The Enhanced Doctor-Chapter 676: First be a good doctor

(Thanks for the monthly ticket encouragement from Yiyi Myth, Hyperion, and KELUZI)

Seeing Zhou Shuwen return, Liu Banxia dutifully followed him into the office.

"Had your fun?" Zhou Shuwen asked calmly.

"Sure did, and it should have some effect," Liu Banxia quickly replied.

"What’s that in your hand?" Zhou Shuwen asked further.

"These are the project applications from Wang Chao, Wang Huan, and Xu Hui. They plan to apply to establish a fecal transplantation center in our emergency center." Liu Banxia neatly placed the applications into the document basket.

"I’ll look at them this afternoon. Were you flustered by the news and lost your temper again?" Zhou Shuwen asked.

Liu Banxia shook his head. "Director, if I were to get angry over something like this, then I really shouldn’t be chosen. Even if I were selected, who knows what kind of mess I’d make of our emergency center."

"What happened today was spontaneous. Many of my patients are good at following their doctor’s orders during their illness. But once discharged, they gradually let their guard down regarding the necessary precautions, and their old habits resurface."

"This patient’s cirrhosis was assessed as mild, but because he’s had it for a long time, it can become dangerous quickly. So today, I deliberately provoked him a little. Even if I get a complaint and a two-hundred-yuan fine, it’s worth it if he can live a few more years."

"Besides, I think he was just angry at the moment. Once he’s had some time to think it over, it won’t be a big deal. If he lives a few more years, wouldn’t I, as his doctor, deserve some credit for that?"

Zhou Shuwen nodded, his expression softening a little. "So, what are your thoughts on competing for the deputy director position? What are you really thinking?"

"I’ve talked to others about this, and I’ve come to understand something. It seems like successfully competing for it isn’t actually that important," Liu Banxia said.

"If I get promoted, I’ll be doing this job. If I don’t, I’ll still be doing this job. The reason I’m still working at the emergency center, instead of being at home with my wife, is because I genuinely like this job."

"If I can’t even do my current job well and all I think about is getting promoted, then that’s all I’ll ever amount to. If I become deputy director, I’ll be scheming to become director. After a few years in that role, I’d be scheming to become a deputy hospital director or something."

"That’s not the life I want; it would just make me exhausted. I don’t have a strong desire for power, and even if I did climb the ranks, it wouldn’t compare to Qiaoqiao’s family."

"So my current thinking is simple: I can prepare seriously for the deputy director competition, but I can’t let it interfere with my current work."

"Success would mean the leadership appreciates and recognizes my abilities, and my work would become even more demanding. Failure wouldn’t be a big deal; it was a pie in the sky anyway."

"Deputy director or not, I’m still a general surgeon. I have to see patients, and I have to treat illnesses and save lives. Even after I step down as Chief Resident, I’ll still have patient consultations and must do my job well."

"Basically, that’s the gist of it. I want to be a doctor, and I’ll strive to be a good one. Right now, I need to focus on my primary duties; everything else is secondary."

Zhou Shuwen smiled and nodded. "That sounds about right. I didn’t tell you sooner because I was afraid you’d get flustered and mix up your priorities. You’re right. Regardless of the position, you are first and foremost a surgeon, tasked with the mission of treating illnesses and saving lives."

"Now tell me, what are your true, personal thoughts about this deputy director competition? No official-sounding answers or platitudes. Just tell me what you really think."

"Director, it’s natural for anyone to like being in a position of authority. However, this whole thing has indeed put a lot of pressure on me. I’ve sort of stumbled into this situation, so I’ll just have to do my best," Liu Banxia said.

"I’m prepared to accept any outcome. Like I just said, even if I don’t get selected, I’ll still be doing the same work I do now."

"You’ll definitely still assign me the teaching and training responsibilities. And after I step down as Chief Resident here in the emergency center, I’ll still have to see patients regularly and perform surgeries when needed."

"Honestly, whether I’m selected or not, I can truly accept it, and there are benefits for me either way. If I’m selected, the title of deputy director is impressive and will certainly make me look good in front of others. If I’m not, I’ll have more time to spend with Qiaoqiao."

"And if I’d known this situation would become so difficult, I would have asked you to put it on hold right from the start."

"For my sake, both you and the Chief Director have already taken significant risks. This situation is much more significant than the matter of securing my permanent position at the hospital."

"You also know I’m quite close to Qiu Huaili from Binhai City; we were chatting just yesterday. He told me very clearly that whether I become deputy director or not, both you and the Chief Director face risks."

"If I’m fortunate enough to get it, I absolutely must do an even more outstanding job. Otherwise, you and the Chief Director will both be criticized, and that adds a lot more pressure on me."

"Sigh... I didn’t expect such an ordinary matter to attract so much attention," Zhou Shuwen lamented with a sigh.

Liu Banxia glanced up cautiously. Judging from Zhou Shuwen’s reaction, Old Qiu’s assessment was indeed correct.

"But don’t feel any burden because of this; it’s not that serious. Like you said, just focus on your primary duty of being a good doctor for now," Zhou Shuwen added.

"This is an opportunity, and also a trial. We all grow by facing various trials. Even if you fail this time, I hope you’ll be able to face similar situations with composure in the future."

"The fecal transplantation center project should pass through the approval process without much trouble. I’ll also push the Department of Internal Medicine to quickly assign the third attending physician."

"Is Xu Hui on duty today? This afternoon, find some time for Wang Chao and Xu Hui to come over so we can all talk. You can cover Xu Hui’s patient consultations in the meantime."

"Alright, you carry on with your work." Liu Banxia nodded and left the office.

He had been quite nervous just now, but he still chose to tell the absolute truth. He lacked the courage and composure to lie outright to Zhou Shuwen.

But looking at how things turned out, he was quite satisfied with his responses. That felt like a success.

Prioritizing being a good doctor was probably one reason he spoke to the patient that way today, though it wasn’t the main factor.

He also knew he needed to change, but he hadn’t quite figured out the right balance yet.

"Teacher Liu, did the director scold you?" Liu Yiqing asked, sidling up to him.

Liu Banxia smiled and shook his head. "It wasn’t a mistake of principle, so why would he scold me? Actually, if this had happened a few years ago, before the complaint evaluations became so strict, it would have been handled pretty much the same way. Where’s Wang Chao?"

"He went to the ward to check on the patient with Clostridium difficile," Liu Yiqing replied.

"Remind me when he gets back. I’m going to the Department of Internal Medicine to find Xu Hui now," Liu Banxia nodded.

The tasks Zhou Shuwen assigned had to be completed. This was also a very important upcoming job for the emergency center.

There weren’t many patients today. He waited for two patients outside Xu Hui’s office, and then there were no more patients in the queue.

"Has the application been submitted?" Xu Hui asked.

"The director said it’s pretty much just a formality and hopes to get it all finalized within two weeks. How confident are you about this project?" Liu Banxia asked.

Xu Hui nodded. "We have to see it through anyway. I’ve been brushing up on my knowledge in this area recently. Can’t afford to fall behind. It’s true that you live and learn."

"Haha, that’s great. Once the official preparations begin, we can start promoting it," Liu Banxia said with a laugh.

"The director also said he’d push the inpatient department as much as possible. By then, with three attending physicians in Internal Medicine, your work and rest schedules should be more manageable."

"Irregular work schedules are the biggest problem our emergency center faces right now. I’m hoping we can get them sorted out by the time I step down as Chief Resident. That would make things easier for me too."

"Any inside news? Are you going to get promoted or not?" Xu Hui asked curiously.

Liu Banxia shook his head. "It’s too early for any news now; it really depends on luck. Compared to others, I don’t have any outstanding qualifications, except maybe for my appetite."

"Old Qiu said my lack of seniority is both a disadvantage and an advantage. It all depends on how you look at it; either way, there’s a case to be made. We’ll have to see how it goes; rushing won’t solve anything."

"You need to work hard; everyone’s hoping you get promoted," Xu Hui said.

"We’ve worked together for so long, we all know each other well. Plus, you often treat us to extra meals and stuff, which is great."

Liu Banxia rolled his eyes. "So, my worth to you guys is just a chicken leg or a pig’s trotter? Really. Around three or four this afternoon, you and Wang Chao should go see him. The director needs to at least look at the application and get a general idea of the situation."

"Okay, don’t worry. This is for our benefit, so of course, I’ll be diligent," Xu Hui nodded.

He wasn’t just saying that for Liu Banxia’s sake; it was genuinely what most of them felt.

It wasn’t that the staff in the emergency center were cliquey. They had worked with Liu Banxia for so long and knew his temperament and character well. Liu Banxia was also handling many of the hospital’s administrative tasks, and at the very least, he could empathize and think from everyone’s perspective.

Take the New Year’s Eve dinner, for example, where everyone got to order one dish. It was a trivial thing, and it wasn’t as if anyone was short of food. But a gesture like that warmed everyone’s hearts.

Plus, his current ability to "jump in" and cover various posts also lessened everyone’s daily pressure.

Even if he really were to become deputy director, they wouldn’t feel awkward asking him to fill in during an emergency. It wouldn’t be the same with a newcomer; that would require a period of familiarization.

However, they also knew they couldn’t really help much, so they could only watch from the sidelines.