busy with farm work?" the tall man immediately interjected.
White pills? Zheng Ren had found the answer.
"Yes, but what does that have to do with my leg pain?" asked the short man.
"Is it dexamethasone?" asked Zheng Ren immediately.
"..."
Both men were stunned. De… something… sone… What the hell was that?
"Do you still have the white pills at home?" Zheng Ren pressed the matter further.
His stern expression scared the men, causing their hands to tremble uncontrollably. Was it possible that the white pills were illicit drugs?
Zheng Ren immediately realized that his undue haste was stressing them greatly.
After regaining his composure and pretending as if the question was unimportant, he sat down and launched the patient management system on his computer, saying, "Don't worry, it's just a small issue. Is there anyone at home? Call them and ask what the white pills are."
"Okay." Sure enough, the tall man immediately eased and started making a phone call.
A few minutes later, he looked at Zheng Ren with admiration.
"Doctor Zheng, you're amazing! The white pills are indeed dexamethasone."
The compliment made Zheng Ren feel helpless instead of joy.
"Why are you taking dexamethasone?" asked Zheng Ren.
"Farm work is exhausting, and the villagers claimed that de… the white pills can combat fatigue," the short man answered anxiously, "The drug is really good. I feel energetic the next day and won't feel tired even after work."
Zheng Ren nodded and started thinking about treatment.
His silence was nerve-wracking. The short man asked nervously, "Doctor Zheng, it's not a terminal illness such as bone cancer, right? I'm not going to receive treatment if it's cancer."
"No, and you won't die from this condition." Zheng Ren's answer was simple and direct. A little rude, even.
However, such a
tone occasionally inspired confidence in patients.
The short man's expression immediately softened upon hearing the answer.
"The quack doctor in our village said I have bone cancer. He'll die when we return later," he joked with the tall man, obviously in a better mood.
"It's not bone cancer, but equally troublesome," Zheng Ren said, "You have avascular necrosis of the femoral head."
"What is an avascular… something… head?"
"It means there is a lack of blood supply to the head of your t.h.i.g.h bone because many blood vessels are clogged, just like on a farm. How will your crops grow if you don't water them?" Zheng Ren explained, trying to use layman's terms.
The short man instantly understood.
"For treatment, you will first have to stop taking those white pills," Zheng Ren said confidently, "Then, you'll need surgery."
"How much will it cost?"
Chapter 161 - Zheng Ren, Help!
Zheng Ren had no idea how much treatment would cost.
The implementation of the new rural cooperative medical system had provided more opportunities for farmers to receive treatment and improve their quality of life.
However, based on Zheng Ren's experience, once medical charges exceeded ten thousand yuan, the chances of them giving up treatment were very high.
"I'll try to minimize the surgery cost between five to eight thousand yuan," replied Zheng Ren after a long pause to run the numbers. If he used the surgical supplies provided by Changfeng Microinvasive Surgery, the cost would be easier to control.
Moreover, part of the medical expenses would be reimbursed later, so the patient would have fewer financial issues.
Even so, the men's expression remained gloomy.
Just as Zheng Ren was about to comfort them, he suddenly thought of something else.
"By the way, do you know anything about avascular necrosis of the femoral head?" he asked.
"No, this is the first time I've heard about it." The short man was still overwhelmed by the incredible cost, his heart shattered to pieces.
"This disease can't be completely cured by just surgery and stopping the white pills," Zheng Ren said sincerely, "Surgery can only restore blood supply for a certain period of time. If you're involved in heavy labor or other similar things, your condition is likely to recur, but if you don't receive any treatment and allow your disease to progress from stage one to three, you'll need a hip replacement surgery, which will cost you around a hundred thousand yuan."
Five to eight thousand yuan was a huge amount, but a hundred thousand yuan was simply astronomical.
The men's expressions sank immediately.
"Give me your phone number, and you can return home to discuss the matter with your family. If you've saved up some money, I advise you to receive treatment when there isn't much farm work to attend to. You'll recover quicker that way."
The men nodded vigorously.
"By the way, if you decide to come, ask for reimburs.e.m.e.nt from your local medical insurance company first. Best you complete any necessary procedures in advance before spending any money here. Otherwise, you might not be able to receive any reimburs.e.m.e.nt.
"Although the reimburs.e.m.e.nt rate isn't that good, it's better to save cost whenever possible, right? I'll also try to minimize your surgery fee as much as possible."
"Doctor Zheng, thank you." The tall man bowed deeply and expressed his heartfelt gratitude.
"No worries." Zheng Ren waved his hand. "Go back and speak to your family. Give me a call if you plan on receiving treatment."
He then took a piece of A4 paper from the printer and wrote the department phone number on it.
As for his personal phone number… Unless absolutely necessary, he would never give it to strangers.
The tachycardic feeling that came whenever his phone rang was too agonizing.
Zheng Ren had recently even considered metoprolol tablets or any medication that could reduce his heart rate.
The men thanked Zheng Ren again and left the office. He stretched lazily and hoped the emergency department would not be busy today as his novel was still waiting for him.
He had to study the prostate after his novel session was over…
The thought of the prostate slightly annoyed Zheng Ren. How was interventional radiology going to work with no major arterial supply? However, since Old Chief Physician Pan had placed a high value on this matter, he would still do his best.
In Zheng Yunxia's medical records, Zheng Ren began writing intraoperative procedures.
Chang Yue's existence had drastically reduced Zheng Ren's workload.
A detailed medical history upon admission, disease progression, laboratory test results, preoperative discussions, resuscitation records, multidisciplinary consultations, transferral records and discharge summary…
This series of trivial and frustrating work was overwhelming. Zheng Ren was glad that Chang Yue was in charge of it now, which invigorated him a lot.
He made a phone call after the paperwork was complete. Old Chief Physician Pan was in his office.
After notifying Chang Yue, he went downstairs and headed there.
He knocked on the door, entered the room and went straight to the point.
"Chief Physician Pan, I have just received a patient with stage one avascular necrosis of the femoral head," said Zheng Ren.
"Dexamethasone-induced again?" Old Chief Physician Pan figured it out without inquiring further.
He was not a prophet, but he had seen and consulted many similar cases in the past.
"Yes," replied Zheng Ren.
"What's your plan?" Old Chief Physician Pan asked, suddenly raising his head as if recalling something important.
"Interventional radiology. Not only can it be used to embolize an artery, it also can unclog a blocked blood vessel."
"Interventional radiology, angiology subspecialty. Are you sure you can do it?"
"It's not a problematic issue," Zheng Ren replied, "Interventional radiological treatment for avascular necrosis of the femoral head is the simplest of its kind."
"Okay." Old Chief Physician Pan was immersed in thought.
Zheng Ren remained silent as he believed Old Chief Physician Pan already knew what was coming next.
"I'll visit the province in my free time," Old Chief Physician Pan said, "I've come to understand the qualification issue. Our hospital is certified, but I have to acquire a permit from the provincial health department to transfer ownership of interventional radiology to the emergency department."
"You're going to handle it personally?"
"Of course. If we wait for hospital management to handle this issue, it'll be settled in a few years, and you would probably be in the south then." Old Chief Physician Pan was not mocking him, merely stating a fact.
"..."
Zheng Ren was speechless when it came to this issue.
He had no plans to go to the south now. He had to at least become a deputy senior consultant before doing so.
However, if he was promoted in the future, would he even leave Sea City General Hospital?
The multiple-choice question was gut-wrenching.
Zheng Ren had seen an online recruitment notice from a newly-constructed government hospital in Xiamen with a phrase written on it—earn a living with dignity and honesty.
Various historical reasons had reduced payloads for all medical practitioners. This was beyond reproach.
How could one choose between monthly incomes of four thousand and forty thousand yuan? The answer was clear.
Old Chief Physician had recently brought up this issue repeatedly, obviously unwilling to hinder Zheng Ren's future and financial prospects.
The old man's kindness and generosity warmed Zheng Ren's heart.
"I'm still undecided. What if, in the future, our hospital can provide a higher salary just like the ones in the south?" Zheng Ren smiled.
"I won't witness that in my lifetime. It might still be possible
for you when you reach my age." Old Chief Physician Pan shook his head, judging the situation based on his social experience. "That's why I want to get as many benefits as possible before your resignation."
He then laughed at his less-than-funny joke.
Zheng Ren left the office in a complicated mood.
Old Chief Physician Pan would personally handle any issue with surgery qualifications. Since he had nothing else to do today, he quickly returned to the office to finish his novel so that he could study the anatomy of the prostate. Once everything was settled, he wanted to visit the System and search for any equipment that might come in handy in Imperial Capital.
The System had not yet assigned any mission to him. The mysterious world had become more vivid, and the little fox statue had become increasingly realistic as well. Perhaps the System was taking a break after the crisis had passed.
'What a lazy System,' Zheng Ren thought.
Fortunately, he was now considered a "wealthy" man. He still had two skill books that could instantly upgrade one random skill to the Graduate rank, and had acc.u.mulated lots of skill points in his inventory as well. There were more than enough for him to handle any emergency coming his way.
He thought about it while walking to the emergency ward.
Suddenly, his phone rang right before he entered.
His heart rate instantly shot up to 103 beats per minute, causing him to feel slightly uncomfortable.
When he took out his phone and noticed that the call was from Xie Yiren, he calmed down a little.
As soon as he accepted the call, Xie Yiren cried out from the other end. "Zheng Ren, help!"
Chapter 162 - Indestructible Trust
Zheng Ren instantly panicked upon hearing Xie Yiren's despairing wail. His heart rate skyrocketed to 145 beats per minute, and his systolic pressure shot up to nearly ten centimeters above his height.
"Calm down, what's wrong? Speak slowly." He f.o.r.c.i.b.l.y suppressed his discomfort and consoled Xie Yiren.
"Zheng Ren, Miao Xiaohua is dying. Please come quickly!" said Xie Yiren, her speech disorganized and her logical thought process in disarray as she continued to wail regardless of whether Zheng Ren could understand her.
The Surgeon's Studio c1-799 Page 83
