21: Chapter 21 Yellow Zone and Red Zone Maneuvers
That evening.
Director Li Sen sat in his office, the surgical records written by Lu Chen displayed on the computer screen before him.
He read through them twice.
Then, he opened another file.
It was the complete record of Lu Chen's work in the Emergency Department since he joined.
The patient intake in the Green Zone, the detailed report on the Myocardial Infarction incident in the Yellow Zone, and today's surgical records.
Director Li Sen leaned back in his chair, fingers interlaced over his chest, staring at the ceiling in deep thought for a long time.
Then he picked up his phone and dialed a number.
"Zhao Yaqin, are you free tomorrow morning? I want to discuss Lu Chen's arrangements with you."
"I'm free. What time?"
"Seven-thirty in the morning, before the morning meeting."
"Alright."
After hanging up, Director Li Sen thought for a bit longer.
Then he opened his computer and modified a document.
It was the Emergency Department's schedule for next week.
Behind Lu Chen's name, he deleted the words "Green Zone."
He replaced them with a different set of words.
"Yellow Zone (concurrently Red Zone Mobile)"
Director Li Sen looked at these words and hesitated for a moment.
In the entire history of the Emergency Department, the arrangement of "Yellow Zone and Red Zone Mobility" had never been given to a newcomer.
Because the patients in the Yellow Zone were inherently much more complex than those in the Green Zone.
And the Red Zone—that was truly the front line of life and death.
Cardiac arrest, massive hemorrhage, multiple trauma, severe poisoning.
Every patient wheeled into the Red Zone could be gone in the next second.
Allowing a newcomer to participate in Red Zone work was too risky.
But Director Li Sen had seen Lu Chen's performance on the operating table today.
That was not the level of a newcomer.
That was the level of a mature, experienced surgeon who could handle things on his own.
This young man's growth rate was too fast.
So fast that Director Li Sen felt that keeping him pinned in the Green Zone would be a waste of his potential and time.
"But I can't let him do it alone."
Director Li Sen muttered to himself.
He added a line of text in the remarks column of the schedule.
[Red Zone work must be conducted under the direct supervision of a Teaching Physician; no independent management allowed]
This was a safety line.
Lu Chen could participate in Red Zone work, he could learn, and he could get hands-on, but all critical decisions had to be vetted by a Superior Physician.
This way, he could be given opportunities for growth while risks were kept under control.
Director Li Sen saved the file and turned off the computer.
Then he leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes.
The image of Lu Chen at the operating table surfaced in his mind again.
The twenty-four-year-old young man standing under the shadowless lamp, holding an Ultrasonic Scalpel, his gaze incredibly sharp.
Every cut was clean and decisive.
Every stitch was precise and unerring.
Twenty-three minutes, zero bleeding, perfect Suturing.
Director Li Sen had worked in Emergency Medicine for over twenty years and had taken on countless students and Trainee Physicians; he had seen all kinds of geniuses.
But he had never seen one like this.
"Just how did this kid train to get this good?"
He mumbled under his breath.
Then he shook his head.
Forget it, it doesn't matter.
What mattered was that the Emergency Department might have picked up a treasure.
...
The next morning at seven-thirty.
Director Li Sen's office.
Zhao Yaqin arrived on time.
"Sit."
Zhao Yaqin sat down.
"Regarding Lu Chen's arrangements, I thought about it all night and decided to make some adjustments."
"What adjustments?"
"Starting next week, he will no longer be stationed in the Green Zone. His daily work will primarily be in the Yellow Zone, with the Green Zone as secondary."
Zhao Yaqin nodded; she had mentioned this to Director Li Sen before, so it wasn't a surprise.
"Additionally."
Director Li Sen paused.
"When the Red Zone is busy, he can participate in Red Zone work."
Zhao Yaqin was stunned.
"The Red Zone?"
"Yes."
"He's a newcomer, Director Li."
"I know."
"The patients in the Red Zone are the most critical. Letting a newcomer participate in Red Zone work... if something happens..."
"That's why I added restrictive conditions. Red Zone work must be done under the direct supervision of a Teaching Physician; he cannot handle cases independently."
Zhao Yaqin was silent for a few seconds.
"Is this because of yesterday's surgery?"
"Not entirely. From the time he entered the Emergency Department until now, in less than two weeks, he has independently handled nearly two hundred cases in the Green Zone."
"Zero errors, zero complaints."
"Then, in the Yellow Zone, he discovered a Myocardial Infarction that even an Associate Chief Physician missed."
"And finally, in the Operating Room, he performed a Laparoscopic Surgery that even I couldn't find fault with."
Director Li Sen paused.
"Have you ever seen a newcomer like that before?"
Zhao Yaqin shook her head.
"No."
"Neither have I."
Director Li Sen took the schedule out of his drawer and pushed it toward Zhao Yaqin.
"Take a look at this arrangement and see if there are any issues."
Zhao Yaqin picked it up and read through it.
The schedule was very clear: Lu Chen, primarily Yellow Zone, Green Zone as secondary, available for mobile support when the Red Zone is busy, must be under the supervision of a Teaching Physician.
"No issues," Zhao Yaqin said.
"Good. You are his teaching teacher; you should be the one to tell him about this."
"Alright."
Zhao Yaqin stood up with the schedule.
As she reached the door, Director Li Sen called out to her again.
"Zhao Yaqin."
"Yes?"
"Keep a close eye on him. Don't let him pull any more unauthorized operations. I can pretend I didn't know about that incident with the General Surgery Department last time, but I won't be able to next time."
Zhao Yaqin looked back at him.
"Didn't you say that what he did was right?"
"Doing the right thing is one thing, but rules are rules. His current status is a newcomer; any operation must have the signature and authorization of a Superior Physician. That cannot change."
"I understand."
Zhao Yaqin walked out of the office.
...
Eight o'clock.
After the morning meeting ended.
Zhao Yaqin called Lu Chen out into the hallway.
"I have something to tell you."
"What is it, Teacher Zhao?"
"Starting next week, your schedule has been adjusted."
"Where am I being moved?"
"The Yellow Zone."
Lu Chen's eyes lit up.
The Yellow Zone, the Observation Room.
The patients there were much more complex than in the Green Zone, many of them being medium-difficulty cases that required continuous observation and further treatment.
To him, the Yellow Zone meant more experience points and a faster skill growth rate.
"Also," Zhao Yaqin continued, watching his expression.
"When the Red Zone is busy, you can participate in mobile support for the Red Zone."
Lu Chen's pupils dilated slightly.
The Red Zone.
The Resuscitation Room.
Cardiac arrest, massive hemorrhage, severe trauma, organ failure.
That was the core battlefield of the Emergency Department and the place with the highest density of experience points.
"But there's one condition." Zhao Yaqin's tone became serious.
"All work in the Red Zone must be conducted under the direct supervision of a Teaching Physician. You cannot handle any cases independently; every decision must be confirmed with a Superior Physician. Do you understand?"
"I understand."
"This is Director Li's intention. Don't make me lose face."
"I won't."
Zhao Yaqin watched him for a few seconds to confirm he wasn't just being perfunctory, then she nodded.
"Alright, go get busy."
Lu Chen turned to walk toward the Green Zone.
He had only taken two steps when Zhao Yaqin called him again.
"Lu Chen."
"Yes?"
Zhao Yaqin hesitated, seemingly wanting to say something.
But in the end, she just waved her hand.
"Nothing. Go on."
Lu Chen nodded and continued walking.
Zhao Yaqin watched his retreating back, her lips moving, but ultimately she said nothing.
What she wanted to say was: You really are amazing.
But she felt that saying those words would be too sappy.
Forget it, he would be hearing more and more praise in the future anyway.
He didn't need this one sentence from her.