Chapter 261: Certificate

"Online consultations, do you know what the essence of it is?" Zhao Zhe asked with a smile.

At this point, even Wu Zong pricked up his ears.

The old Attending Physician was experienced and knew the ins and outs of the medical circle like the back of his hand; if it really came to gossiping, a young person like Wu Zong was definitely no match for him.

"For seeing a doctor, it's written very clearly on our diagnosis forms: Western medicine is inspection, palpation, percussion, and auscultation, while Chinese medicine is looking, listening, asking, and pulse-taking," Zhao Zhe said. "Just asking for a diagnosis on an online platform can't solve some illnesses, but because of technical limitations, doctors at higher-level hospitals can tell what an illness is at a single glance."

"Of course, that's one of the benefits, but I don't think it's the most important one..."

"Brother Zhao," Wu Zong asked, "could you give an example?"

"For instance, a friend of mine's child kept having blood in their urine. They came to our hospital, and I contacted the most famous Expert in our city for them. The diagnosis was chronic nephritis, and they said it would be very hard to cure. This guy was so worried about my friend that his hair turned white in a single night."

"Nutcracker Syndrome?" Wu Zong interrupted Zhao Zhe, suggesting a diagnosis.

Zhao Zhe gave a thumbs up. "That's why they say you have to go to a higher-level hospital! I felt something was wrong at the time, so I had to contact an online consultation for my friend and booked an appointment at Peking Union Medical College Hospital in the Imperial Capital."

"When they got to the Imperial Capital, the Expert only spent 1 minute looking at the Medical Record, asked a couple of questions, and said it was Nutcracker Syndrome."

"And they said this illness didn't need treatment; it would get better after a while."

"That's just one thing. If it's a serious ailment, the Expert will add an appointment slot. You go straight to the Imperial Capital, see them the same day you arrive, and can return right after. Although the costs are higher, but..."

High costs referred to the registration fee; if it were the old model, just the food and lodging in the Imperial Capital would be a huge sum of money.

Zhao Zhe rambled on for five minutes, and Lu Kai's eyes lit up as he listened!

According to Zhao Zhe's description, it was simply awesome—simple, worry-free, beneficial for everyone, and it didn't break any taboos.

"There's another type where you take people to see a doctor. They aren't familiar with the department heads or Experts, but they understand the hospital's procedures. Like a companion Nurse, they guide the patient through the visit and can provide a little convenience," Zhao Zhe continued. "I know a Nurse who quit her job and started doing this at our First Affiliated Hospital. Now she can earn three to five hundred a day, more than I make bending over doing surgery!"

As he spoke, Zhao Zhe sighed. "Honestly, I'm truly envious. I once even had the thought of coming to our Second Affiliated Hospital. If I did it, I'd definitely earn more than her, wouldn't I?"

"Later on, Brother Zhao, why didn't you come?" Ji Xiang asked.

Zhao Zhe fell silent for a rare moment, seemingly having some unspeakable difficulty.

Wu Zong smiled. "Look, Lu Kai, this path has a future—at least more of a future than being a Doctor. If you go around our Second Affiliated Hospital, at least you'll be familiar with the Resident Chief, and you can get on familiar terms with the Attending Professor. When the time comes to take people to see doctors, as long as you get through the initial difficult period, everything will go smoothly afterward."

Lu Kai was quite moved. He bit his lip, pondering over and over in his heart what Wu Zong and Zhao Zhe had said.

"Medium-sized hospitals are actually not difficult; the hard ones are the hospitals in the Imperial Capital and Shanghai. The medical standard there is high, but it's a mixed bag, so it really tests your foundation," Wu Zong gossiped. "For example, a classmate of mine in the Thoracic Surgery Department said a guy wanted to invite a professor from the Imperial Capital to perform a surgery."

"Their hospital could help contact an Expert from the National Cancer Center Hospital, but the Patient's Family Member was worried about this and that, so in the end, they invited a Doctor from the Beijing Chest Hospital to perform a Flying Knife surgery themselves."

"The surgery was... it was just too unsightly to look at."

"I understand, Wu Zong." Lu Kai didn't smile, nor did he gossip as usual, but instead focused intently on thinking about every sentence. "Knowing Experts and professors is important. As Doctors, we want to treat illnesses and save lives; as a broker, you have to recommend the best Doctor to the Patient. Is that it?"

"Who did you learn this from, trying to elevate everything to a matter of values?" Wu Zong asked.

"Teachers, sir. Teachers at school all say that."

Wu Zong and Zhao Zhe smiled.

This set of ideas would collide violently with reality once they entered society—it was the legendary experience of being rubbed into the ground by life.

As for what one is rubbed into in the end, that depends on each person's fate.

If one believes in it firmly, Lu Kai would probably be rubbed until sparks fly all over his body when he enters society.

"Don't talk about you; even many of us Doctors don't know who performs surgery well," Wu Zong said. "Seeing a doctor isn't about fame. Fame is useless; many people fly around giving academic reports, but their surgery is a total mess."

"On the contrary, an old Attending Physician like Brother Zhao performs surgery well, yet has no fame."

"What's the use of being good? No fame, no one seeks you out. Hahaha, I'm not saying I'm good at surgery, I'm saying you're right, Wu Zong!" Zhao Zhe explained.

"I've received many Patients who were hospitalized and ready for surgery, but the Family Member had some 'know-it-all' advise them for a long time, then they checked out and went to find someone else to do it. Some even found others in our department to do it directly. I'm very helpless too."

Seeing that Zhao Zhe had started his rambling mode again, Wu Zong directly interrupted him.

"That's about it. First get familiar with our Second Affiliated Hospital; being close to the water gives you the first chance to see the moon. It won't be hard to earn a living."

"Mm!" Lu Kai nodded vigorously.

"Speaking of Experts and professors..."

Just as Wu Zong was speaking, a commotion came from outside the door.

He glanced over and was so startled he stood straight up.

Bai Chuzhang bowed and gestured, making a welcoming motion, and an Old Man with white hair and beard walked in.

Wu Zong recognized him; this was Gu Lao from the Urology Department, a figure second to none in the Imperial Capital and even the whole country in the field of urology.

Speak of an Expert, and the Expert arrives.

"Gu Lao!" Wu Zong subconsciously raised his voice.

"Mm." Gu Lao nodded, looked around the Doctor's Office, saw Ji Xiang, revealed a smile, and walked over with a kind expression.

"Little Doctor Ji, why didn't you go to the surgery competition today?" Gu Lao asked.

"I went to perform a circumcision and came back to prepare the materials for a Patient who needs an intervention tomorrow," Ji Xiang said.

"Here, this is for you." Gu Lao reached out, and Zhou Tianbo handed a certificate to Gu Lao.

Ji Xiang was stunned. He saw the certificate was very official; it first wrote the name of the province, then the First Urology Surgery Competition, then his own name and the surgical procedure, and finally, First Prize, First Place.

"This is..."

"A certificate for the surgery competition. We were just people from the same circle getting together to see the level of skill; there isn't much prize money," Gu Lao laughed. "I didn't expect it. When we were doing the Cavernous Body Puncture, I felt your surgery definitely wouldn't be bad, and it was proven later when I saw you do the circumcision, but I never imagined your endoscopic surgery would be this good!"

"Gu Lao, you overpraise me," Ji Xiang said "humbly."

"Overpraise? You mean my eyes aren't sharp enough, then." Gu Lao was very happy and patted Ji Xiang's shoulder firmly.

(End of chapter)