The Physician of Traditional Medicine Returns from Murim

The only connection between me and Sowon General Hospital was Park Young-gil, their department chief.

I searched through my call history and dialed him immediately.

“I received a fax proposing an MOU. What’s this about?”

“You told me not to call, so I sent an official document.”

A very irritating response came through.

Are those the same thing? You should have at least talked to me before sending it!

“The MOU isn’t anything major. We’ll occasionally send patients your way, so please take good care of them. If you need to request tests or transfer patients for surgery or other purposes, we can prioritize them if necessary.”

Park Young-gil began explaining.

Hmm… Is there nothing I need to do in return?

“We’re requesting this because there are system issues with sending patients to you instead of our existing partner Korean medicine hospitals.”

“When you say sending patients…”

“We’ll have occasions to interact, won’t we? Though it wasn’t the case with my mother, there are cases like Yoon Han-byeol. It’s reassuring if you can see them.”

Interesting.

Just a few days ago, when he called asking how I treated his mother, I thought he was interrogating me.

And now he’s completely changed his attitude?

“Alright, fine. I’ll consider it positively. Of course, I should help if there are patients who need it.”

“Yes. Please discuss the details with our administration manager. I’m just a paid doctor, so I don’t know much about it.”

“Okay, take care.”

You say you’re just a paid doctor, but how did you propose this?

Our clinic can do anything since we only have five employees, but doesn’t a general hospital like this have hundreds? There must be dozens of doctors alone?

My questions were quickly resolved when I called the contact number on the fax after consultations ended.

– Thank you for calling!

The person who answered introduced himself as the administration manager.

Apparently, among those dozens of doctors, Park Young-gil has the highest number of surgeries and is among the top in revenue generation, an elite among elites?

– Of course we should accommodate Dr. Park’s request! And increasing our partner hospitals is good for us too!

Looking into it, I found that money often changes hands when signing partnership agreements.

The hospital that performed the surgery receives a patient allowance when sending post-operative patients to facilities handling rehabilitation and convalescence?

Or sometimes Korean medicine clinics pay for conveniences like imaging tests or simply for the title of being a partner hospital of XX University Hospital.

But Sowon General Hospital made no financial demands whatsoever.

That’s to be expected since they proposed it first.

‘There’s clearly nothing to lose here.’

I can refer only the patients I deem absolutely necessary based on my judgment.

As for patients they send, I just need to treat them diligently.

I carefully reviewed the proposal and adjusted the details.

Things progressed quickly.

◆◇◆◇◆

A few days later.

I visited Sowon General Hospital.

Since they asked to bring 2-3 people, Hwang Sang-hoon and Seo In-ae came along.

“Ho ho ho, thank you for coming. Let’s do our best to share our expertise, cooperate, and provide appropriate treatment for our patients.”

On their side, not only the administration manager but also the hospital director, medical director, and nursing director came out.

“Yes, we look forward to working with you.”

A banner announcing the partnership signing was hung in the hospital lobby.

There were even a few reporters.

Click. A photo as I shook hands with the hospital director.

Click. Another with all seven of us smiling together.

“Thank you for coming.”

After the brief ceremony, we had a meal courtesy of Park Young-gil.

“This is amazing, Doctor. How did you land this partnership agreement?”

“That’s right. You’re not just good at consultations, but you’re steadily growing the business as you said before.”

“Hahaha, it just happened somehow. It’s no big deal.”

On the way home, I scratched my head at the praise from Seo In-ae and Hwang Sang-hoon.

Is it really that impressive? I suppose it looks that way.

That’s probably why some places even pay to become partner hospitals.

“Thank you both for coming. I didn’t know we’d be photographed, is that okay?”

“I actually found it fascinating and enjoyable. Can I upload a vlog about it on NewTube?”

“Why not?”

“I don’t mind either. My father would be pleased to see it.”

Fortunately, neither of them cared about their faces appearing in articles.

We were able to see those photos a few days later.

[Sowon General Hospital – Seongsu Korean Medicine Clinic Sign Partnership Agreement]

An internet article with this title appeared.

Checking their website, our clinic had been added to their list of partner hospitals.

It feels a bit awkward to be sandwiched between university hospitals, nursing homes, and Korean medicine hospitals?

“Well, we’ll grow too!”

I also posted about the partnership on our blog and added a framed certificate in the consultation room.

◆◇◆◇◆

“Yeowon, I have something to discuss. Can you spare some time after consultations?”

Hwang Sang-hoon requested a meeting.

This was just over three months after I’d impulsively hired him.

What could it be?

…Is he resigning?

I couldn’t help but think that.

When Hwang Sang-hoon came to Busan after fighting with his family, his self-esteem was rock bottom. Meaning he signed the contract without knowing his own worth.

But three months is enough time for the probationary period to end.

During this time, he quickly adapted to the work and gradually increased his patient load, though not as much as me.

There are even grandmas who wait for him every day, and quite a few people who come through existing patient referrals and ask for Hwang Sang-hoon by name.

In other words, he must have realized his own value.

‘I hope it’s not resignation. Was it too much to give him six days a week?’

There hadn’t been any signs until now, but.

What else could he want to discuss?

‘No. Think positively. He might want to adjust his work days!’

Working three days a week in Central Plains Online was indeed too much. It would be fine to reduce it to two days.

I can work together with him one more day, and I can even work five days a week.

The Four Heavenly Kings grandmas might be a bit disappointed, but from their perspective, it’s better than not seeing him at all, right?

Please, anything but resignation! For everyone’s sake!

As I waited anxiously for the end of consultations…

“Yeowon, do you think we could introduce ultrasound into our diagnostic system?”

Hwang Sang-hoon’s proposal was completely different.

First, I was relieved it wasn’t about resigning.

“Ultrasound?”

“Yeah. You know about the recent Supreme Court ruling, right?”

Of course I do.

Is there a Korean medicine doctor who doesn’t? Even without contact with my peers, it was a hot topic in the community for a long time, and the association even sent text messages directly.

The use of ultrasound by Korean medicine doctors has been a contentious issue in terms of legal interpretation.

The mainstream interpretation was that diagnostic use of ultrasound is not permitted under medical law, so only a few Korean medicine doctors used it, obtaining consent forms stating it was for research purposes.

But recently, the Supreme Court ruled that Korean medicine doctors’ use of diagnostic equipment is legal.

Since then, the number of Korean medicine clinics introducing ultrasound has been rapidly increasing.

“Hmm… If we need it, we should use it.”

I didn’t have any particular thoughts on it.

Even without visualizing the body’s interior with ultrasound, I could roughly sense things by focusing on the flow of energy.

I’d been treating well without machines for 20 years, so I wasn’t immediately interested.

Above all, I didn’t have the money.

But being able to sense even the state of ligaments through qi perception is unique to me alone.

I can’t teach that to Hwang Sang-hoon, nor can I convey what I sense to patients.

‘It would be good to bring it in before it’s too late.’

While currently maybe only 1 in 10 nearby Korean medicine clinics use ultrasound, at this rate, half might be using it in a few years.

Recently, a patient even mentioned that the Korean medicine clinic they went to in Seoul did blood tests and ultrasounds.

I need to quickly get on board with the changing paradigm.

Otherwise, I’ll be left behind.

While the ace Deputy Director wants to buy and use ultrasound, it would be good to learn together.

“How much is it? I’ll look into it. I should find some lectures too.”

Now that the cost of equipment isn’t too burdensome, I should invest for the clinic’s development.

I was getting bored with the game anyway!

“Ah, I’ve already bought the machine. I took separate lectures during my break before coming here. At the hospital, they explained while showing ultrasounds, but it felt a bit lacking without one.”

Huh? He already bought it?

Wasn’t he just bringing up the topic to ask me to buy one?

“So you’ve been practicing at home all this time? Have you tried it on patients too?”

“I used it a lot as an intern at the hospital. I also did continuous case studies with professors and senior residents.”

My jaw dropped.

Is this the difference of someone who’s worked at a big hospital? Korea University Affiliated Korean Medicine Hospital is really at the cutting edge!

Chu Mi-young had said she didn’t realize she’d use the chuna techniques she learned in school, so she didn’t pay much attention.

Ultrasound was about that level for our class.

Of course, I tried to learn everything given to the best of my ability… but I couldn’t possibly use in clinical practice what I learned for dozens of hours 20 years ago.

So I was planning to take separate lectures and join practical study groups, but.

“…Can you diagnose right away?”

“I’m still inexperienced with abdominal ultrasounds. But I can handle most musculoskeletal cases.”

Hooray!

Is it okay for the Deputy Director to be this SSR-tier?

“Really? Then there’s no reason not to!”

“We’ll need space, and it takes time to examine, so patients might back up. We should get their understanding. So, can I bring it in?”

“Of course! Teach me when you have time too!”

I quickly clung to Hwang Sang-hoon, begging him to teach me.

To think there was someone who could do it right next to me! I can learn right here in our clinic without going far!

I prided myself on buying low when Hwang Sang-hoon didn’t know his own worth, but I hadn’t fully utilized his abilities!

“Ah, I didn’t mean to burden you too. It’s fine if I just use it occasionally.”

“No. If we’re introducing it, we should do it properly. Let’s put up signs inside and outside the clinic saying ultrasound examinations are available, and I’ll do them too!”

It would be confusing to have some doing it and some not.

It wouldn’t look good to pass my patients to Hwang Sang-hoon if they asked for an ultrasound either.

If I have to learn it anyway, I should do it thoroughly with this opportunity.

“Teaching isn’t difficult, but…”

Hwang Sang-hoon trailed off.

I understand.

We both barely have free time during work hours, and he probably doesn’t want to spend his days off separately.

“Right. How about changing to five days a week starting next month?”

“Five days? …Is the revenue not good?”

Hwang Sang-hoon’s face, which had been excited at the thought of bringing in ultrasound, clouded over.

“No, no! You’re doing great! I suggested it because it would be too hard to work six days a week and find time to teach me. Of course, your salary stays the same! Think of it as lecture fees. How about it?”

“If we’re operating seven days a week anyway, neither of us will get days off, right?”

“Still, it’s tiring.”

“I’m fine. I enjoy working. I’ll teach you after work when it’s not busy, if that’s okay with you.”

Ah, Hwang Sang-hoon truly was the best slave- I mean, Deputy Director.

Offering to make extra time while working six days a week!

To think I suspected he might resign!

“That would be so helpful!”

Well, it would be impolite to decline further when he’s offering so generously.

I quickly accepted.

“I’m glad I can be of help like this. You’ve done so much for me.”

Help?

Does he mean letting him sleep at the clinic?

Or registering him at the gym to work him harder?

…Anyway, let’s call it a win-win since we’re both satisfied.

We decided to revamp our diagnostic system.

The very next day, Hwang Sang-hoon brought in a 20 million won medical ultrasound machine.

Not all ultrasound machines cost that much, absolutely not. It’s not high-end, but you can get a small portable one that connects to an iPad for less than a quarter of the price if you buy used!

“You bought this? When?”

He must have bought it as an intern, right? With support from his parents?

Yes, that must be it.

He might be penniless now, but his family is extremely wealthy.

“Ah, I bought it on installment as soon as I got my second month’s salary.”

But my hopes were dashed.

He said he used his entire first month’s salary as a deposit, and now the second month’s salary on installments…

To spend several months’ salary buying this, my goodness.

‘Pouring several months’ salary into an ultrasound machine? Is he in his right mind?!’

Flexing with an ultrasound console.

How can there be someone like this?

“Haha, is it taking up too much space? Where should we put it?”

Regardless of my shock.

Hwang Sang-hoon smiled brightly as he set up the machine, looking extremely happy.

‘Well, if you’re happy, that’s what matters!’

I’m happy too.

We’ll study together enjoyably.

And if he took out installments, there’s no worry about resignation!