A competent doctor can cure everything

“I’m back.”

As I entered the front door, I glanced sideways at my grandmother’s stiff expression.

It was probably because of the old glasses I was wearing.

After all, they remind her of my deceased parents in the car accident.

“…Why are you wearing those old glasses?”

As expected, my grandmother muttered disapprovingly.

“Grandma, they’re still my father’s belongings.”

“That’s why it’s even more frustrating. How could the respectable director of an Oriental medicine hospital leave behind just these old things?”

“……”

My grandmother’s words were harsh. It seems that even now, thinking about it still makes her furious.

Well, I agree with her.

Round, small, and simple glasses with a thin metal frame.

They can be called vintage in a good light, but honestly, they’re quite old-fashioned.

If they weren’t my father’s belongings, I wouldn’t have worn them either.

“Grandma, I’m tired from the long drive. I’m going to rest for a bit.”

I naturally shifted the topic.

“Ah, go ahead and rest. I heard you’re starting that internship next week right away.”

Oh dear, the wrinkles on my grandmother’s face deepened even more.

“The internship at Hanbit University is quite competitive. You should congratulate me.”

“First month, you won’t even be able to come home. They’re really going to make you work hard…”

“Don’t worry. Your grandson isn’t someone who can’t adapt wherever he goes.”

I said this confidently and lightly massaged my grandmother’s shoulders.

“Right… Who would dislike my grandson? You’re capable, sharp, and responsible with your work. Huh?”

Only then did my grandmother’s face soften a bit.

However, contrary to my confident claims, a problem arose just one week into my internship.

The issue began with a 26-year-old male patient newly admitted to the Department of Acupuncture and Pain Medicine, who was a traffic accident (TA) case.

‘When a new patient is admitted, isn’t it standard procedure to order basic tests like blood tests, urine tests, and chest X-rays?’

Even though I, as a rookie intern, knew this basic rule, a third-year resident ignored it.

“Doctor, this is Intern Seon Joon. I’m notifying you of a new patient, Mr. Kim Sang-hoon, in Room 5235. He was admitted due to a traffic accident two weeks ago and is currently complaining of pain in his neck, back, and ankles…”

“Forget it.”

“…Yes?”

“I said, I’m aware of the new admission. It’s just a minor TA patient. It’s obvious.”

The man who answered the phone cut me off with a tone of irritation.

He was Choi Jin-seong, a third-year resident notorious for his terrible personality in the acupuncture department.

After ignoring my notification call several times, he finally picked up on the third attempt and told me not to notify him again.

“…Yes. Then I’ll inform the nursing staff and the patient about the basic admission tests.”

“Hey, intern. Say that again.”

His voice, filled with annoyance, suddenly turned sharp.

“……?”

“Can’t you hear? Say it again.”

“I’m sorry, but I’m not sure what you’re referring to.”

“Wow, look at this kid. You just said there are basic admission tests. Are you arrogantly making decisions as an intern? Are you going to start placing orders too?”

I briefly removed the phone from my ear and frowned.

‘Tsk, this crazy guy must be in a bad mood.’

Although it was an excessive grievance, it seemed faster to apologize here.

…But I didn’t want to.

Should I really have to endure such abuse just because I’m an intern?

Moreover, dealing with patients carelessly is something I deeply despise.

“I was taught that during intern orientation.”

“Oh, so you received that kind of training, did you?”

I silently listened to his sarcastic tone coming through the phone.

“I didn’t think the intern would know that~. Do you know that this patient was already admitted to another hospital’s Orthopedics Department for tests two weeks ago?”

I know, you bastard.

I was about to notify you, but you cut me off.

It seemed this resident decided the patient’s records from another hospital were not significant enough and chose to overlook them.

“……”

My continued silence only fueled his rising anger.

I thought that even a third-year resident would bow their head when showing displeasure, but it seemed the intern’s refusal to grovel angered him.

“Hey, intern. What’s your name?”

“I’m Intern Seon Joon.”

“Right, you. I’ve heard of you. Graduated top of your class from Hanbit University, completed your public health service, and now you think you’re some kind of big-shot acupuncturist?”

“……”

Usually, interns start right after graduating, but he was using the fact that I had completed my public health service as an excuse to pick on me.

“Hey, are you going to keep silent? Prepare this patient’s chart, including diagnosis and treatment plan. We’ll review it and check the tests during the patient briefing at 7 AM tomorrow.”

“…Yes.”

“And if you make even one mistake, I’ll have all your patients’ electronic charts switched to handwritten ones.”

Damn it, that’s too much.

* * *

“Hey, I mean, Seon Joon. Why aren’t you going to bed?”

It was well past midnight.

Other interns had gradually left for the on-call room to sleep.

In the ‘Oriental Medicine Intern Training Room,’ only I and one male intern remained.

He was a bit shorter, with curly hair, prominent double eyelids, and a bright, approachable demeanor.

His name was ‘Ye Wonil,’ a junior and fellow intern from my university.

He had stood up from his seat and approached me after finishing his work.

His awkward speech made me smile.

“Since it’s not regular working hours, just call me by name like usual.”

“Well, if you say so. It still feels weird to address each other as ‘Doctor’ among interns.”

I nodded at Ye Wonil’s comment.

“Since most of you are from the same graduating class, it must feel even more awkward.”

This year, there are about a dozen interns in the Oriental Medicine Department at Hanbit University Hospital.

Most of them are recent graduates from Hanbit University, known as ‘new grads.’

It’s rare for someone like me to come in after completing public health service.

‘Usually, interns start right after graduation.’

Thus, the interns naturally divided into two groups.

The new grads from Hanbit University, who spent six years together in the same program, naturally feel closer to each other. On the other hand, I, who graduated three years earlier, or outsiders from other schools, tend to have a natural distance from them.

‘It’s not that the new grads are intentionally excluding me, but there’s a natural sense of distance.’

Despite this, Ye Wonil, who was in the same university club as me, seemed to make an effort to take care of me consciously. He’s basically a kind-hearted guy.

“Is the internship hard?”

Even though we are both interns now, I ended up asking a question that sounded like something a senior would ask.

“Hmm, it’s tough with the lack of sleep and constantly getting scolded. But I’m proud. Our hospital is one of the top in the country, after all.”

Ye Wonit, whose dark circles were getting more prominent by the day, still managed to smile cheerfully. I nodded in agreement.

“Yeah. The internship competition this year was the highest ever. I’m glad I got selected too.”

“Hey, you graduated at the top of your class and are still being humble. What department are you in now?”

“I’m in the Department of Acupuncture and Pain Medicine.”

“Wow, really? That must be tough. It has the highest number of patients, doesn’t it?”

“Well, the acupuncture department has a famous professor. I’m looking forward to learning a lot during this rotation.”

“Oh, that’s right. Professor Kim from the acupuncture department has received many awards and is even mentioned as a candidate for presidential physician. He’s known among patients for being very skilled.”

As Ye Wonil nodded, he slowly approached and peeked over my shoulder.

“So, what are you doing?”

“Oh, I’m… working on this because Choi Jin-seong from the acupuncture department asked me to finish it.”

I handed Ye Wonil the chart and the notes I was temporarily preparing.

“What? No, the diagnosis and treatment plan is the resident’s job.”

Seeing his eyes widen at the empty spaces in the chart, I gave him a wry smile.

“If there are mistakes, I’ll have to do it all manually from now on.”

“What? You have a lot of patients in the acupuncture department! That’s totally unfair!”

Interns are required to write ‘progress charts’ every day about the hospitalized patients’ conditions.

Usually, from 6 AM, they round the ward to ask about patients’ conditions.

During this time, they jot down only brief keywords on paper charts, and after the rounds, they sit in front of the computer to enter detailed information into electronic charts.

Then, at 7 AM, they brief the resident on the patients’ conditions.

At 8 AM, they attend the professor’s rounds.

Time is limited, and as the number of patients assigned increases, the difficulty becomes extremely high.

But to write progress charts manually every day? During the busy morning hours?

‘Manual charts can’t be copied and pasted like electronic ones!’

It’s almost like saying I’m doomed.

“Uh. I think I’m in trouble, right?”

“Ugh… As expected, it’s Choi Jin-seong, the ultimate troublemaker. What are you going to do…?”

“Ultimate troublemaker?”

“Yes, that’s the nickname for Choi Jin-seong from the acupuncture department.”

“I didn’t know he had that nickname, ‘troublemaker.’”

I chuckled at that, but Ye Wonil, who told me the nickname, wasn’t smiling.

“Are the patient cases very difficult?”

I shook my head at his worried expression.

“No, they’re easy.”

“Really?”

“That’s why it’s bothering me. It seems like Jin-seong gave me something too easy on purpose.”

“Ah…”

“Look at this. A 26-year-old male patient with no pre-existing conditions. General body pain following a traffic accident. The main areas of pain are the neck, lower back, and the right foot. No fractures or lacerations, nothing serious.”

According to the resident, this patient had already been admitted to another hospital, so his medical records and test results were all provided.

In fact, the only additional things I needed to include were the traditional Korean medicine diagnosis and treatment plan, aside from the Western diagnosis.

‘I can use the charts of existing TA patients as a reference for that.’

The traditional Korean medicine diagnosis wasn’t particularly difficult either.

For contusions, it would be blood stasis (血瘀證), and if the patient complained of anxiety after the accident, it would be heart deficiency (心虛證), and so on.

As for treatment methods…

‘I understood what the resident meant by saying it’s obvious.’

Musculoskeletal pain, if there are no bone issues, usually stems from muscle or ligament problems.

After alternating between looking at the chart and what I had written, Ye Wonil eventually returned them to me, looking somewhat defeated.

“Sorry, hyung. Honestly, even just what you wrote seems really well done. I don’t think I could do even that.”

“I’ve been through public service. You came straight after graduation.”

Ye Wonil, seeming unnecessarily apologetic, gave me a farewell.

“Hyung, then I’ll head to bed first. Good luck…”

“Oh, thanks.”

After Ye Wonil left the room, I was alone.

I sighed heavily as I looked at the chart.

‘Maybe I should just go to bed too…’

At that moment,

‘……!!!’

Suddenly, my vision brightened, and golden letters appeared densely on the previously blank patient chart.